The House Where Evil Dwells was a pleasant surprise for this collector. I purchased my big box copy solely on the strength of it’s box art. It only seems right that I should scan it and add to the awesomeness that is VHS Wasteland. Check out the full res version.
Here’s the skinny on what it’s about. In 1840, a samurai comes home to find his wife in bed with another man, so he kills them both and then himself. This is easily the most gruesome dismemberment by sword scene I’ve ever witness and it all takes place in slow motion. It’s not over quickly either, with the adulterer backpedaling to escape, throwing all manner of obstacles in the way of the pissed samurai who slashes through furniture and flesh alike in gut churning detail. He offs the backdoor man and his wife before seppukuing himself. This scene alone makes the film worth checking out for you gorehounds. It’s 3 – 4 minutes of pure awesomness that would make a great start to any film. Literally one of the 10 greatest murder scenes on film IMHO.
Flash-forward to the present day (which for the purpose of the film is the early 80’s), and an American family of three moves into this since-abandoned house and starts to experience incidents of haunting and possession. This is where things take a turn for the worse, for the fictional family and the viewer. Things slow way down. A shakey script, mediocre cinematography and uneven performances plague the picture like the transparent blue protagonists. The film has some interesting, if not altogether scary visual effects for the Ghost inhabitants.
Story-wise the film is a real mess. It’s not scary or clever but utterly predictable. What it does have in copious amounts is a very large cheese factor! If you are a fan of Japanese culture like most of us here at Mutantville or if you love a so bad it’s good movie experience, you’ll find lots to appreciate about “The House Where Evil Dwells”.
