House of Forbidden Secrets (2013) User Reviews

Awesome music!

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 3 October 2023]

When I talked to Todd Sheets a few months ago, this movie came up and how much he wanted it to be a tribute to Lucio Fulci.

"When I made House of Secrets, it was made it as a tribute to him. I got to work with Fabio Frizzi who did so many of those great soundtracks. That turned out to be a fantastic time. I just wanted him to do the theme song and he said, "Send me the script and send me the rough cut."

And then I didn't hear anything back.

I'm like, "Oh, God, he hates that. He's not gonna do it."

All of a sudden I hear back. He says, "Okay, I'm gonna do the whole movie for that same cost."

He said that Fulci would be so proud of this movie and well, it was my homage to the Maestro and my big comeback after my heart attack and everything.

I almost died and that was my comeback movie. And I wanted it to be special. So I wanted Fabio to do the theme song and it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. He was fantastic."

Jacon Hunt (Antwoine Steele) has had some bad luck in life but now it looks like things are looking up. After all, he has a new job doing security at ShadowView Manor. The bad news? His first night is the anniversary of a great tragedy.

Working for building manager Cane (George Hardy, a welcome face even when he tightens his belt), Jacon and maintenance man Jackson (Bryan David) walk through the building, meeting the residents, who include Cassie (Nicole Santorella) and Hanna (Michaela Paxton Tarbell). These young psychics have been hired by Dorothy Fremont (Iris Runyon) to reach her husband from beyond the grave. As you can imagine, on this evening of such great terror, the spirits of those killed in a brothel massacre many decades ago come back, including Madame Greta (Dyanne Thorne!) and an insane priest named Elias Solomon (Lew Temple).

You know what happens when real Enochian Keys are used during the seance? The dead come to our world and want to kill the living. As always, Sheets moves fast and isn't afraid to get gory. And look out for First Jason Ari Lehman as a guy working in the building and Allan Kayser from Mama's Family and Night of the Creeps.

The only thing that took this down was that it ends with a Lloyd Kaufman cameo that isn't just pointless, it destroyed the end of the film. After all that gore and so many great moments, I hate that this ends with such a goofy and inane moment.

Garbage.

[jeremy-david-kuehnau · 1/10 · 27 February 2017]

I grew up with cheesy horror movies from the 70's, 80's and 90's. I became a fan of the horror genre in general. So I am no newbie when it comes to B horror cheese. I went into this film thinking that it'd be pretty good, based on the scores given for the film. I mean, what movie could be bad when it has a cameo from the Lloyd Kaufman? Well, this movie wasn't good. I can't think of a single good thing to say about this movie besides the gratuitous nudity it has. There is no redeeming part of this film. From the actors, to the cinematography, it's all pretty bad. The movie appears to pride itself in the fact it considers itself a grind house film, but even then, while the acts of violence are apparent, they are done in such a direct way, with such poor effects, they don't do anything to make the movie any better. People will make mentions of films such as Blood Feast, when it comes to the graphic content of this movie. The thing is, even the victims of Blood Feast will writhe in agony while they are being brutalized in the film. But in this film, it's like the actors stand still while their faces are ripped off, or their entrails are pulled out. The story makes almost no sense. It doesn't help that the movie jumps all over the place, so there isn't really any sort of consistent story. I fell asleep twice while watching this film, I had to re-watch it almost three times. That's a terrible precedent for horror movies. If you fail to grab my attention so much I can't stay awake, you failed at your job. Avoid this at all costs. It's garbage, it's junk and it uses hyped up keywords to try and draw it's viewers in.

Please stop comparing poor indie film directors with legends of the industry.

[junkasaisuperfan · 3/10 · 13 July 2017]

I'll start by saying I love bad movies. Certain films have charm or unintentional humor that makes them fun to watch. That's what today's indie film directors will never get. HG Lewis & Roger Corman never set out to make a bad film but they made a lot! The humor was mostly unintentional. Acting was bad, fx poor, stories often made no sense, & the term "Director" was loosely used. But they were fun. This movie lacks that. You can't copy HG Lewis. Stop trying.

