House (1977)
Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi
[Not Rated] 1hr 28min
★★★★½
House is a comedy horror film about a group of high school friends who visit one of their aunts during summer vacation. After arriving at her secluded house in the countryside, they begin to experience mysterious supernatural occurrences that become increasingly bizarre and horrific.
This film is so much fun to watch, especially during this time of year, as it perfectly captures both the silly and scary aspects of Halloween. The story and visual elements are exceptionally campy, so the overall experience is very entertaining. At the same time, some of the imagery is genuinely terrifying, and the stakes rise rapidly as the characters continue to endure more deadly scenarios throughout the film. In addition, the juxtaposition between the overly joyful beginning and the horrific events at the house further amplifies the absurdity of the entire situation. Chigumi Obayashi, the director’s daughter, is credited with the original story because she came up with many of the ideas used in the film, and the end result is a completely unique and highly expressive story that only a young child could think of.
I recommend House to anyone who enjoys both horror and camp, as the film utilizes both incredibly well. The surrealist aesthetic pairs perfectly with the film’s unconventional tone, as it seems like absolutely anything could happen during the story. It’s wacky, amusing, and terrifying all at the same time, so it provides a truly extraordinary cinematic experience.
House is currently available to stream on Max and The Criterion Channel. Click here to watch its Criterion Collection Trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper