Blu-ray Review – House: Two Stories

House  

Director: Steve Miner

Screenplay: Ethan Wiley

Minutes: 93

Year: 93

Score: 5.53

Release: Arrow Video HOUSE: TWO STORIES

I love these terrible movies. I really do. After people realized that you could have an entire genre of comedic horror film it took the 1980s to a whole new level. This is only exaserbated when the lead appears to be unaware that the movie is funny.

From Arrow Video:

In the original House, William Katt (Carrie) stars as Roger Cobb, a horror novelist struggling to pen his next bestseller. When he inherits his aunt’s creaky old mansion, Roger decides that he’s found the ideal place in which to get some writing done. Unfortunately, the house’s monstrous supernatural residents have other ideas…

House was one of the cassettes at the video store, near my parents’ house, which constantly captured my attention. The ratty, skeletal, pressing a doorbell. What is on the other side of this door? How is this disarmed hand still functioning? Then I flip the tattered cardboard case around and saw how bad the movie would probably be. My interest exaggerated.

House is a cocktail made from supernatural elements and PTSD from the Vietnam war in which The Greatest American Hero battles with demons on different fronts while bombarded by silicon foam monsters. Add into this a slapstick chase around the house. Neighbors who seem to blindly accept and help your delusion. And you end up with a drink that few people are going to love while everyone spits up; but the lovers will go to the mattresses in its defense.

I love this movie. Oh, and Norm from Cheers and Bull from Night Court are among the 80s television stars who were somehow hornswoggled into being in this movie.

Special Features

• Audio commentary with director Steve Miner, producer Sean S. Cunningham, actor William Katt and screenwriter Ethan Wiley
• Ding Dong, You’re Dead! The Making of House – brand new documentary featuring interviews with Steve Miner, Sean S. Cunningham, Ethan Wiley, story creator Fred Dekker, stars William Katt, Kay Lenz, and George Wendt, composer Harry Manfredini, special make-up and creature effects artists Barney Burman, Brian Wade, James Belohovek, Shannon Shea, Kirk Thatcher, and Bill Sturgeon, special paintings artists Richard Hescox and William Stout, and stunt coordinator Kane Hodder
• Stills Gallery
• Theatrical Trailers

Director: 7 – Cinematography: 5 –  Edit: 4 – Parity: 1 – Main performance: 6 – Else performance: 3 – Score: 6 – Sound: 5 – Story: 6 – Script: 5 – Effects: 6 – Design: 7 – Costumes: 5 – Keeps interest: 7 – Lasting: 10

House II: The Second Story 

Director: Ethan Wiley

Screenplay: Ethan Wiley

Minutes: 88

Year: 1987

Score: 4.67

Release: Arrow Video HOUSE: TWO STORIES

There are actually four of these movies. Four! They are connected in name and overarching theme only and that is alright with me. When House became the House franchise they were forced to decide between a common baddy vs an anthology series. They wisely chose anthology.

From ArrowVideo.com

Meanwhile, House II: The Second Story sees young Jesse (Arye Gross) moving into an old family mansion where his parents were mysteriously murdered years before. Plans for turning the place into a party pad are soon thwarted by the appearance of Jesse’s mummified great-great-grandfather, his mystical crystal skull and the zombie cowboy who’ll stop at nothing to lay his hands on it!

Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? This flick is just plain goofy. This film is what you watch when you are cleaning, or doing math homework. You don’t need to pay attention to it to get what is transpiring. This is not a condemnation. Not at all.

But there is little to be said about the film other than it is a fun pseudo-western-prehistoric romp with that guy from that show you remember. He is Arye Gross and he was on Castle (and many other guest spots).

This set is worth the cost for some good old fashion haunted house Halloween flicks and is available now.

Special Features

• Audio commentary with writer-director Ethan Wiley and producer Sean S. Cunningham
• It’s Getting Weirder! The Making of House II: The Second Story – brand new documentary featuring interviews with Ethan Wiley, Sean S. Cunningham, stars Arye Gross, Jonathan Stark, Lar Park Lincoln, and Devin DeVasquez, composer Harry Manfredini, special make-up and creature effects artists Chris Walas, Mike Smithson, visual effects supervisor Hoyt Yeatman, and stunt coordinator Kane Hodder
• Stills Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer

Director: 5 – Cinematography: 4 –  Edit: 6 – Parity: 2 – Main performance: 5 – Else performance: 1 – Score: 6 – Sound: 5 – Story: 4 – Script: 4 – Effects: 8 – Design: 6 – Costumes: 6 – Keeps interest: 3 – Lasting: 5