The only thing that should be forbidden is, the writer, director and actors ever making a film again

[vmalast · 1/10 · 24 July 2019]

This is definitely not a grindhouse or giallo film as other 9-10 star reviewers stated. It does not pay homage to those geners. Its an insult to great indi and 0 budget movies. The cinematography was bad, the acting awful.

If you enjoy flat, slate beer infused with cigarette butts and aerosol spray cheese on stale limp crackers. you will definitely love this film.

One for the trash pile

[roberttaylor-47375 · 1/10 · 17 February 2017]

This "film" (i use that lightly) is an utter travesty to the horror genre. poor writing, Acting nonexistent and the special effects clown shoes at best. the lens choice isn't a choice. you use what has worked in the past. By taking directorial licence it becomes a finals exam at a poor film school. this is less than a B movie, it is an O. for Ooooo please stop.

Real fans of Horror rejoice! This one is for you!

[MayhemPaul · 30 October 2013]

If I were Stephen King I would write some witty line like, "I have seen the future of Horror, and it lies in… The Past." More and more films today are bringing back the elements we all loved in Horror and Action cinema growing up. The classics that have infected generations of filmmakers is alive and well in the blood of the "new breed." No one really thinks of movies like Urban Legend anymore, but mention Suspiria or Zombie – eyes light up! It is this connection to the past that infuses the film House of Forbidden Secrets. It is a love letter to the Italian Horror films of the 70s and 80s. It even has a score by none other than Fabio Frizzi who wrote the music for all of Lucio Fulci's best. Not to say that this film is a rehash, because it isn't. And that is what makes me really love the film. It has the influence of these great Horror films of the past, but has a very original story to tell and a style all it's own. There are twists upon twists, and the great thing about it is, I could not tell you at the beginning of this film where it actually ends up. Nothing is really telegraphed. The surprises pack a punch and for a Horror film rooted in style and gore-soaked imagery, there are some strong characters on display and it is evident that the team who created the film actually CARED about the project.

This script is tight and the dialogue is pretty sharp and actually funny for the most part. The special effects are prosthetic, you know back when artists actually sculpted things and didn't rely on a computer to fix everything. There were a couple of really "out there" effects sequences that had my date gasping and covering her eyes. One in particular may be one of the nastiest splatter effects ever, and very Italian Horror in style.

The main cast of mostly unknown actors is surprisingly good. The leads Nicole Santorella and Antwoine Steele were both very strong, and I also really liked Millie Milan who seems so natural in front of a camera. She has an exotic look and I really enjoyed her. I am also a huge fan of the supporting cast. Lew Temple has always been given supporting roles that seem to never be big enough. Here, Lew actually shines. Without giving spoilers, let me just say that he is a character you will love to hate, and he tears into the part with gusto, energy, and a sly wink at the audience. Also giving a truly winning performance is Dyanne Thorne, star of the ILSA series of films. She is stunning. This is Dyanne's return to Horror and she makes the most of the well written dialogue. A scene between Lew and Dyanne had me so engaged that I wanted to rewind the film and watch it over and over. But I couldn't. This reviewer was lucky enough to catch the film with an audience who jumped, laughed and screamed at all the right moments. The audience also went crazy when George Hardy, of TROLL 2 fame, said his famous "Hospitality" line. It was great to see so many genre faces in this and all of them seemed to be having a blast. George's scenes with Allan Kayser, from Night of The Creeps, were also very funny. The "Bradster" still has trouble with the ladies, all these years later! Director Todd Sheets has learned much in his time away, and his return is a reason to celebrate if we get more films like this. Every frame is draped in gorgeous color and each composition is like eye candy. During a Q&A, Todd said he had decided to return to films after he had a quadruple bypass surgery from a heart attack. He said this film was made within a year of his release from the hospital. While I am very sorry that the man had to endure this tragedy, I am thankful to have him back. The care and passion that went into this film is evident from frame one, and in this age of commercial, cookie cutter movie of the week garbage, this is a very welcome addition to the Horror genre.

