The Horror Show (1989)

Detective Lucas McCarthy finally apprehends "Meat Cleaver Max" and watches the electric chair execution from the audience. But killing Max Jenke only elevated him to another level of ... See full summary »

Director:

James Isaac

Writers:

Allyn Warner, Leslie Bohem,

Stars:

Lance Henriksen, Brion James, Rita Taggart

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Lance Henriksen	...	Detective Lucas McCarthy
Brion James	...	Max Jenke
Rita Taggart	...	Donna McCarthy
Dedee Pfeiffer	...	Bonnie McCarthy
Aron Eisenberg	...	Scott McCarthy
Thom Bray	...	Peter Campbell
Matt Clark	...	Dr. Tower
David Oliver	...	Vinnie
Terry Alexander	...	Casey
Lewis Arquette	...	Lt. Miller
Lawrence Tierney	...	Warden
Alvy Moore	...	Chili Salesman
Zane W. Levitt	...	Executioner
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Meshell Dillon	...	Little Girl

Storyline

Detective Lucas McCarthy finally apprehends "Meat Cleaver Max" and watches the electric chair execution from the audience. But killing Max Jenke only elevated him to another level of reality. Now Lucas' family is under attack, his sanity in question, and his house haunted. Aided by a disreputable college professor, can Lucas reclaim his mind, house, and family? Features Lance Henriksen as the Lucas McCarthy and Brion James as Max Jenke. One of the few movies featuring these actors as main characters.

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Plot Keywords:

electric chair | meat cleaver | execution | sequel | family relationships | 

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Taglines:

You'd rather be on Elm St.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

House III

Box Office

Gross:

$1,738,897 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sean S. Cunningham Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is actually unrelated to the House film series. The producers renamed this film "House 3 (1989)" for the non-US market. Because of the existence of this title, the owners of the "House" series had to rename their third film House IV

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Goofs

Steadicam reflected in the mirror when Lucas is searching his house in opening sequence.

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Quotes

Max Jenke: [in a squeaky voice] Don't look now, but your family's dead... just kidding.

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Connections

Referenced in Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)

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Soundtracks

"The Things I Have Done To Our Love"
Written by Leslie Bohem (as Les Bohem) and David Kendrick
Performed by Gleaming Spires

User Reviews

a mixture from all horror genres

This was James Isaac's first attempt to make a horror flick, he went further with Jason X (2001), Skinwalkers (2006) and Pig Hunt (2008). And he shows immediately that he knows his stuff. I found the way he used the lighting and his POV shots well done.

The Horror Show was produced by Sean S. Cunningham and the score was done by Harry Manfredini and that rings a bell. The House saga and that's why it was sold as House 3. Even as it had nothing to do with the House franchise. But it was for me so far the best 'house' entry. It didn't had those stupid monsters, in fact, the effects were done by Kurtzman, Nicotero and Berger better known as KNB. So on that part it was also worth watching. The stunts were done by Kane Hodder. And just watch the acting list, Lance Henrikson (Alien,...) , Rita Taggart (Mulholland Drive,...), Brion James (Bladerunner,...).

There's one shower scene were Dedee Pfeiffer (Bonnie) goes naked but there's not that much to see. Overall the effects used are worth watching like the execution and the turkey that comes alive. Of course they had to add the face in the stomach scene seen before in Nightmare On Elm Street (1984). Worth watching, it's a bit of a mixture of the flicks that came out around that era, it had a killer, a ghost, things coming alive so it's a flick for all buffs out there, but not a classic.