About the films:
In 1986 the heyday of the Slasher film was on the decline. Films like HALLOWEEN, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, FRIDAY THE 13th, and their countless imitators had grown predictable and somewhat cynical. Studios were embarrassed to make the films but continued to churn them out because the return on investment was undeniable.
Producer/Director Sean S. Cunningham (THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, FRIDAY THE 13th) was at the forefront of the Slasher craze and could feel the genre growing stale. This was a time when a new masked killer was terrorizing multiplexes on a weekly basis. Recognizing that fatigue but having faith that there was still something to say within the slasher genre, Cunningham was eager for something new.
HOUSE
Directed By: Steve Miner
Written By: Fred Dekker and Ethan Wiley
Starring: William Katt, Kay Lenz, and George Wendt
Produced By: Sean S. Cunningham
Roger Cobb (William Katt) is a 35-year-old Vietnam Vet whose career as a horror novelist has taken a turn for the worse. While visiting his aunt at the house a year earlier Roger’s only son Jimmy mysteriously disappeared. In the past year, Roger’s obsessive search to find his son has destroyed his marriage and derailed his promising writing career.
Since the presumed kidnapping of his son, Roger has felt compelled to stop writing horror stories and work on an autobiographical of his experience in Vietnam instead. The sudden death of his Aunt brings Roger back to the house where he decides to stay and try to write his book. At the house, Roger encounters a series of horrific monsters and ghosts that seem to relate to his past with references to his son, ex-wife and Vietnam. The supernatural events lead Roger to believe that his missing son may somehow be hidden in the house. With the aid of his neighbor Harold Gorton (George Wendt), Roger embarks on a quest to find his son by battling the evil forces of the house.
Though HOUSE was situated broadly within the tradition of the haunted house movies like THE HAUNTING, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, and THE CHANGELING, HOUSE adopted a much lighter tone and style. At its heart HOUSE is something more akin to FRIGHT NIGHT than THE SHINING.
HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY
Directed By: Ethan Wiley
Written By: Ethan Wiley
Starring: Arye Gross, Jonathan Stark, and John Ratzenberger
Produced By: Sean S. Cunningham
Jesse McLaughlin (Arye Gross) and his girlfriend Kate arrive at the house he’s recently inherited from his long lost family. As he begins to explore his family’s roots, Jesse discovers that his great-grandfather, a notorious outlaw in the old west, stole an extremely valuable crystal skull that supposedly possessed magical powers. The skull was buried with him.
Charlie (Jonathan Stark), Jesse’s best friend, persuades Jesse to dig up the coffin and its treasure. To their surprise, they find both the skull and Jesse’s great grandfather. Gramps’ is 170 years old, alive and kicking, thanks to the magic of the skull.
The house was built as a temple for the skull and when its brought into the house, magical and strange phenomena begin. Since the skull has the power of giving its owners immortality, it is coveted by a wide variety of characters from bizarre worlds.
During a Halloween party, a giant Barbarian from the Stone Age appears and steals the skull. Jesse and Charlie charge after him into a pre-historic world of pterodactyls and dinosaurs. After batting an assortment of fantastical monsters, Jesse and Charlie return safely only to have Aztec thugs attack Gramps and take the skull. With the help of an eccentric electrician (John Ratzenberger), Jesse and Charlie find their way through caves and tunnels to an ancient Aztec temple where a virgin sacrifice is in progress.
For as bat shit crazy as HOUSE was, HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY makes it look modest in its insanity. While I’m not sure that it completely connects there is something special about this one that deserves a reexamination.
Special Features:
- Brand new 2K restorations of House and House II: The Second Story
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- "The House Companion" limited edition 60-page book featuring new writing on the entire - - House franchise by researcher Simon Barber, alongside a wealth of archive material
HOUSE
- Audio commentary with director Steve Miner, producer Sean S. Cunningham, actor William - Katt and screenwriter Ethan Wiley
- Ding Dong, You're Dead! The Making of House - brand new documentary featuring interviews with Steve Miner, Sean S. Cunningham, Ethan Wiley, story creator Fred Dekker, stars William Katt, Kay Lenz, and George Wendt, composer Harry Manfredini, special make-up and creature effects artists Barney Burman, Brian Wade, James Belohovek, Shannon Shea, Kirk Thatcher, and Bill Sturgeon, special paintings artists Richard Hescox and William Stout, and stunt coordinator Kane Hodder
- Stills Gallery
- Theatrical Trailers
HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY
- Audio commentary with writer-director Ethan Wiley and producer Sean S. Cunningham
- It's Getting Weirder! The Making of House II: The Second Story - Brand new documentary featuring interviews with Ethan Wiley, Sean S. Cunningham, stars Arye Gross, Jonathan Stark, Lar Park Lincoln, and Devin DeVasquez, composer Harry Manfredini, special make-up and creature effects artists Chris Walas, Mike Smithson, visual effects supervisor Hoyt Yeatman, and stunt coordinator Kane Hodder
- Stills Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer
This release will be limited to only 5000 units. In my humble opinion, this is a must own for any horror collector.