This is a great, modern Horror film that also feels familiar and inviting. It's as if Lucio Fulci, Lamberto Bava, Fred Olen Ray, H G Lewis and John Carpenter got together and made a film for a hundred thousand bucks. With a bit of Argento's visual flair thrown in as well. I really enjoyed it, and if you give it a chance and you love the original Horror classics like I do, I bet you'd like it too! One day Sheets name may be up there with the others, someone should give this guy some real money to work with, let him loose and see what would happen. I'd be in line for that.

Loved it!

[moncaland · 10/10 · 23 October 2013]

I loved this movie!!! Once again, Todd Sheets does not disappoint!!! There is no lack if suspense or any awkward moments that made me want to stop watching. He has proved once again that he knows what he's doing and makes sure not to disappoint his many fans! I look forward to his next work of art! I think that Todd perfects his skills with every movie. This shows that he not only can write kick ass music, but has another talent as well. I would recommend this movie to anyone. If you are looking for a movie that will hold your attention until the end, with unexpected twists and turns, then this is the movie for you. I hope that Todd continues to make more movies and more music! The cast was perfect and I am having no hesitation in giving this movie the highest rating! Good job, Mr Sheets!!!

So Bad, Avoid

[deedrefuhrman · 1/10 · 16 January 2020]

Cast, crew and their friends and family should be barred from rating and reviewing movies. They should be ashamed of the blatant BS they spew. This movie is sincerely awful from start to finish.

Twisted plot, great cast, impressive sound

[Sinister_Miss · 9/10 · 22 October 2013]

This movie will keep you guessing the whole way through. Loved the cast in general. Having seen it, I now can't imagine the movie without Dyanne! She really was perfect for the role of Greta. I thought the character of Wayne played by Brad Westmar brought some lightness and humor to an otherwise creepy situation - he got a few laughs out of me for sure. The sound and video quality was excellent, and the soundtrack impressed me - very high quality and added a whole other dimension to the film - emphatic. I like that it was not the usual top-40 hip hop/pop charts sound track. You almost go into the film expecting that and then are surprised with this amazing orchestra. All around, a fun movie on the darker side.

Not wowed

[MikeHunt1075 · 1/10 · 2 November 2021]

Oh look, the first guy to play Jason Voorhees, the guy from Trolls, Lloyd Kaufman, hey I know those names and enjoyed their most successful movies, I'd better rate this really high because I liked them in another movies right?

Wrong!

The top rating reviews here are fake and most likely written by those involved with the film. The acting is God awful, they're obviously ad-libbing a lot, but not good enough actors to make it funny or entertainment for the viewers, and it just drags on going nowhere, like it's trying to rely on B-grade actor star power on screen to engage you into thinking this movie is actually decent. The original 'Gone in 60 Seconds' had better acting than this!

I can't believe I ate the whole thing

[selfdestructo · 1/10 · 15 May 2022]

The imdb synopsis gives more backstory to the new security guard than the movie does itself. I think his intro in the movie goes something like this: "This guy's the new security guard." Where to begin? Pair up sub-Manos-level acting with absolutely heinous dialogue, add a completely nonsensical story, and, what the hell, throw in some embarrassing period accents, and you've got House of Forbidden Secrets. This was an absolute train wreck, and a boring one! I was left with one question when this movie ended: What the hell was that supposed to be about?

Literally, the only interesting thing on this Blu-ray is Lloyd Kaufman hamming it up in the gag reel. And there's something that can be seen in a variety of places. Also, pet peeve. There are "deleted scenes" in the extras, when in all actuality they are "extended" scenes. I wish DVD authors would stop doing this. I'm not watching the entire scene all over again to see if I can spot a couple seconds they cut. Coincidentally, the movie itself has a penchant for recycling scenes, frame for frame, to, I dunno, pad out the running time?

Zero stars.

Worth watching multiple times!

