HOUSE Movie

Movie Summary

Released: 1986
The hero of the story is Roger Cobb, played by William Katt (CARRIE, HOUSE IV, CYBORG 3, STRANGER BY NIGHT, THE PAPER BOY), William had just got off of a popular, though short lived TV series in the U.S. called Greatest American Hero (popular with audiences, but the writers ran out of ideas real quick.). It was a comedy and it was light. It effectively broke the mind lock audiences had over Katt being a Horror movie actor. Now folks saw him as either Horror or comedy and just by seeing his very popular face, audiences were ready to relax and expect something funny.

Roger's next door neighbor is Ted, as played by George Wendt. Audiences around the world know of George Wendt as the affable slob and goofy regular of the popular 80s sitcom, Cheers. The nightmare memories that haunt Roger's mind is of the time he ran in fear, and left a buddy behind to die in Vietnam. His buddy in question is Richard Moll - again known to audiences everywhere as the towering "Bull" on the television sitcom, Night Court. This is how the makers of HOUSE cheated. They took popular television comedy folks and put them in a Horror setting. The actors are comfortable and recognizable. The audience, just by seeing these people, is relaxed and expecting to laugh.

Producer Sean S. Cunningham of FRIDAY THE 13th fame, also worked with his long time associate composer Harry Manfredini (All the FRIDAY THE 13ths and a bunch more besides). In addition, cinematographer Mac Ahlberg (RE-ANIMATOR, FROM BEYOND) lent his lenses to the project, giving this low budget flick a slick and clear eye.

This is good because the story itself is a real downer.

Years after the unexplained disappearance of his son, Roger is still trying to get over it and the subsequent dissolution of his marriage. Instead, the depression he finds himself sinking into recalls other horrible moments from his life, most notably, his experiences in Vietnam. Roger finds himself helplessly sinking deeper into his depression.

The movie opens to find Roger attending the funeral of his crazed aunt, who raised him in the HOUSE. His aunt seems to have committed suicide but her relatives and friends don't buy it. She was crazy, yes, but not the kind to kill herself.

Roger's ex-wife (Kay Lenz: STRIPPED TO KILL) is trying to get on with her life by burying herself in her work, as a soap opera actress. Its clear from the beginning that these two people still love each other, but they find themselves unable to share their mutual sorrow. In their pain, they try to reach out to each other, while mindful of not invading the other's space, and at the same time retain their pride. So well written, directed, and acted was this moment in the film, that it took me more time to explain it than it takes to see it.

Now ask yourself, does this sound like its going to be fun?

So Roger, who is also a best selling Horror writer, decides to move into the old HOUSE that his aunt left him. Why not? The HOUSE holds no fear for him, he grew up there.

But the HOUSE is, indeed wicked. Its wicked I tell you.

The HOUSE is a dimensional doorway to your memories and nightmares: the real and imagined. There are creatures that live within its walls. There are grotesque beings that disguise themselves as those you love and care about. You can shoot them, hack them up into pieces, and bury them, they will not stay dead because they are not, by themselves, alive. They are just extensions, tendrils if you will, of the HOUSE. There is no part of the HOUSE that cannot come to life to terrorize you. It preys on your mind and knows your fears.

Whew! Lost children, divorce, suicide, obssessive guilt, and a murderous gore filled haunted house! That sure as shit makes for some damn fine comedy, eh?

Believe it or not, it did. So as not to spoil things, I'd rather not tell you why. Instead, you should come to this house and take a look around.

HOUSE

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