House 2 (1987)
Written By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Ethan Wiley
Producer: Sean S. Cunningham
Screenplay: Ethan Wiley
Date Released: August 28, 1987
Cast:
Arye Gross as Jesse McLaughlin
Jonathan Stark as Charlie Coriell
Royal Dano as Gramps McLaughlin
Bill Maher as John Statmen
John Ratzenberger as Bill Towner
Lar Park Lincoln as Kate
Rating = 2.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
When Jessie moves into his parent’s house, he discovers a family book containing his great great grandfather. Curious, Jessie and his friend, Charlie dig up his great great grandfather and find a magical skull. But what Jessie finds out is that the skull resurrected his great great grandfather. When Jessie and Charlie befriend Gramps, they take him back to the house. Soon thereafter, strange environments and people start appearing within the house.
Gore Factor
The film is not gory and does not contain any blood. Most of the film’s prosthetic and animatronic work have the appearance of fantasy-like figures and creatures such as prehistoric birds or strange insects. Nevertheless, the creatures are fun to watch.
The Grave Review
House 2 (1987) is a comedy-horror film. There is nothing in this film that is scary or disturbing. The story line simply is two guys must try to keep a glass skull safer from other people but they are constantly losing it. The plot is nothing special but where the film excels is its subtle humor that it incorporates. The best way to describe this film is if the film dumb and dumber was combined with a horror/fantasy film.
One of the funniest scenes is when an electrician shows up at the house and as he is inspecting the wires in the wall, he casually states “looks like you have some kind of third dimension in your wall.” As Jessie and Charlie venture from one world to another, they keep collecting creatures and people from each place. At one point they are all having dinner at the dinner table. The humor is dry but we appreciate the subtleties.
The film was well-paced and doesn’t have much dead time. Overall, the film was entertaining. Upon finishing House II, it did not feel like a horror film but it was a feel good film.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives House 2 (1987) two and one-half graves out of five graves.
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