[Sarah_Merrill · 9/10 · 7 April 2014]

The first time I saw "House" in a theater was in Tampa FL at the Tampa Pitcher Show screening. I had seen the film before, but at this screening I found myself still getting very wrapped up in the film's plot with all its twists. This film keeps you guessing at every turn and there isn't a dull moment throughout. I absolutely love some dark humor served with my horror, and this movie doesn't disappoint. What an amazing cast - everyone did such a great job! Lloyd Kaufman was a riot, and along with Brad and Antwoine brought that humor that I love. Dyanne Thorne was the perfect Madame and I adored her character. I think she was amazing in the role of Greta. Amazing performances by Lew Temple (Elias) and Nicole Santorella (Cassie) leading us through this crazy, creepy paranormal journey. Overall I loved that I was surprised, that I laughed, and yet was still creeped out by the plot and impressed by the effects. Todd is known for his love for gore in his films and this one remains true to form! I thought the dialog was great, and the story was original and unexpected. The crowd in attendance at the theater seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves and many offered their enthusiastic responses to the screening that night. My family was also there and I heard some very positive feedback. Very impressive and I am sure that I will watch "House" many more times in the future and love it more each time. Amazing work!

Todd's very best homage to Italian Horror movies!

[diretto-699-334777 · 10/10 · 26 October 2013]

So, what was the best part about October 12, 2013, at "Horror on the Boulevard" in Kansas City, KS? Seeing Todd Sheet's INCREDIBLE new homage to Italian horror flicks "The House Of Forbidden Secrets" on the huge drive-in screen! Let me assure Todd's fans right now: This is HIS VERY BEST MOVIE! It pays homage to Lucio Fulci's best films (especially "The Beyond") but unfolds in a unique way that keeps you watching and guessing. Best of all, it's told with Todd's trademarked style including the "Suspiria-esque" splashes of color, effective mixes of hand-held camera work and creepy Dutch angles, over-the-top gore, great zombie and demon make-up effects - AND HUGE TECHNICAL ADVANCES including perfect sound, a beautiful location, some incredible CRANE SHOTS (!) a FANTASTIC cast of cult movie stars (who aren't afraid to poke a little fun at themselves) along with some of his best regulars AND AN AMAZING SOUNDTRACK featuring tracks by THE Fabio Frizzi (of "Zombi 2" and so many more...) I've been a fan of Todd's work since "Goblin" and own almost all of his movies on VHS. I've always enjoyed the ambition and energy of his old SOV flicks, and NOW I've seen him pull it ALL together! THIS is Todd Sheets at his very best! DON'T MISS IT! Can't wait to be able to buy this movie!

The Prince Of Gore Has Come Of Age!

[tkettley · 10/10 · 7 April 2014]

A Legend of SOV and known to many ZOMBIE Fans worldwide, As one of the best Gore movie directors around! Todd Sheets sheds that skin and shows us an evolved director that has grown in ways that only made him better.

From the very start you see that House Of Forbidden Secrets is something different. The characters grab you even before the story line takes hold. It is a suspenseful ride that keeps you wanting and waiting right to the final scene.

With superb acting and amazing effects, this film ties it all together into one very chilling experience. I am still awed as I type part of me asking WTF Did I Just See? and Part totally amazed at the new depths Todd has shown us that He can achieve. Hats Off To Everyone Involved! Amazing Movie 5 Stars, Two Thumbs Up And 3 Golden Bud Awards!

If you're looking for a nice throwback to old school horror, look no further!

[huffmanhorrors · 8/10 · 20 March 2017]

A well-constructed horror story with beautiful camera shots and lighting in the Dario Argento mold, House of Forbidden Secrets was a good Friday night frightfest. The build-up is nicely put together and you don't need to wait too long before scary things occur within the building. It takes a little bit of time to introduce the characters and set up the story, not in a "slow burn horror" kind of way like The Witch or Ring, but it does have something to say, storyline wise. The Previous occupants still present an ancient evil waiting deep in the bowels beneath the property, waiting to cross back into our world for some bloodthirsty revenge. Director Todd Sheets proves to have a good sense of style and mood, he crafts a film that works and doesn't want to pander to a younger, "hipper" audience for the sake of doing so. He does not pander to audiences who are used to super fast "music video" type editing either.

The tone, the setting, the music, the lighting and the twists in the plot were all produced to get maximum thrills on a meager budget. And I think it worked well here. It's obvious that everyone on this film worked very hard to make something original but that plays like an old Horror movie from the 70s or 80s. Though there are a few hitches, as is the case with most low budget movies, the film takes on a very ambitious story and ends up being a successful endeavor in which the plot, production, and effects are just enough to let the few budgetary glitches slide by barely even noticed. Much better than films that spend millions of dollars and fill the screen with CGI, If you allow yourself, you can be completely pulled into the film itself and take it for what it is, a fun throwback done right. House of Forbidden Secrets was exactly what I had hoped it would be, a fun way to spend an hour and a half.

