31 Days of Horror- Day 24: House (1986)

(dir. Steve Miner)

New World Pictures

*First time viewing

An author inherits his aunt’s house, but the house begins to drive him to madness when he tries to finish his latest book about his experiences in the Vietnam War.

Horror comedies are some of the toughest films to do, and they can rarely find the balance of being both frightening and funny in a way that sells the emotional honesty of both aspects. Steve Miner’s House goes for broke with its horror comedy, throwing a bunch of ideas out to see what sticks. A lot of it doesn’t, but the central concept is so fascinating that House can’t easily be dismissed. Writer Roger Cobb’s (William Katt) battle against a house with a mind of its own, is also a battle against his own PTSD  from the war and the disappearance of his son, who went missing in this very house years before. The house torments Cobb with closet monsters, a Vietnam zombie, a demonic version of his ex-wife, and doorways to Hellish dimensions, all while hiding the truth about his son. These supernatural forces are a manifestation or Cobb’s guilt over his failure to mercy kill a soldier in Vietnam, and the loss of his son which resulted in the collapse of his marriage. These are all heavy issues, but the film plays light and loose with them, aiming for a kind of slapstick humor that Katt can’t quite pull off, and a madness that never comes across as more than mild befuddlement.

House preceded Evil Dead II by a year, but it’s hard not see how that film succeeded with the moments of slapstick horror where this film doesn’t. Cobb’s neighbor, Harold (played by Cheers’ George Wendt) is meant to elevate the humor, through his suspicion of Cobb’s mental illness and constant interference in Cobb’s life, but the dynamic between the two characters never becomes compelling enough to make either likable. The bones of a great story are all evident, and there are moments, such as when Cobb seemingly shoots his ex-wife after seeing her as a demonic figure, that are genuinely startling, but that necessary tonal balance is never struck. Out of all the 80s horror films, House is one of the ones that’s most deserving of a remake because there’s enough good stuff here to make a film that completely works within our modern horror/comedy needs.

Scare Factor: 1/5 There are some great monster effects, and some truly clever ideas present, even if House doesn’t fully live up to its cult classic status. While the film may be a bit of a disappointment for adult viewers, especially considering the stakes, House is actually a great early horror introduction for kids. It’s a film that’s reputation is largely founded on nostalgia, and with an audience of the right age, Miner’s film may just hit that horror/comedy mark.