From The Grave
HOUSE OF THE NOT SO HOLY
The film I want to discuss in this article is not your usual haunted house movie, made in 1986 and stars William Katt as Roger Cobb, a very troubled writer.
Cobb is a fairly successful horror writer, and at a book signing, we see just how odd his fans are. Yet, Cobb continues in that aw- shucks- manner while placing his John Hancock on the front sleeve of his reader’s books. Cobb wants to write about his experiences in Vietnam, but his agent assures him no one wants to read that, just his horror stories.
Next we see Cobb moving into a gothic designed house his Aunt (Susan French---Somewhere in Time, Jaws 2.) had left him. It seems Cobb’s Aunt had committed suicide in that very house. While walking the premises with the real estate agent, tells Cobb that his Aunt was a painter and; as the real estate agent put it, “painted a very creepy picture” of the closet door opened and a bright light appearing. Turns out Cobb had grown up in that house. As they walk on looking into rooms, Cobb’s problems flash in front of the scene. Apparently, Cobb’s son fell in the pool. Cobb jumped in, but he didn’t find his son anywhere. The cops are baffled, but Cobb’s Aunt Blames the house and Cobb’s wife Sandy (Kay Lenz----Midnight Caller, Death Wish 4.) runs out of the room calling the old woman a crazy old bat.
Cobb informs the real estate agent he is moving into the house. The real estate agent shows Cobb a painting the Aunt was working on. ”It gives me the creeps,” he says. The painting is of a young woman standing in front of an open door of a closet, illuminated by a bright light, objects from the room swirling around her like a grandfather clock and a pocket watch.
Cobb and Sandy never able to overcome the tragedy of losing their son are divorced. Cobb has decided to write that book about his past experiences while living in that house may not have been his best decision.
While looking around the house, Cobb hears a door from the upstairs bedroom slam shut. More than curious, he investigates. Cobb hears a muffled voice call out. He goes into his son’s room, nothing is there. Then he hears more noise from the other rooms. He opens the door to a room and sees his Aunt standing there. “It won, Roger,” she says. “It tricked me.” She steps on a chair and proceeds to place a noose around her neck and informs Cobb, “It will trick you too. This house knows everything about you!” She jumps from the chair and disappears.
After such a strange incident, you’d think Roger Cobb would leave. Instead he chooses to ignore it, go on with his life. Later, he meets a neighbor Harold Gordon (played by George Wendt--- Cheers, King of Ants). A funny scene where Gordon tells Cobb that the old lady who lived in the house was nuts, a crazy old hag---Cobb informs him, “She was my aunt.” Gordon’s reply; “A heart of gold—really—so beautiful for a woman her age.” Gordon invites Cobb to hang out, but Cobb declines, saying he’s a writer looking for solitude. Gordon puts two and two together, “Roger Cobb! I don’t believe it! I’m your biggest fan!” Gordon asks for an autograph and pulls out a paperback with the pages falling out. Not the best way to meet your so called favorite writer.
Bruno and Dora discuss coming to live in the house of her first husband Carlos, which we learn had committed suicide seven years ago. Dora seems to have a nervous condition, and after a few more scenes, there’s good reason she’s so easily rattled. We also learn that Bruno is an Airline Pilot, going off to New York. Dora says: “You’re always flying off when I need you.” And then the camera shows the cellar, panning up the stairs, we see Marco lying in bed listening, and back down into the living room, where Bruno and Dora are making love on the couch. The camera slowly pans over where the ever- present sculpture of the over-sized hand has taken full view of this act. Suddenly, Marco bolts upright in his bed, obviously disturbed. He angrily whispers, “Pig! Pigs!”
“There’s a lot to like about House...”
The scene shifts and Marco and Dora are chasing each other through a wooded area. Dora says, “You can’t catch me, I’m the wicked witch of the forest”. When they catch each other, a very unsettling thing happens. He lands on top of Dora. He won’t let her up, she realizes he has a bit of supernatural upper body strength. Grunting, Marco begins humping Dora. Distressed, Dora finally eases Marco off her.
They go to the park and watch a puppet show with other children. The subject matter has either perplexed the other children or somewhat horrified them, as we see on their faces. But Marco is smiling, enjoying the show quite a bit, where an evil king announces to a female puppet that he will take her away to his castle and teach her the art of black magic and they will ride on the backs of giant bats and terrible black cats will scratch out her eyes. Dora tries to reason with Marco to leave the show. Marco tells her no and states that, “Oh boy! This is wonderful!”
There is a flashback to when Cobb was serving in the Vietnam War, stuck deep in the jungle. Cobb was asleep and his Sgt. Kicks his boots, telling him to wake up and get ready. “We have a war to lose.” He screams at another soldier named Ben (Richard Moll---Night Court, Highlander TV show). Ben tells Cobb,” I’m sick of this punk telling me what to do! No one tells me what to do.” During a legion pow wow, Cobb asks Ben for a cigarette,
Ben hands Cobb a cigarette box, and when Cobb opens it, a small snake appears. Cobbs drops it and Ben lights up with laughter, angering the commanding officer. At this point, Ben sees a grenade drop close to the outfit. They are under attack from the Vietcong.
What we really see is Cobb writing that scene. Was that truth or fiction? Cobb takes a minute to pay attention to a movie on TV, decides to turn it off via remote, and hears a child laughing. He sees his son looking at him from the outside window. The child calls out to him and Cobb hits the off button on the remote to make his son disappear.
According to Wikipedia, House opened in 1,440 theaters on February 28, 1986 and grossed $5,923,972 in its opening weekend, missing first place to Pretty in Pink. By the end of its run, House grossed $19,444,631 at the North American box office and $22.1 million worldwide.
There’s a lot to like about House, skillfully directed by Steve Minor (Warlock, Soul Man, Forever Young) and produced by Sean Cunningham (Friday the 13th). Screenplay by Ethan Wiley (Children of the Corn IV), and a story by Fred Dekker (Night of the Creeps, The Monster Squad). The story builds and has loads of comedic touches, such as the appearance of George Wendt. You would think that would be out of place for most films, but it seems to add to this one. Of course the great Richard Moll and his character brought a wonderful edge to it. A soundtrack was released on vinyl and tape. House II came out a year later, which I wouldn’t even use as mental punishment to my worst enemy.
Mark Slade, HMS
Read the previous installment.