Enjoyed my stay in The House of Forbidden Secrets

[danlovesmovies · 9/10 · 2 May 2014]

"House Of Forbidden Secrets," written, directed, produced and edited by Todd Sheets, is set in one long night at a pretty amazing building called the Shadowview Manor, which is really as much of a character in the film as anyone else. Todd knows how to build suspense with sound design and some very good timing. The architecture and lighting combine perfectly top create mood and atmosphere to build scenarios designed to coax the shadowy spirits to show themselves. And they do, in increasing degrees by the end of the film.

One of the many strengths in the film is the quality of the acting. These characters are well defined, real people. Their relationships, based on humor and forced bonding in a terrible situation, would be entertaining enough that if no ghosts ever turned up, we would still be entertained. "House of Forbidden Secrets" creates characters who are not just there to be splatter movie prey, but who have some dimension. And it is surprising! I was expecting it to be like Todd Sheets' earlier efforts, and was pleasantly surprised. This film takes it's time introducing the cast, and letting you get to know and care about them.

But make no mistake, House of Forbidden Secrets is no dead-serious, slow burn, somber affair. This is a film with Horror History blood in it's veins, with one major goal: To entertain an audience. In the end, House of Forbidden Secrets is a masterwork of shadow, disturbing images, violence and color, brought to us by a director who has a true vision of Horror, who knows his history of Horror Cinema, and who in the end, fills his film with both originality and nostalgia, creating something unique for a low budget film. A finely crafted late 70's to early 80s feel, but also something new, fresh and gorgeously rebellious.

Another strength is the stunning music. By infusing the film with the haunting melodies of Fabio Frizzi, the expressive Italian composer of Classic Horror like Lucio Fulci's most cherished films The Beyond, Zombie and City of the Living Dead really brings the sound to life! Perfectly blending with the surreal visuals and the impressive color palette. In addition to Fabio, there is other music from Japanese composer Toshiyuki Hiraoka, bringing a modern almost industrial vibe to certain parts of the film. Once again a mix of Classic and Modern Horror. Toshiyuki's music is full of texture, layered and deep, with dark passages that haunt. With these two at his side, Todd Sheets was able to make a film that transcends the genre, opening up a whole new world for Todd to paint his darkest and bloodiest dreams.

It's a dark tale indeed, relishing in the shadows of the expansive mansion setting and thriving on throwing your expectations back in your face. Just when you think you have the film all figured out, it takes a new turn, twisting the story into something special. It begins almost like a typical ghost film, about a haunted building, but by the end, it truly takes you into original territory, with a story that never feels forced. These are the types of twists that leave an audience surprised and excited, never betraying logic or the rules set forth at the beginning. It exceeded my expectations at every turn and the smart script truly re-imagined the tired haunted house genre, infusing it with new blood and, in the end, it really worked.

If you haven't seen this movie then you owe it to yourself to view it as soon as possible. Keep an open mind, sit back and enjoy the ride. A film full of love for the Horror genre made with passion and care, both nostalgic and original. With one of the best soundtracks I have had the pleasure of hearing on a modern Horror film. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys low budget indie cinema, and to people who appreciate a cinematic adventure, with a demented edge and a visually vibrant eye.

Vivid imagery and amazing music make this HOUSE special!

[trasholaclassics · 10/10 · 26 March 2015]

"House of Forbidden Secrets" doesn't break new ground in the horror genre, but it mixes things up, throws in some real surprises and end sup being an effective love letter to the Italian Horrors of the 70s and 80s. I didn't know exactly what to expect when I sat down to watch this new Horror flick from director Todd Sheets. Todd's career has been filled with really good microbudget films (Violent New Breed, Fear Of The Dark, Shivers) and very bad zero budget gorefests (Goblin, Zombie Rampage) and all levels in between. It had been a while since I had seen any activity but when I heard about this one, I was excited to see how the years had changed things for Todd. I got my answer and it was quite a shock. Not only has this film won awards at film festivals worldwide, it's a damned good movie! Todd Sheets has grown into a director with a genuine flair for the aesthetics Horror - to say he has improved between his last film, some 8 years ago, and this one is not only true, but astonishing when you look at his filmography. Not only does this film generate real suspense, but also atmosphere, above average acting from the cast, lighting that would make Argento proud and tons of what Todd is known for: buckets of nasty, sticky, gross out Gore effects.

Fabio Frizzi's (THE GATES OF HELL, ZOMBIE, THE BEYOND) score is a real plus, creating tension and building suspense throughout the film. It truly helps Todd and his crew hammer home that this is dedicated to Italian Horror. Additional music by Toshiyuki Hiraoka is also very effective, adding texture and a modern twist to the soundtrack. The two actually merge together in such a seamless way, leaving such an impression that you will be humming the songs after watching (Good thing it has been released on a Soundtrack via BEAT Records - on AMAZON).

Let me make this clear, while this film is in many ways similar in style and feel to those Italian films of the past, House Of Forbidden Secrets is also very much a modern Horror movie, bringing us the best of both worlds. Truly creating a fresh and original storyline that spans not only your darkest nightmares, but also other dimensions and time periods! I was pretty amazed how ambitious this story was. It has plenty of twists that I never saw coming. Starting like a standard "Haunted Building" movie and taking several unpredictable turns into some very "Out There" scenes and set pieces. And it all flows in a very natural and cohesive way. I never got lost. But I will say this is a film that requires you to pay attention, listen to the dialogue and retain things from earlier in the film. It is not some brainless slasher. It is quite the opposite. This has a dark, twisted, complex story that really pays off in the end.

Many shots in this film truly border on gorgeous. The framing and lighting are truly otherworldly, lending the film's horrifying events a sense of classic cinematic poetry. Many shots boast a remarkably graceful and consistent level of artistry that rise above the limited budget and truly take this film to a higher level. And more than most of the indie Horrors I have been watching, It looks like a real movie, and more than that, a very well executed one. Having seen the film twice now, at two different theatrical screenings, in my opinion the story gets stronger with each viewing, and visually, it also improves. The imagery drives the atmosphere, creating a surreal vision of both this world and the other dimensions we travel to in the film. Every time I watch this film, the more impressive it gets. I see more and understand to a greater extent the vision of director Todd Sheets. My admiration for his new contribution to Horror cinema has grown as well.

In the end, "House of Forbidden Secrets" is a damn good film. It's a fine example of Independent horror cinema made by people who really love the entire Euro-horror scene and have a huge passion for Italian Horror Cinema. It's the masterwork of a director who doesn't get nearly the respect he deserves, standing well above his other films and most of his microbudget peers. This is the film that takes Todd Sheets to the next level. Glad I could witness it.

An instant classic ode to the maestro!

[combustion07 · 10/10 · 2 March 2015]

House of Forbidden Secrets is Todd Sheets big return to horror after going nearly a decade without releasing a film. After watching Spirits I was very pleasantly surprised that the two films tie together. House of Forbidden Secrets gives a deeper look into the tale of the brothel that was briefly touched on in Spirits. Where Spirits honed in on pure, unrelenting suspense, Forbidden Secrets brings the suspense, gore, atmosphere and a plot with almost as many turns as the labyrinth within it.

It's Jacob's first day on the job as a security guard at the Shadowview Manor. He comes in for work and gets introduced to the colorful group of people who stay in the building after hours. One of which is a clairvoyant woman who does occasional séances for people in the building. Although Jacob is very superstitious about messing with the occult he joins in on the circle after a bit or peer pressure. The séance quickly goes awry when the medium begins to lose control and an entity begins to speak aggressively through her vessel. Upon awakening she can't remember anything about what happened. Luckily there was a small crew present to film the event. Shaken to the core the woman who the séance was performed for leaves in a hurry. Once in her car she is attacked by one of the many tortured souls that are inhabit the Shadowview Manors grounds.

