Where to begin. OKay, I saw this movie about 25 years ago (I'm 35) and had been searching for it for years. My inquiring about it here must have been one of the earlier "What was That film " questions asked well before that board was established. A few minutes into Burnt Offerings, which has nothing to do with any offerings being burnt, I realized I had found it, the one with Mrs Alerdice. There was a woman named Mrs Alerdice on my street growing up and whenever anyone said her name I thought of this movie, mainly the last scene.
So I was going to watch it regardless, but how is it for someone who's whole life hasn't led up to the moment of acidentally reseeing it and now being able to die happy an elephant lifted from their back? It's pretty good in a dumbed down, cheap, bad acid, pea soup horror sort of way. Karen Black is a Stepford-ish housewife, the great Oliver reed as her increasingly demented (agora-crazy a la The Shining (1980) ) husband and Bette Davis of all people is really good as the mother in law. Unlike the Shining it takes place during the summer though for reasons of plot convenience they never go anywhere (the same reason they avoid doing lots of logical things). Plot holes weren't a big issues in the 70's or rather, CONCERN for them wasn't. All sorts of weird stuff happens in the pool, everyones weird, the house is old and full of creepy pictures and everything is shot in tacky 70's soft core lighting like theres vaseline on the lense or something.
It eventually builds up a decent head of steam. If you've ever seen Warlock Moon, it's kind of like that where they obviously just rented some old house and shot everything there. I wouldn't be surpised if it was the exact same house.
4/5 with a bit of charity for sentimentality
Now I just have to see the movie with the kid named Tump.