House by the Cemetery
I just finished watching House by the Cemetery, a movie that's been sitting in my collection for several years, but which I only now got around to viewing. And, honestly, I loved it. It fits into a particular style, or sub-sub-genre of horror film that I am particularly fond of. That is the "haunted house" movie (whether it be haunted by actual ghosts or demons, witches, the undead, or something similar) where everything is moody, gothic, and a bit bizarre (kind of kitchen-sink horror, or "let's throw everything at the wall and just see see what sticks" horror). House by the Cemetery is along the lines of two of my other favorites, Superstition and Ghosthouse (which, incidentally, is filmed in the same house as this one), as well as earlier entries into the Amityville Horror series.
Now, I will admit that there are many implausibilities and non sequiturs in this movie. For instance, the babysitter Anne seems sinister and shifty, as if she is an accomplice to whatever evil is getting up to no good in the house. Yet, while apparently anxiously searching for her young charge, she falls victim to a gruesome death at the hands of the house's less than savory original inhabitant. It is never really explained what she knew of or wanted from the house or why she acted so damned sketchy if she really was an innocent victim.
Also, throughout the movie, several characters mention having seen the main character around town on previous occasions, with his daughter. He replies that he has never visited there before his recent move, and that he does not have a daughter, only a son. Nothing ever comes of this particular possible subplot. No reasoning behind this case of seeming mistaken identity is ever explained.
However, these implausibilities are all part of House by the Cemetery's fun. It, and the other movies that I love like it, are all somehow creepy and somewhat disturbing despite their oddities, or perhaps because of them. If you can ignore the glaring errors in continuity and confusing side-plots that never go anywhere, then you might fall in love with this gory, spooky, funhouse ride of a movie. If you can't ignore these details, then I regret that you will miss out on a lot of bizarre. grisly fun.
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| A particularly lovely house, the kind of place I'd like to live if it weren't for, you know, all the demons and ghosts and murders, etc. |
Now, I will admit that there are many implausibilities and non sequiturs in this movie. For instance, the babysitter Anne seems sinister and shifty, as if she is an accomplice to whatever evil is getting up to no good in the house. Yet, while apparently anxiously searching for her young charge, she falls victim to a gruesome death at the hands of the house's less than savory original inhabitant. It is never really explained what she knew of or wanted from the house or why she acted so damned sketchy if she really was an innocent victim.Also, throughout the movie, several characters mention having seen the main character around town on previous occasions, with his daughter. He replies that he has never visited there before his recent move, and that he does not have a daughter, only a son. Nothing ever comes of this particular possible subplot. No reasoning behind this case of seeming mistaken identity is ever explained.
However, these implausibilities are all part of House by the Cemetery's fun. It, and the other movies that I love like it, are all somehow creepy and somewhat disturbing despite their oddities, or perhaps because of them. If you can ignore the glaring errors in continuity and confusing side-plots that never go anywhere, then you might fall in love with this gory, spooky, funhouse ride of a movie. If you can't ignore these details, then I regret that you will miss out on a lot of bizarre. grisly fun.
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