Everyone involved in the séance is ready to evacuate the building but they soon realize that the spirits have other plans for them. With no way to escape they are trapped in this haunted house for the long haul. Due to the séance the veil that separates our world from another with terrifying otherworldly inhabitants has been spread paper thin and the sinister possibilities are endless. With the wall being broken our small group begins their hellish descent into the vicious past of the Shadowview Manor. Hideous events had taken place there in the 1930's back when the building was used as a brothel. The group finds themselves decreasing in numbers and encountering things that the eyes can't unsee.

The Prince of Gore without a doubt shows his true colors here. RED! There's plenty of gore to be found within House of Forbidden Secrets. The face tearing and womb removing are just a few highlights that will without a doubt have gore-hounds foaming at the mouth. The death scenes are just as gruesome if not more than they were in Sheets past efforts. If he keeps going at this pace on future films a knighting will be necessary. The film also has a star studded cast for those into classic cult flicks. A definite highlight would be Dyanne Throne (Ilsa!!). Not to mention other greats like Lew Temple and Llloyd Kaufman among others. Surprisingly Lew Temple plays quite a big part in this one. I was expecting a few minutes of screen time but he definitely exceeds that and delivers an excellent performance. The whole cast really delivers solid performances though. Even though the faces may not be familiar the grand majority of them seem pretty natural in front of the camera.

This film is loaded with so many send-ups to classic horror movies. Some are extremely subtle while some are more upfront. Surely most die hard horror fans can pick up on most of them but I'm sure on repeat viewings I'll realize I missed some. Forbidden Secrets is a true to form love letter to the horror genre. The influence from Italian horror of the 70's and 80's shines through big time in the form of surreal lighting. The movie also sports a stunning score by the one and only Fabio Frizzi who reached legendary status from his extensive work with Lucio Fulci. This score does a fantastic job at setting the tone of the movie. It really lends itself to the overall Italian vibe that comes across when watching. As a horror fan Italian horror has always been my pick of the litter. With that being said this is easily THE BEST modern day film to recapture the feeling of Italian horror from that era. The sense of dread and delirium is all there and served up in surplus.

Overall House of Forbidden Secrets is one of the greatest horror films of recent years. It delivers on all fronts. I loved Spirits but man this one solidifies the fact that Todd Sheets is without a doubt back and ten times better than ever. After nearly a decade long break for him to be able to knock the dust off and come out of the gate with something at this level is amazing. He managed to find the perfect balance of atmosphere, humor and suspense and rather than delegating each to their own sections they all coexist at once and compliment one another. This is an extremely difficult task that is not done often these days, but he knocked it out of the park with ease. Although I feel Sheets has been stiffed in the past and under-acknowledged there's absolutely no way this film can slip through the cracks and not find it's audience. WATCH OUT FOR THIS FLICKS RELEASE, IT WILL BE WELL WORTH THE WAIT! ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR foulfeast.blogspot.com

Old school Horror with a Modern twist!

[chuckcannon-02179 · 10/10 · 3 December 2015]

I have been waiting for 2 years to finally watch this movie and I really enjoyed it. It felt like a fresh take on the Haunted House formula that we have all seen so many times, plus it had some real surprises in the story! Director Todd Sheets gives viewers some amazing set pieces to entertain us along the way. Atmospheric lighting, great music, a dense and creepy sound design and plenty of gory effects. Truly, if you are a serious gorehound you absolutely have to check out this movie. If you are, like me, a fan of Italian horror movies or if you have an interest in independent Horror, you must check this movie out if you haven't already seen it. It is just filled with so much of the good stuff that makes classic Italian horror so great – Wild lighting, cool camera moves, sexual perversions, a certain degree of sleaze, awesome gore and a warped storyline. The acting is pretty damned good, too for a low budget flick. Of course having true icons in the film helps - Dyanne Thorne brings a soft side to her famous ILSA character, Lew Temple makes an amazing villain, Ari Lehman shows up for a few lines, Allan Kayser reprises the fan-favorite Bradster from "Night of the Creeps" and we even get George Hardy from Troll 2 doing a damned good job and some hilarious moments with Lloyd Kaufman. The lead girl is played by Nicole Santorella and I was blown away by her. Antwoine Steele plays the male lead with a commanding understated performance that ramps up as the action gets more intense. The ending is done surprisingly well and offers a great final touch of twisted horror. And the entire movie is anchored by Italian composer Fabio Frizzi's inspired score, which is both haunting, memorable and atmospheric.

