Smell the Movies
Smell the TV
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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| Year: | 1979 |
| Country of origin: | USA |
| Director: | Stuart Rosenberg |
| Genre: | Haunted house infamy |
| Starring: | James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger |
| Rating: | 3/5 |
| IMDB link: | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078767/ |
| Tagline: | "For God's Sake, Get Out!" |
| Favourite line: | "GET OUT!" |
Probably the most infamous haunted house movie, this is alleged to be based on a true story, though how accurate that is is hard to tell.
A seemingly perfect family, the Lutz's, move into a new house, fully aware that a grisly murder took place there. Despite the wife's reservations, Mr. Lutz explains that they would not have been able to afford the place were it not for the reluctance of others to inhabit the property. Well, it's not long before the brooding forces of evil still present in the house start to show their hand: a priest covered in flies, a mysterious sickness, a hand trapped in a window frame, a cupboard door that won't open. The tension builds to a dramatic conclusion as the family are forced to flee, to save their very lives.
Muhahahahaha.
Whilst the movie has dated quite badly, the storyline is still a powerful one, tapping into the most primal of fears: how can you be at peace, when even in your own home you do not feel safe and secure.
The performances are all more than acceptable, and even the child actors do not grate too harshly, and Margot 'Lois Lane' Kidder looks decidedly foxy thoughout, especially in her striped cheer-leader style skirt.
Gimme an I. Gimme an N. Gimme an S. Gimme an A. Gimme an N. Gimme an E.
Whilst not as creepy as I was hoping, and overly long, with a script that drags its heels in places, this is nevertheless an effective chiller, and it is easy to see why it spawned the seemingly never ending line of sequels.
Yet to see the remake, though I've got it lined up, I enjoyed this movie more than I really expected to.
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