House (1986)

Director:

Steve Miner

Writers:

Fred Dekker (story)
Ethan Wiley (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 February 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

Ding dong, you're dead.

Plot:

Roger Cobb is a Vietnam vet. Whose career as a horror novelist has taken a turn for the worse when his...

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam | Author | Shot In The Back | Cut Into Pieces | Supernatural

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

William Katt	...	Roger Cobb
George Wendt	...	Harold Gorton
Richard Moll	...	Big Ben
Kay Lenz	...	Sandy Sinclair
Mary Stavin	...	Tanya
Michael Ensign	...	Chet Parker
Erik Silver	...	Jimmy
Mark Silver	...	Jimmy
Susan French	...	Aunt Elizabeth
Alan Autry	...	Cop #3
Steven Williams	...	Cop #4
James Calvert	...	Grocery Boy (as Jim Calvert)
Mindy Sterling	...	Woman in Bookstore
Jayson Kane	...	Cheesy Stud
Billy Beck	...	Priest

Also Known As:

House: Ding Dong, You're Dead (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

Glenn Close and Sigourney Weaver were considered for the female lead role.

Goofs:

Continuity: Whenever Roger enters his Aunt’s bedroom to look at the closet the window of the room is reflected in a mirror and it is clearly day time when it should be night... this happens on occasion throughout the film.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Grocery Boy: Mrs. Hooper?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Monster Squad Forever! (2007) (V)

Underrated

'House' stars William Katt as Roger Cobb, an accomplished novelist who moves into his creepy aunt's house after her suicide. In bits and pieces, the audience discovers that Roger once lived in the house, as well, along with the aunt, Roger's wife, and their now-missing son, Jimmy. Roger believes that Jimmy is trapped somewhere in this mysterious house, which just happens to be some sort of portal between past and present dimensions...I think? Anyway, the audience becomes involved, well, at least myself and the rest of my company became involved, and you start to feel for this poor guy who has really sorry luck...in all areas. Roger, our tattered hero, has the pretty neighbor Tanya, who likes to come and swim in his pool, and who ALWAYS catches him at the worst times. Then he has the nosy neighbor Harold, played by George Wendt, who might be out to exploit him or may just be generally concerned. I don't know. Then there is the neighborhood dog who likes to dig up Roger's "saplings"....

Overall, I find this to be a fairly underrated little horror movie. It's definitely one of Steve Miner's more innovative attempts, and the music, reminiscent of the F13 music and performed by the same man, Harry Manfredini, is thoroughly haunting. Also, most importantly, the acting is believable. Major points for that. None of this movie is hokey. It could have been...but it wasn't. 7/10 is my vote.