Learn more Download now Shop now Shop now Shop now Shop now Learn More Shop now Shop now Learn more Shop Fire Shop Kindle Learn More Shop now Shop now Learn more

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
15
3.5 out of 5 stars
American Gothic [1988] [DVD]

American Gothic [1988] [DVD]

bySarah Torgov
Format: DVD|Change
Price:£7.99+ Free shipping with Amazon Prime
Write a review
Read more
Read more
3.0 out of 5 stars"There will be no Devil's play in this house"
ByWest25on 2 March 2013
Format: DVD|Verified Purchase
Cynthia recently lost her child and has spent some time recovering in a hospital, she's just been released so her husband, Jeff, decides to take her and four friends to the islands where they spent their honeymoon. They start to encounter engine difficulties while in the air, so decide to land the plane on what appears to be a deserted island. They set up camp for the night, and the following morning they set off to find help. They eventually stumble upon a cottage and go inside, where they meet an old couple that simply call themselves Ma and Pa. They're invited to stay for dinner and the group accept, one of them lights up a cigarette and Pa shows his disgust and tells her to smoke outside. They then meet one of their children called Fanny, a middle-aged woman who claims to be twelve-years-old. The group stay the night at Ma and Pa's, but the group have been split into male and female, as they won't tolerate premarital sex under their roof. In the morning, a member of the group called Rob decides to take a walk and finds Fanny playing on a crudely made swing with her brother, Woody. Rob is killed and the group mourn his death. We then meet Ma and Pa's other son called Teddy. The group soon discover that they've made a horrible mistake landing on their island, and they'll be lucky to make it off as the family begin the hunt.

Academy Award winner Rod Steiger is Pa, this is not the type of film you expect an actor of Steiger's ability to be in, but he really adds gravitas to a role that would have been turned into a caricature in lesser hands. He's as creepy as he is funny, and he's definitely the main draw in this film. Yvonne De Carlo is almost as good as Ma, the two of them play off each other wonderfully to create one of the strangest couples from a slasher film. De Carlo is best remembered as Lily Munster from The Munsters, she made American Gothic in the same year as another horror film called Cellar Dweller that really needs a DVD release. Michael J. Pollard who was nominated for an Oscar for Bonnie And Clyde, delivers another strange performance as Woody, Janet Wright is equally strange as Fanny and William Hootkins is intimidating as the biggest of all the children. Most of the group are pretty forgettable, they're just there to be picked off by the family.

American Gothic is directed by John Hough, he's directed some really good horror films such as Twins Of Evil, The Legend Of Hell House, The Watcher In The Woods, Incubus and one I'm sure he'd like to forget about, The Howling IV: The Original Nightmare. It's obvious to see that American Gothic isn't one of his better horror efforts, but it's one of the most fun. He directs the film quite playfully and really lets his cast enjoy themselves, especially Steiger and De Carlo. There's not much blood or gore, no nudity and even the language is minimal as Ma and Pa won't tolerate bad language. What it does have is a strange and disturbing vibe throughout, and when the family do start to kill, the pace is excellent and doesn't slow until it ends.

The DVD picture quality is really good, much better than I expected this low budget and often forgotten film to look. There's no subtitles, and sadly the only extra is a trailer. American Gothic can't compete with the best of the early '80s slasher films, but there weren't too many better than this that came out in the late '80s. I don't think most people that aren't into slasher films would enjoy this, but for hardcore slasher fans, this is a funny, charming and enjoyable bit of fluff that will help fill out your collection.
0Comment| 5 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
3.0 out of 5 starssometimes films just look dated
ByDustdevilon 16 July 2013
Format: DVD|Verified Purchase
I remember this one from the old days of vhs (think it was called Hide and Shriek back then) and thought I would give it a go some 20 odd years later to see if it stands up today.

Well to start with the acting,you can't go far wrong with Steiger and DeCarlo together,and Michael J Pollard gives some sinister humor,the rest of the cast also give solid performances.

Trouble is the "young folk" the teenage characters are really annoying and disrespectful in other words complete jerks,and I just could not wait for them to get killed.

Now either I was one of them when growing up at the time so never noticed them in films of this genre,but have now grown up and now find them irritating as hell - or this film is an exception and I simply forgot.Either way for me it had the effect of dating the look and as there is very little blood when the killing starts it became disappointing.

So would I recommend it ?
Yes its only a couple of quid used
0Comment|Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat little hidden gem
ByPatsyon 2 January 2018
Format: DVD|Verified Purchase
Good old horror. This is a brilliant film about a lovely, friendly looking couple, but looks are deceiving as the are also a murdering pair who kill people who come and stay at their B&B. They are very evil and nasty. I was both scared and horrified. There are some great gags too.
0Comment|Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars
Byantfanon 17 November 2017
Format: DVD|Verified Purchase
Absolute classic! Must watch for any horror fan!!
0Comment|Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars
ByRaymond Walkeron 28 December 2014
Format: DVD|Verified Purchase
Did not particularly enjoy the DVD, but got exactly what i had paid for
0Comment|Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars
ByLIAM LOOBYon 28 April 2017
Format: DVD|Verified Purchase
With a watch
0Comment|Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars
ByM.Aon 28 January 2015
Format: DVD|Verified Purchase
Thank you very much.
0Comment|Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 stars80s classic
ByStephen O. Sullivanon 14 June 2007
Format: DVD|Verified Purchase
If your a horror fan like me you will love this film.The acting is very good for a 80s B-movie it also has plenty of shocks and twists.Buy it you wont be sorry its really good five stars
0Comment| 7 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
4.0 out of 5 starsTwisted 80's Horror
Byj.ron 25 November 2011
Format: DVD
If you're into horrors, particuarly classics like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday 13th, Bloody Valentine, Halloween etc then you'll definately like American Gothic. It's quite a sick and twisted little film that manages to keep you entertained from beginning to end. I found it fractionally too horrible in places. I prefer my horrors very scary or completaly tongue in cheek, this one veered between the two which made me feel unsettled. I'd give it 3.8 out of 5. Not a classic but definately worth seeing if you're into this sort of thing. The DVD is widescreen.
0Comment| 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
4.0 out of 5 starsWeird and fun
ByM. Brookeson 2 September 2014
I bought this on the strength of the name alone as I love the TV show of the same name. It just goes to show that I buy things for the dumbest reasons sometimes. To be honest I almost turned the film off in the first quarter of an hour. I stuck with it though and it developed into quite a weird and bloody slasher.

There is a lot of weirdness in this film and as the end approach I didn't think it could get any weirder and it managed to surprise me. It shows it ages, but once it gets going it's a fun watch.
0Comment|Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse

Customers also viewed these items

American Gothic - Complete Series [DVD]
American Gothic - Complete Series [DVD]
byGary Cole
£9.95
4.7 out of 5 stars141
American Gothic: Season One
American Gothic: Season One
byJuliet Rylance
5.0 out of 5 stars1
Happy Birthday To Me [DVD] [2004]
Happy Birthday To Me [DVD] [2004]
byMelissa Sue Anderson
£10.99
4.1 out of 5 stars34
The Blob [1988]
The Blob [1988]
byKevin Diljon
£9.98
4.3 out of 5 stars90
Unhinged [DVD]
Unhinged [DVD]
byLaurel Munson
£7.16
3.3 out of 5 stars23
Need customer service? Click here

Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.