Movie Type: Haunted House Film, Supernatural Horror
Themes: Love Triangles, Ghosts
Main Cast: Edward Albert, Susan George, Doug McClure, Amy Barrett, Mako Hattori
Release Year: 1982
Country: US
Run Time: 88 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Based on a novel by James Hardiman, this routine haunted-house scenario is enhanced a bit by its lush Eastern setting. The story opens in an elaborate Kyoto abode, wherein a cuckolded samurai brutally murders his wife and her lover before committing ritual seppuku. Their restless spirits remain trapped in the house until the present, where the story continues with an American couple (Edward Albert and Susan George), the house's newest owners, whose minds soon begin to fall under the ghosts' powerful psychic influence. After the arrival of a family friend, visiting diplomat Doug McClure, a curious re-enactment of the original tragedy unfolds, and even the intervention of a Buddhist monk (Henry Mitowa) fails to dispel the evil. The filmmakers seem more concerned with the sex than horror, as indicated by frequent nudity (particularly from George) and numerous sweaty clinches, paying short shrift to the great potential offered by the Asian setting -- an aspect only hinted at in the Buddhist exorcism scenes. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Review
The House Where Evil Dwells isn't likely to win over fans of traditional ghost stories. Despite a solid premise and a unique setting, this movie trades the subtle chills and creepy atmospherics of this subgenre for knee-jerk shocks, a dollop of softcore sex, and not one but two gory fight scenes. Subtleties like characterization and atmosphere fall by the wayside. However, a serious ghost story fan's loss is an exploitation movie fan's gain here. The House Where Evil Dwells may be lacking in subtlety, and more than a little silly, but director Kevin Connor keeps the pace tight, the look colorful, and the exploitable action front and center. The cast is also better than the story deserves: Edward Albert, Doug McClure, and Susan George all play their roles in a straight, sincere fashion, with George working up a convincing level of hysteria as the story builds. Most importantly, exploitation buffs will howl with delight during the finale, which combines swordplay, kung fu, body-hopping ghosts, and a few splashes of gore into a genuinely jaw-dropping capper. In short, serious horror fans need not apply for The House Where Evil Dwells, but trash fans will get a kick from its pulpy excesses. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Toshiyuki Sasaki - Shugoro; Toshiya Maruyama - Masanori; Tsuyako Okajima - Witch; Henry Mitowa - Zen Monk; Joseph Cotten - Ivar
Credit
Yoshikazu Sano - Art Director, Kevin Connor - Director, Barry Peters - Editor, Ken Thorne - Composer (Music Score), Anne S. Coffey - Cinematographer, Jacques Haitkin - Cinematographer, Martin B. Cohen - Producer, Graham Harris - Sound Editor, Robert Suhosky - Screenwriter, James W. Hardiman - Book Author
