Main Cast: Arye Gross, Jonathan Stark, Royal Dano, Lar Park Lincoln, Bill Maher, John Ratzenberger
Release Year: 1987
Country: US
Run Time: 88 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
This mundane sequel to New World Pictures' surprise horror hit bears little connection with its predecessor apart from the participation of writer Ethan Wiley, who also assumed directorial duties. This time around, the title abode is an old mansion inherited by the great-great-grandson of its original owner, a legendary frontier outlaw. The new owner, Jesse (Arye Gross), whose parents were murdered in the mansion 20 years ago, unwisely searches the premises for a cache of gems believed to be hidden there. With the aid of girlfriend Kate (Lar Park Lincoln) and buddy Charlie (Jonathan Stark), Jesse stumbles upon the original owner himself (Royal Dano), who is remarkably still alive (albeit in particularly decrepit condition) and cantankerous as all get-out. Great-great-grandpa has been preserved by the supernatural powers of an Aztec crystal skull, which is also capable of reanimating the dead and opening portals into other dimensions. Its true powers are tested readily when the skull falls into the wrong hands, leading our heroes on a wacky supernatural chase. The horror-comedy formula that kept the original film's shaky premise afloat is far less functional here, filling the story with silly contrivances that include a collection of pet monsters and a time-travel romantic subplot. Still, the film has some clever moments, mainly from Dano, who makes the most of his difficult character by adding a cartoonish flair, and from Cheers alum John Ratzenberger's amusing cameo turn as a plumber strangely accustomed to cross-dimensional travel. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Amy Yasbeck - Lana; Gregory Walcott - Sheriff; Dwier Brown - Clarence; Lenora May - Judith; Devin DeVasquez - Virgin; Ronn Carroll - Deputy; Mitzi Kapture - Cowgirl; Doug MacHugh - High Priest; Jayne Modean - Rochelle; Gus Rethwisch - Arnold the Barbarian; David Arnott - Banana; Kane Hodder - Gorilla; Gil Birmingham - Featured Warrior; Dean Cleverdon - Slim Reezer; Susan Isaac - Cat
Credit
Don Diers - Art Director, Larry Fulton - Art Director, Andrew Z. Davis - Associate Producer, Heidi F. Gilles - Costume Designer, Heidi Kaczenski - Costume Designer, Betsy Magruder - First Assistant Director, Ethan Wiley - Director, Martin W. Nicholson - Editor, Harry Manfredini - Composer (Music Score), Daniel Marc - Makeup, Gregg Fonseca - Production Designer, Mac Ahlberg - Cinematographer, Sean S. Cunningham - Producer, Dorree Cooper - Set Designer, James Isaac - Special Effects, Chris Walas - Special Effects, Kim Ornitz - Sound/Sound Designer, Kane Hodder - Stunts, Ethan Wiley - Screenwriter
House II: The Second Story is the 1987 sequel to the 1986 film, House. While it is a sequel, this film ignores the storyline and characters from the first film, in favor of a new supernatural comedy. Also, the film's tone was much lighter then the original film and the other following sequels. It is also the first and only House movie to receive a PG-13 rating.
Young urban professionals Jesse (Arye Gross) and his girlfriend Kate (Lar Park Lincoln), move into an old mansion that has been in Jesse's family for generations. They are soon joined by Jesse's goofy friend Charlie (Jonathan Stark), who brought along his diva girlfriend Lana (Amy Yasbeck), in the hopes of being discovered by Kate (who works for a record company). Jesse has returned to this old family mansion after his parents were murdered when he was just a little baby, and he quickly locates a mysterious skull.
Jesse and Charlie decide to dig up Jesse's great-great-grandfather (Royal Dano), who is a friendly cowboy zombie that likes to party and talk about how he found the skull with his partner, Slim. Its promise of eternal life and time travel prompted the two cowboys to become eternal villains, with Slim responsible for the death of Jesse's parents. Jesse, Gramps and Charlie must try to keep Slim from getting a hold of the skull, while dealing with the fact that the skull has transformed the mansion so that each of its rooms act as hidden doorways across space and time. The time travelling trio pick up a baby pterodactyl, a caterpillar-dog, and an Ancient Mexican woman about to be sacrificed along with battling various time travelling thugs that want the skull, including Slim.
Eventually, Jesse must face off with Slim in the Wild West, and while he is victorious, Gramps has been mortally wounded and passes away with a final warning about the power of the skull. The film ends with the suggestion that the heroes have decided to use the skull to time travel.
Mitzi Kapture has a small, non-speaking role in the film as "Cowgirl".
