christopher-underwood
Far from perfect and lacking in credibility here and there, it is quite clear that director, Fulci is concentrating on what he considers important. This is undoubtedly a most scary and gory experience, never mind that we might not care about this or that character, so hypnotic, so gripping are the nightmare effects that we are drawn in nevertheless, to partake in this madness. The director seems to have more success with children than adults for while there are certain qualities lacking in the grown-ups the children are stunning. There is a nod at the end to Henry James and clearly the creation of these devastating child performers owe something to the James novel - or at least an adaptation of it. From the opening to the very end the children are at the centre of this and it makes for the horrendous violence to seem even more terrible. There may be too many trips down into the basement, too many people searching for each other in the house and too many inconsistencies but to experience and appreciate the extent of horror that can be created with image and sound on celluloid - watch this film!
Sam Panico
It's impossible for me to be objective. The House by the Cemetery is one of my favorite films ever. I cannot defend it's lack of story, the fact that it's influences are pinned to its sleeve or that it makes little to no sense. The first time I watched it - at a drive-in marathon that also included Zombi 2 - was an experience that burned the film into my brain.The beginning will grab you in seconds, as a woman searches for her boyfriend in an abandoned house. She finds him dead, stabbed with scissors. Just then, she's stabbed in the back of the head and the blade of the knife comes out of her mouth! We see her dragged away as the movie begins.Meanwhile in New York City, Bob Boyle (Giovanni Frezza, Warriors of the Wasteland, Manhattan Baby, Demons) and his folks, Norman (Paolo Malco, The New York Ripper, Escape from the Bronx) and Lucy (Katherine MacColl, City of the Living Dead, The Beyond) are moving to the abandoned house we saw in the beginning of the film. Sure, Norman's friend Dr. Peterson killed his mistress and committed suicide there, but why would that be a problem?In one of the eeriest scenes in the film, Bob looks at a photo of the house and notices a young girl moving from room to room. This is the most subtle of all frights, a small moment where reality is not as it should be, and far more potent than even the goriest of grue that Fulci will soon serve up with glee. Only Bob can see this vision, which warns him to stay away.As his parents get the keys to the house, Bob sees the girl again. Inside the rental office, Mrs. Gittleson (Dagmar Lassander, Hatchet for the Honeymoon) is upset that the couple has the Freudstein keys to Oak Mansion, but she promises to find a babysitter from Bob.The mansion is a mess. Yet when the babysitter (Ania Pieroni, Inferno) comes, she enters the previously locked and nailed shut cellar door. Strangeness follows, like a librarian recognizing Norman despite never meeting him, the discovery of a tomb inside the house and a bat attack.The Boyles demand a new house as Norman goes to the hospital. Mrs. Gittleson comes to tell them that she's found a new property, but the Freudstein tombstone in the ground holds her while a figure stabs her in the neck. The next morning, Ann the babysitter cleans up the blood and avoids questions.While the Boyles are at the hospital to treat Norman's injuries from the bat, Mrs. Gittleson arrives at the house to tell them of a new property. Letting herself in, she stands over the Freudstein tombstone, which cracks apart, pinning her ankle. A figure emerges, stabs her in the neck with a fireplace poker, and drags her into the cellar.The next morning, Lucy finds Ann cleaning a bloodstain on the kitchen floor while eluding Lucy's questions about the stain. As they drink their morning coffee, Norman tells Lucy that the house was once home to Dr. Fruedstein, who conducted horrific experiments in the basement. He decides to go to New York City to learn more and on the way, he finds out that Freudstein killed his old friend Peterson's family.Ann can't find Bob, so she goes to the basement where Freudstein slashes her throat and decapitates her. Bob finds her head and screams, but his mother refuses to believe the story. Bob goes back to the cellar but gets locked in. His mother tries to open the door, which can't be unlocked. Norman returns and they make their way down to see Freudstein's hands holding Bob. One axe slash later and the hand is cut off as the monster goes away to recover.Inside the basement, Norman and Lucy find mutilated bodies, surgical equipment and a slab. Turns out that Freudstein is 150 years old and has learned to escape death. He returns and attacks Norman, who returns the favor by stabbing him. The twisted doctor replies by ripping out Norman's throat. Lucy and Bon try to escape, but Freudstein drags her down to the basement where he rams her head into the floor until she dies.Finally, the doctor grabs Bob, who is rescued by Mar and her mother, Mary Fredustein. Mary tells them that it's time to leave as she leads Mae and Bob down to a world of gloom and ghosts.House by the Cemetery is a mash-up of Frankenstein, The Amityville Horror and The Shining. And it's another in the series of classics that Dardano Sacchetti (working with Giorgio Mariuzzo here) wrote for Fulci. If you think it's nonsensical, imagine how early American audiences felt when the original VHS copies released in the U.S. had several of the reels out of order!Seriously, this movie makes no sense whatsoever. There aren't plot holes because there's not even a plot. And sure, some say there's too much gore. Yes, I've heard these complaints and I say no to all of them! Look, you're either going to become an evangelist for this film (if you need me in person, there's a good chance I'll have on a t-shirt with this film's logo, I wear the shirt all the time) and you'll think it's the biggest piece of garbage ever made.
LeonLouisRicci
Goreful, Zombie/Slasher/Haunted House Movie from Acclaimed Italian Auteur Lucio Fulci that is Ripe with Full-Blown Fulci Flourishes.It is a Horror Feast for Famished Fans of this Type and is Loudly Lauded with Endless Praise and every Frame has been Studied and Analyzed Ad Nauseum, Savouring Morsel after Mosel from a Master of Mayhem that Serves Up what He Promises to the Devotees.What it is for those Not Initiated into the Cult is a Sleek and Sick Study in Human Excretion, Blood and Guts to be Exact. But it also has Supernatural Elements and other Creepy Considerations.The Cinematography is Outstanding as are the Cobweb Draped Sets and it has a Surreal Appeal and is Above Average in the Genre. The Acting is Typical B-Grade Screaming and looking justifiably Terrified at the Goings On, Crying, Sweating, and Eyes Wide Open.Speaking of Eyes, there is an Over-Abundance of Peeper Close-Ups and is only Eclipsed by the Over-Over-Abundance of Character Names being said Over-Over and Over again to the Point of Irritating Distraction. Steve, Steve, Steve, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob , Anne, Anne, Anne...Sheesh!If You can sit through that "Fingers on the blackboard" Irritant and find it Tolerable, this is a Must Watch for Horror and Cult Movie Enthusiasts. Fulci, along with Mario Bava, and Dario Argento has an Enormous Fan Base and Following. This is as good as any to see what the Fuss Over Fulci is all about.
jacksflicks
It's pretty discouraging to see so many idiots in one place, giving this thing 10 stars and calling it a masterpiece. There is NOTHING redeeming about it. Someone asked if it's a slasher film or a zombie film. It's a garbage film. It reminds me of the little stunt they did for the Halloween party in third grade, playing a recorded horror story in a darkened room while passing around raw chicken parts. The storyline is inane, the editing is crummy, of course the voices are dubbed. The gore is gore for its own sake unconnected to whatever it's emerging from.The candidate for worst movie ever made is Manos, the Hands of Fate. This one is just as bad, but without the unintended humor. The continuous and gratuitous gore makes this mess impossible to watch except to those like the infants at the Halloween party, a kind of cult following for spaghetti slasher movies. Getting off on stuff like this isn't so sick as it is mediocre.
