House (1985)
Genre: Horror / Comedy
Duration: 93 minuten
Alternative title: House: Ding Dong, You're Dead
Country:
United States
Directed by: Steve Miner
Stars: William Katt, George Wendt and Richard Moll
IMDb score:
6,1 (33.070)
Releasedate: 27 February 1986
House plot
"Ding dong, You’re dead."
Roger Cobb, a successful author of horror stories, dedicates his next book to his horrific Vietnam experiences. His life takes a terrible turn when his son Jimmy mysteriously disappears while visiting his aunt's house.
Actors and actresses
Roger Cobb
Harold Gorton
Big Ben
Sandy Sinclair
Tanya
Chet Parker
Jimmy
Jimmy
Aunt Elizabeth
Cop #3
Reviews & comments
Chainsaw
-
- 8845 messages
- 3690 votes
Before Evil Dead 2 there was House. And this remains delicious!
The film resembles Evil Dead 2 in many ways; a man in one room, who seems to be going mad as all sorts of ghostly demons go on the attack. Even the burial of moving, severed limbs comes back here. William Katt plays a very nice lead and gets support from an equally great George Wendt as his neighbor. "Writing seems like fun," Wendt says to his dog when Katt runs madly out of his house in army outfit. Awesome! The simple story comes from Fred Dekker, the man behind the fantastic Night of the Creeps, but Ethan Wiley is said to be responsible for the humor in the script. Steve Miner is an experienced, but somewhat flat director, but does an excellent job here. Wiley himself then directed the second part, which consists of less horror and more humor.
Because despite the humor and entertaining clumsiness of House, there are certainly moments that still work well as horror. It won't be very exciting or scary, but the scares that Miner occasionally comes up with still work like a train. Certainly for a young audience that fat, monstrous witch will be quite terrifying, even if it is a ridiculous and above all hilarious appearance. And so the film is full of delicious finds; from the floating tool, the strange ghost in the closet to the climax with zombie Big Ben. It's not quite of the caliber Killer Klowns from Outer Space, but it is sometimes not very far from it. Don't expect a serious haunted house film, but a whole lot of fun and delicious nonsense with a horror sauce. It won't appeal to everyone, but it tasted fantastic again.
4 stars.
Translated from Dutch · View original
VanRippestein
-
- 1178 messages
- 1052 votes
Weird movie: the beginning sets a tone that doesn't match the rest of the movie at all. It's ultimately a pretty kid-friendly horror comedy like gremlins is. I quite enjoyed it once I got over the idea that it wasn't going to be a real horror anymore. There are some nice scenes in it and the monsters are funny shaped. Looking forward to part 2.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Onderhond
-
- 87707 messages
- 13097 votes
Finally seen.
For the 10-year-old Onderhond this was a legendary cover. One in the video store that always attracted me, but at the time I was already at the record store, peeping at Thunderdome and Iron Maiden covers. The result of that is known, but in the end I never saw this film. High time to change that.
Apparently half the Friday the 13th team is behind this. Miner directed parts 2 & 3, producer Cunningham part 1, Hodder is Jason of course and Manfredini did the score for the well-known series. That's pretty well known 80s talent together, although that doesn't always make for a great film.
The first part seems to be a complete disaster. The film is unpredictable and apart from one or two short moments there is no question of horror. Fortunately, that improves during the second part, although you have to deal with the fact that the film does not take itself very seriously. It's never exciting or scary, the gore is rather funny and the artificial is clearly part of the charm offensive.
For once it is, but it's not great (with the negative highlights of the Vietnam scenes).
2.0*
Translated from Dutch · View originalPre- and sequels
House IV
1992
The Horror Show
1989
2 comments
House II: The Second Story
1987
2 comments
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