An enjoyable retro-horror homage to the Italian splatter classics!

[movieswithpaul · 9/10 · 14 March 2017]

It is always delightful to discover a gem of a film, perhaps lost in today's deluge mediocre "found footage" movies. Such is the case with the The house of Forbidden Secrets. I was lucky enough to see this film at a film festival screening in Ohio and I loved it. It was very well made, professional and obviously crafted with care and love from a group of people who love the horror genre. It's truly a dedication to the films of Lucio Fulcio, the great director. They even have music by Lucio's go to music maestro Fabio Frizzi. The lighting, camera-work and special effects are all pretty incredible for a low budget film and I really loved the story.

Without giving too much away this is a movie about a haunted building and a group of innocent people who get trapped inside on the anniversary night of a very nasty event that happened many years before. There are interesting and contrasting characters that have their own ideas, beliefs, doubts, fears and methods for dealing with the supernatural occurrences in the building. My personal favorite character is Cassie played by Nicole Santorella. She was spot on and really brought energy and passion to the role. I greatly enjoyed how the film was set up. In the beginning, the film takes time to actually create a story and we get the assembly of the main group of characters. The suspense is set up with the seance and the aftermath of opening doors that should not be opened. I also liked that bygone era technique of opening a movie with a neat sequence from the MIDDLE of the film. Another plus is Lew Temple as the villain of the film. To say the least, he was creepy, forthright and menacing as the Priest with a dark past.

With the mystery of the evil unleashed somehow attached to the events of the past, the characters have to not only survive strange creatures and demons from other dimensions, but also unravel a plot that will take them back in time. It could have been confusing, but the complex story was handled with a sure hand by director Todd Sheets. There are some intriguing concepts to the film, like understanding the truly horrific reasons as to why the Shadowview Manor is haunted. The house is a cross between a haunted labyrinth and a fun house with monsters and danger around each corner. The script is epic in scope and very ambitious. House of Forbidden Secrets, at it's core, is a unique tale about past sins coming back to destroy us, purgatory and religion that helps make this film a truly terrifying delight. The music, atmosphere and direction combine to d=create a film that I found quite entertaining and pretty incredible considering it's low budget.

This movie has not been released on DVD or BluRay yet, so I find it very odd that 14 people gave it a "1" rating from overseas and I have seen a few really nasty reviews on here and I can honestly say that they are bogus. It is obviously done by trolls who have never seen the film. They did the same thing to a few of my other favorites, Doghouse, Attack of the Werewolves and Housebound. These films all got bad ratings before they were ever released. I wish IMDb could do something about nasty trolls. It is obvious they are only trying to hurt the rating of this film.

Haunted mansion full of surprises

[gerilovesmovies · 9/10 · 20 March 2017]

This is a good old-fashioned good versus evil story, when our worst nightmares become reality and you're waiting until the very end to see who survives and who doesn't. I really enjoyed this movie. It is dedicated to Lucio Fulci, the famous Italian director. From the occasional creative camera angle and the ever apparent colorful lighting this film is a true homage to Italian Horror but with a more conventional horror style where you can easily follow the flow of the story and the exciting action paced horror, relying on shocks, suspense and scares along with gory setups. The music is very much a part of the film, filling nearly every frame. There are actual characters in the movie too! A solid story and some serious plot turns in the that make it all the better for fans of Italian Horror and splatter who wish movies were still made like the classics. It truly shows us a modern twist on a familiar Haunted House type of movie. Lew Temple is downright detestable (but very sexy) as Father Elias, George Hardy is funny and natural as the building owner. Allan Kayser who played the hunky Bubba on Mama's Family is pretty great here too as Bradster, but my favorites are Cassy played by Nicole Santorella, a girl with Psychic ability, and the classy and powerful Dyanne Thorn as Greta the madame with a heart of gold. She made the whole movie perfect for me. It's like what would happen if ILSA had a heart. Overall, a gross, fun and entertaining experience.