Paul Evans Emma and Peter move into a new home with their young daughter Sophie. What they aren't aware of is that the house holds a grizzly secret, the house was a scene of murder, a grizzly murder where a man killed his wife in a cruel fashion. Strange things start happening in the house, Sophie's beloved cat Timmy is found dead, props from the past start reappearing, but the main event is young Sophie's birthday party, when blood starts flowing out of the pipes, down the walls, covering everyone.They'd never get away with making this now, but made it was, and forth years later it still contains plenty of scares. Hammer had some what of a renaissance in the Seventies, producing some cracking films, as well as this series, which admittedly was hit and miss. This isn't my favourite episode, but I certainly think it's the most memorable.The parents are abominable, and get their just deserts. There are some good scares, the most terrifying thing you'll see though are the furnishings, what on Earth were they thinking?Watchable 7/10

Woodyanders William (a solid performance by Nicholas Ball), his wife Emma (well played by the fetching Rachel Davies), and their daughter Sophia (the adorable Emma Ridley) move into an old rundown house where a brutal murder occurred years ago. Strange and upsetting things start to happen immediately thereafter.Director Tom Clegg keeps the absorbing story moving along at a steady pace, adroitly crafts a creepy atmosphere, makes nice use of the titular crumbling abode, grounds the premise in a believable everyday reality, and tosses in a few nice bits of gore that include a hideously mangled cat and a pipe that sprays blood on a bunch of folks celebrating Sophie's birthday party. David Lloyd's crafty script pulls off a doozy of a surprise twist and concludes on a shockingly nasty note. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps this episode on track: Patricia Maynard as friendly neighbor Jean, Brian Coucher as Jean's helpful husband George, and Milton Johns as smarmy real estate agent A.J. Powers. Norman Warwick's crisp cinematography and James Bernard's robust ooga-booga score further enhance the sturdy quality of this nifty show.

begob A struggling young family moves in to a fixer-upper house, unaware of the brutal murder committed there by the previous owner. And of course the plot thickens as the blood flows ...I read a good review of the series, which said this was the best episode - so I gave it a lash. O.M.G. An appalling piece of trash. Very poorly written, with a story nicked from Amityville that finishes in a ludicrous rush, plus the most ham-fisted dialogue and characterisation. They even get the maths wrong in the end. The direction is barely present, with no sense of the house as a character, and the photography is dull dull dull.The actors are OK, but they had zero to work with. And the camera lingering on the children seemed a bit creepy to me. The only thing I can praise is the music - only because it's not as bad as the rest.Overall - just don't.

kidboots Definitely one of the best of the "Hammer House of Horrors" series it starred the current (1980) heart throb Nicholas Ball who was just enjoying being the star of the top rating series "Hazell". He plays William who, along with Emma and little girl Sophia present themselves as a struggling young family with just enough for a deposit on a house with a murky past. They move in and start redecorating, friendly neighbours lend them a helping hand but all at once ghastly things start to happen. The pet cat dies in a horrific accident, a bloodied hand is found in the fridge and a huge knife turns up in odd places. The neighbours know the history - an old man went berserk and dismembered his wife, it's a house of horrors!!I didn't see this when it was released but as an older lady, wow it scared the living daylights out of me the first time I saw it, a couple of years ago!! There is the awful birthday party where the house literally bleeds to death all over the children's table!!Something is not quite right with the couple - for all their affection it seems they sleep in separate rooms and when they disappear - shock! horror! it seems they weren't actually married!! Then the truth is revealed - they are in league with the slimy real estate agent who has commissioned them to write their own version of "The Amityville Horror", where they clean up with a best seller and are able to live the good life in California!! But no-one thinks of the effect it all had on little Sophia - especially the death of her beloved cat Timmy!! You watch it, then you immediately want to watch it again to observe Sophia!!