THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY: A Fulci classic that still scares

Lucio Fulci is called 'The Godfather of Italian Gore'. Well then, I guess I can call him Don Fulci because he sure is the 'Godfather of Italian Gore'. And with the 1981 film THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY, Fulci lives up to his title. The plot: The Boyle family (Katherine MacColl, Paolo Malco, and Giovanni Frezza) moves from their cramped New York home to a larger home in Boston. But, the house isn't empty as a Dr. Freudstein one lived their, and still does as he survives in a rotted-zombie form feeding on the blood of his victims so he can survive.

Though THE BEYOND (1981; Italian Theatrical Title: L'ALIDIA / U.S. Theatrical Title: THE SEVEN DOORS OF DEATH) is considered to be Lucio Fulci's jewel-in-the-crown horror film (which I wholehardly agree on), I must say that THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY is able to top THE BEYOND on the scare-factor a bit more. Despite Fulci being accredited by most mainstream audiences and critics as a "hack", what these purists are missing out on is that Fucli was able to create a real, honest-to-God horror film despite whatever budget limitations he had! Unlike the horror films of the 80's and 90's that dealt with the typical slasher crap that was dominating the market, Fulci at least gave us something different, if not more excentic than what was being made at the time. A film about a house that is inhabited by a zombie doctor is alot more scarier than some goofball in a second-rate Halloween mask chasing some dumb bimbo!

Another thing that the mainstream critics pick apart on Fulci's films is their limitations on plot. Granted, the plots are very flimsy. Yet, they add to the charm and mystery of the film. Fulci explained that the reason why the films focused little on plotting was that the storyline is treated as a bad dream. And with that, in most bad dreams things happen illogically that are not explained once in a dream. So with Fulci, when something strange happens for no logical reason, their is no need for a proper explination as it's all just a bad, horrific nightmare that cannot be explained. But again, the critics just can't see that message at all as they seem to enjoy pointing out how the film's plot stops suddenly for a spash of gore and suspense (Yet one cult film critic made a good point about the hypocracy of the mainstream critics, and that was critics never pick apart an old Fred Astare film that stops in it's tracks to show some dancing and singing!).

Here THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY is able to deliver what most American horror films of today can't: gore, and believe me their is plenty of it. From a knife thrusted in a girls skull to a woman's decapitated head rolling down the stars to gruesome throat ripping, Fulci lets it all out with effects artist Giannetto De Rossi serving well. Add some great location photography in Boston and a nightmarish sense of dread, this film is worth your time and money. Yet if their is one problem with THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY, it's the English dubbing. Now don't get me wrong, the dubbing is not bad. But whoever dubbed the voice of Bob, the little kid of the Boyle family (played by Giovanni Frezza), what was that person thinking! The voice sounds like the vocalist was on some helium! Other than that, their is nothing else that really has deetered my interest in this great flick.

Originally released by Almi Pictures in 1983, THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY was later released on video via Vestron Video. The transfer was quite horrid as the films reel's were placed out of order (also, some claims say that the thearical version also showed the reel's out of order as well so one wonders if Almi Pictures did some re-editing for "their" version)! Yet Anchor Bay presents THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY uncut and unedited in it's original Techniscope 2.35:1. Transferred from the original 35mm camera negative, it sure looks better than Vestron's old crappy video. Their is some minimal grain, but overall the color is good and the film looks nicely preserved.

The extras, while small, are still worthwhile. What we get is the International trailer that differs from your typical mainstream advertisement that we all grow tired of. The American trailer and TV spot is also presented. What's interesting about the American trailer and TV spot is that it's narrated by Brother Theodore and he sure gives it a run for it's money. A nicely done Still Gallery and Talent Bio's of Lucio Fulci and scriptwriter Dardano Sacchetti ends the extras.

Even if you aren't a Lucio Fulci fan, you still need to check out THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY as it's got everything: ultra-gross gore, great camerawork, lovely locations, and a strange atmosphere that will give you the shivers when you watch it in the dark. Hell, I dare you to watch it in the dark! It'll be more fun.