Bloodbath at the House of Death (1984)

Six scientists arrive at the creepy Headstone Manor to investigate a strange phenomena which was the site of a mysterious massacre years earlier where 18 guests were killed in one night. It... See full summary »

Director:

Ray Cameron

Writers:

Ray Cameron, Barry Cryer

Stars:

Kenny Everett, Vincent Price, Pamela Stephenson

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kenny Everett	...	Lukas Mandeville
Pamela Stephenson	...	Barbara Coyle
Vincent Price	...	Sinister Man
Gareth Hunt	...	Elliot Broome
Don Warrington	...	Stephen Wilson
John Fortune	...	John Harrison
Sheila Steafel	...	Sheila Finch
John Stephen Hill	...	Henry Noland
Cleo Rocos	...	Deborah Kedding
Graham Stark	...	Blind Man
Pat Ashton	...	Barmaid
David Lodge	...	Inspector Goule
Davilia O'Connor	...	Sheila's Mother (as Davilia David)
Debbie Linden	...	Attractive girl
Tim Barrett	...	Doctor

Storyline

Six scientists arrive at the creepy Headstone Manor to investigate a strange phenomena which was the site of a mysterious massacre years earlier where 18 guests were killed in one night. It turns out that the house is the place of a satanic cult lead by a sinister monk who plans to kill the scientists who are inhabiting this house of Satan.

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Plot Keywords:

bad guys win | tragic ending | characters killed one by one | lightsaber | telekinesis | 

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Taglines:

The movie that took a lot of guts to make!

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Genres:

Horror | Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

During filming, Kenny Everett would often forget that his character walk with a limp, or limp with the wrong leg. Director Ray Cameron eventually had to stick signs up on the set that said 'Limp!' and had a clapper boy charged with reminding Kenny to limp before each scene.

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Goofs

A Monk enters the toilet, at the beginning of the onslaught, with an short handled axe and leaves with a large bladed knife.

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Quotes

Sinister Man: Bow thy knees if you wish to even speak in my presence.
Barmaid: Oh, piss off!

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Connections

References Jaws (1975)

User Reviews

A bit hit and miss, like Everett's TV shows

Kenny Everett was a zany comic who started out as a DJ in the 1960s before fronting a prime time TV comedy show in the 1980s. This 1984 film is his only attempt at a big screen offering. Kenny died of AIDS-related illness in 1995, aged 50.

The film is a Hammer horror spoof, though many other films and genres are spoofed along the way. It is written by Barry Cryer, who appears in the title sequence. Eight scientists (including Kenny and, more plausibly, Dr Pamela Stephenson) investigate an old house where, 18 years earlier, 18 people were killed there in one night. The others are played by John Fortune, Sheila Steafel, Don (Rising Damp) Warrington, Gareth (coffee ads) Hunt, Cleo Rocos and John Stephen Hill. All were well known 80s British personalities but not entirely convincing as scientists!

The best known actor here is Vincent Price, though he only appears in a few scenes, as the 'sinister man'. Pat Ashton's appearance as the murdered barmaid marked her last appearance in a run of 20 years of British comedy shows before she disappeared, which is a shame as she was always good fun. It pretty much also marked the end of John Stephen Hill's acting career though he is better mapped as he went on to immerse himself in his Jesuit faith.

The film is a bit hit and miss, like Everett's TV shows - lots of scenes that don't really work, interspersed with occasional moments of genius. It is the only opportunity to see Everett on the big screen, and it represents a peak of sorts in early 80s British comedy. I don't want to judge it too harshly.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Banho de Sangue na Casa do Terror

Filming Locations:

Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP1,998,987 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wildwood Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1