- Actors: Catriona MacColl, Paolo Malco, Ania Pieroni, Giovanni Frezza, Silvia Collatina
- Directors: Lucio Fulci
- Writers: Lucio Fulci, Dardano Sacchetti, Elisa Briganti, Giorgio Mariuzzo, H.P. Lovecraft
- Producers: Fabrizio De Angelis
- Format: PAL
- Region: All Regions
- Classification: 18
- DVD Release Date: 2 Sep 2002
- Run Time: 87 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005KIWN
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 65,164 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you are a Fulci fan, you will probably want to add this to your collection as "House by the Cemetery" comes from Fulcis generally recognised "golden age" of movie making. The plot tells of Norman and Lucy Boyle, a young couple who move to a remote mansion with their young son Bob for a summer of rest and relaxation, only to find that the place is haunted by an evil presence living hidden in the cellar. After several near misses and lots of spooky bad omens, the family discover the identity of the sinister occupant and end up fighting for their lives to escape his twisted plans.
The film tries to weave a web of unease and mystery around the secret in the cellar, and for a while it really works. The camera work and the general look of the locations is pretty good, with a sense of brooding gothic mystery hanging over the poor family. The house itself looks particularly impressive in most of the external shots. However the story rapidly unravels as the film proceeds to throw countless red herrings into the mix and then either completely abandons them (people claiming to have seen Norman at the house in the past, the things that Bob's mysterious playmate Mae tells him about the house's former occupants), or blatantly contradicts itself (most notably the Boyles babysitter, Ann, who's behaviour suddenly swings from one style to the total oppostive with no explanation). But if you can put the irregularities of the script to one side, you should enjoy the ride on a purely shallow level. Lots of scenes are drenched in great atmosphere, such as those involving the enigmatic Mae, and especially the last portion of the film when we get to see exactly what has been going on in the depths of the cellar.
The acting's pretty good, and even though poor Bob has been given a thoroughly unconvincing vocal dub, the scenes with him in peril are among the best that Fulci has ever filmed. I would point out his "axe through the door" scene as one capable of producing a real jolt from any first time viewers. It's also one of the only Fulci films with an enigmatic ending that actually works - I love the other-worldly closing scene and find it very fitting. Plus, it's extremely gory, especially the death of one character who is slowly and repeatedly stabbed with a poker, with blood shown jetting out of every close-up wound. Another character has her throat repeatedly slashed with a large knife until her head appears about to drop off.
So worth adding to any horror collection, as long as you don't mind a plot with quite this many loose ends. However, to the shame of the UK, the British censors are still too squeamish to release the film totally uncut, so I wouldn't recommend this Vipco version, even though it is pretty cheap, because all the gory excesses of the murders have been trimmed. Fulci's trademarks are his gore set-pieces, always presented with lots of suitable build up to, so tampering with them as has been done here dilutes the film's power considerably. You get what you pay for, which is why the Vipco version is forever languishing in the bargain bins. So leave it where it is...The Anchor Bay Region 1 import is the one to go for.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of THE scariest films I have ever seen. The first time I watched this alone it was quite an experience. Some of the dubbing, especially the kid Giovanni Frezza was a little irritaring, but even the cut British version of this film is so dark and atmospheric its become one of my all time favourite movies. As with many Lucio Fulci films, there are plot holes and very bizarre untold stories going on, but I dont think this matters as the overall feel is SCARY AS HELL! The camera work is fantastic, loads and loads of zoom lens use and close ups of Eyeballs and bloody wounds. The zombie himself Dr.Freudstien is kept hidden in the basement for most of the film but once discovered is just fantastic. The film bases itself around some sort of gothic vortex of time, the film begins in the present and ends in the past. Quite haunting stuff. I wont say any more, but this is one horror film you need to see!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Frightening,bizzare,gory and trippy horror film.The films plot is a mixture of many famous horror films,including the shining,frankenstien,dont look now and the amytiville horror.However this film is somehow more than the sum of its parts and is genuinly nightmarish and frightening. On seeing this film as a kid who had seen a lot of horror films,this was the one that made the most impression on me and my friends,and was talked about in school for years afterwards,(even my father was impressed by it!) I wont give away too much plot but the film is based around a scary house on the edge of a cemetery,the family that moves there ,a ghoulish monster and a terrible secret. Strange close up camera shots (in typical fulci style)permeate the movie,and terrible dubbing,but great creepy music,and very gruesome scenes.Not for the faint hearted! I highly recommend this film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
house by the cemetery (old video nasty)
The house by the cemetery is an old 1981 horror film. This says allot about the film it tells us not to expect the best horror or the most nasty effects. Read more
Published 9 months ago by A. Holyoake
teenage thrills
i remember seeing this at the cinema , aged 16 and scared the heck out of me! it later became a mainstay of our 'tuesday night video b movies',
scoring well on... Read more
scoring well on... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2007 by pygmykillertiger
Utterly Boring !
This movie is working hard on trying to frighten one, but never manage to, before one fall asleep.
It is a boring, and even to many times comic, trying to be frightening movie. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2005
A blood soaked and hugely enjoyable horror !
My personal favourite Fulci film.
As with all Fulci films, the atmosphere is as immediately noticeable as the style with which he directs. Read more
As with all Fulci films, the atmosphere is as immediately noticeable as the style with which he directs. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2004 by Mr. W. J. Robbins
Dr. Freudstein?
Horrible movie about a family moving to a mansion in New England, once owned by deranged Dr. Freudstein. Extremely laughable dubbing & horrible video transfer here. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2004 by Sami El Alam
Good effort, but a few dodgy bits
This is a bit of a nasty film. To be honest the widescreen presentation doesn't make much difference, the film is just as good, or bad, in either widescreen or normal format. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2003 by mr_ska
the house by the cemetery
This poorly acted and dubbed "video nasty" appears to be a total waste to cellulode. Althrough it begins with a shocking murder, in the typical old spooky house, and several other... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2003
Under-rated Classic
I'll never forget the first time i rented this, around 13 years ago. What it lacks in clear and logical narrative, (something i probably have in common with the film) it certainly... Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2003 by Tony Curran
1981-Vintage Fulci Year
House by the Cemetery is the fourth film in what hardgore horror afficiandos have dubbed Lucio Fulci's "zombie quartet". Read more
Published on 9 May 2003 by "glass_slipper"
If you're a fan of Fulci, I recommend this film.
House by the Cemetery
A young family moves from their cramped New York City apartment to a spacious new home in New England. Read more
A young family moves from their cramped New York City apartment to a spacious new home in New England. Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2002 by "nchick"
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