Leofwine_draca I'm always on the look out for obscure and seldom-seen horror films and this one fits the bill nicely because it's so unusual. An unorthodox addition to the overworked 'haunted house' genre, the film's setting is Japan and the ghosts – instead of being the more typical poltergeists or what have you – are three transparent Japanese people, who run around in period gear (an idea copied by Peter Jackson for THE FRIGHTENERS) and cause spooky things to happen. Despite a high level of predictability, this film is generally above average, thanks to some imaginative moments and surprising scenes of action and violence.The story goes that a happily married couple, Ted and Laura, move into a Japanese home dirt cheap because it's haunted. They learn of a terrible massacre occurring more than a century previously and are soon haunted by faces appearing in soup, things flying off walls, and Japanese chanting. One interesting aspect of the film is that events literally relive themselves as the ghosts possess various people and cause them to do unpleasant things. Laura eventually ends up having an affair with friend Alex Curtis and events lead towards a predictable – but nonetheless pretty mean-spirited – conclusion in which history relives itself.The cast is familiar and helps add to the experience. Edward Albert may not be particularly exciting as the leading man but he does his job ably and has some good moments. Susan George gets to alternate between being sexy (stripping off for a number of sex scenes) and petrified depending on whether her character is possessed. But best of all is the appearance of cult B-movie man Doug McClure, here re-teaming with British director Kevin Connor for what would be their final pairing. Sadly Doug doesn't have a major role in the proceedings, but he does get to take part in a fantastic fight at the film's climax which is just like the old days and very exciting.The film goes through all the usual motions – possessions, exorcisms, gore – but portrays events in a slightly off-kilter way to make them seem more interesting. There's a scene where some giant crabs (so big you can see the wires) attack the young girl which is very well done and actually had me creeped out – despite the wires these crabs really do look menacing so kudos to the effects guys. There are some pretty violent moments, including a hilariously cheesy decapitation, and the film gets my recommendation for following through to the expected finale without offering any Spielberg touches or happy endings. Although it isn't great, THE HOUSE WHERE EVIL DWELLS does make you feel involved with the characters in hand as well as providing the necessary thrills and chills. So it gets my thumbs up.

lost-in-limbo Over a century ago a samurai kills his wife and her lover before committing suicide, so it moves to modern times where a Western family moves in to the home where it happened. Soon they find themselves under the influence of these spirits. After a beautifully presented opening consisting of tragedy, this haunted house tale just never gets off the ground becoming quite uneventful (as it seems to lull about) with its lightly scripted narrative and randomly silly supernatural circumstances (rambling crabs?!). Even from what develops, it shows a real lack of reasoning about certain characters' judgements. Its frenzied finale is risible, but effectively executed. However at least it was brave to go out on a powerfully bleak note. Director Kevin Connor resourcefully sets it up with certain crispness thanks to the lyrical shape of the camera-work and the pacing is rather restrained with its slow-burn styling. The exotically picturesque Japanese backdrop projects another dimension to the fold. But there's no disguising its formulaic nature and stage-bound set, despite its change of culture and folklore. Although I did like how the malevolently restless spirits manifested, waltz, conspire and interacted with the occupants of the house. Where they went about trying to repeat the re-enactment of their own harrowing ordeal. How they go about pulling their stings is toying around with possessions, manifestations and causing a mess by throwing things about. The cast is dependable, but sometimes look a bit out of sorts. Susan George remains pleasing, but Edward Albert and Doug McClure (who had work with director Connor many times before) are practical with their performances. It should have promised much more than what transpired, but this handsome production consisted of strange ideas amongst its standard clichés."I hate this house!".

Backlash007 ~Spoiler~ The House Where Evil Dwells has an interesting premise, but a bad execution. In 1840 Kyoto, Japan, a samurai returns home to find his wife in bed with another lover. He slaughters them both and then commits harikiri. In present day 1983, Edward Albert and Susan George move into this same house and become the victims of a haunting where the ghosts are trying to recreate the events of 1840. Doug McClure is a family friend living in Japan who got them the house and he takes over the role of the lover. Oddly enough, the film's premise isn't entirely different from the wildly popular Ju-on series. So you have to give it some due, even though Ju-on improves upon the story tenfold. Perhaps Takashi Shimizu was influenced by this film? It has a good set-up and it's different that we actually see the ghosts "jump" into the living to take them over and set the affair in motion. But there comes a point in the middle of the film where I found the whole thing to be absolutely laughable. One of the ghosts manifests itself in the daughter's bowl of soup and makes ridiculous faces at her. She says "Unnnnn...There's an awful face in my soup!" I rewound and watched that scene five times, laughing like a b*stard every time. After this scene, the whole movie becomes campy and full of unintentional humor, mostly coming from the ghosts. For example, the ghosts are exorcised by a monk but come running back into the house when Albert opens the door. Were they just never allowed to open the door after that? That's kind of a cheap exorcism. And when Albert and McClure finally face off, the ghosts are watching them and cheering them on like they were at a wrestling match. It's hysterical. But the best moment, other than the bowl of soup, is when the ghosts possess McClure and Albert. Up until this point they have been brawling, but when the ghosts do their "Quantum Leap" in they start using the worst martial arts in screen history. Old white guys doing swing kicks and karate chops is not graceful when they don't know what they're doing. But it is quite funny. And who can forget those awful crabs! That scene speaks for itself. I can see how this flick could be a guilty pleasure, but watch Ju-on: The Grudge for a better take on a similar plot.

rosscinema I don't think anyone sitting down to view this film would be expecting anything remotely appearing like a classic ghost story but you have to ask yourself when it's over if you were ever scared. This doesn't really work on that level but the cast does try hard and the film doesn't tack on one of those happy endings. Story is about an American couple who travel to Kyoto, Japan so that Ted Fletcher (Edward Albert) can write a book and he brings along his wife Laura (Susan George) and their daughter Amy (Amy Barrett). Their friend Alex Curtis (Doug McClure) who works at the American Consulate helps them find a house to live in and he finds one that is haunted. About 140 years earlier in the same house a Samurai found his wife cheating on him and he kills both of them and then commits suicide. Their ghosts still inhabit the house and when the Fletcher's arrive it doesn't take long before strange things start happening.*****SPOILER ALERT*****At times the ghosts inhabit the bodies of the Fletcher's and they start to act like the Japanese people that they were before and Laura starts to flirt with Alex which leads to an affair. Meanwhile, Ted starts behaving more strict and after he pours soup down the throat of Amy he goes to ask a Monk for help. Unfortunately the ghosts get Ted, Laura, and Alex to play out their death scene like it happened 140 years earlier.This film was directed by Kevin Connor who is known as a good television director but he has made horror and science fiction films before and has worked with McClure on some of them. While this never comes close to being scary or developing atmosphere it does have two things in it that I liked. First, it doesn't have one of those sappy endings where the couple embrace after defeating the demons. Instead, it ends in a very bloody fight where everyone succumbs to the evil of the ghosts. Secondly, it has Susan George in the cast! I've always been a fan of hers even though she has appeared in mostly schlock but her performances are always top notch. Also she usually appears nude which she does here in two separate scenes and while she doesn't have classic features she does have a unique tomboy like look about her and it's one of the reasons why she was so popular. But after appearing in silly films such as this I think it led to her getting out of the business or working only sporadically. This isn't a bad film but it's never convincing and watching the ghosts scurry around when the Monk gives an exorcism is practically worthy of a giggle or two. The bottom line is that this is silly and I hope George decides to resume her career.