Susan French | 80's Movie Guide

House movie storyline. Roger Cobb is a Vietnam vet whose career as a horror novelist has taken a turn for the worse when his son Jimmy mysteriously disappears while visiting his aunt's house. Roger's search for Jimmy destroys his marriage and his writing career. The sudden death of his aunt brings Roger back to the house where his nightmares began. The evil zombies in the house force Roger to endure a harrowing journey into his past. House is a 1986 American horror film directed by Steve Miner and starring William Katt, George Wendt, Richard Moll, and Kay Lenz. The plot tells of a troubled author who lives in his deceased aunt's house and is soon fallen victim to the house being haunted. Upon release on February 28, 1986, it grossed $22.1 million worldwide. It was followed by three sequels: House II: The Second Story, House III: The Horror Show, and House IV. About the Story Author Roger Cobb is a troubled man, having been separated from his wife (Kay Lenz; their only son Jimmy disappeared without a trace and his aunt committed suicide by hanging. On top of everything else, he has been pressured by his publisher to write another book. To the chagrin of his fans and publisher, Cobb plans a novel based on his experiences in Vietnam, instead of another horror story, as a way to purge himself of the horrors that he had experienced while there. After his aunt's funeral, Cobb decides to live inside her house to write instead of selling it as recommended by the estate attorney. After moving in, Cobb begins to have powerful graphic nightmares, including thoughts about his military ally, Big Ben, who died in Vietnam. In addition, strange phenomena spring forth from the house haunting him in his waking hours as well. He tries communicating his fears to his next door neighbor named Harold but he thinks that Cobb is crazy. One night while investigating a noise coming from his late aunt's bedroom, Cobb is attacked by a deformed monster inside the closet. Soon, more attacks occur: levitating garden tools attack him, his wife appears and transforms into a hideous hag-like creature to attack him and gremlin creatures attempt to kidnap a neighbor's child who Cobb is reluctantly babysitting. Eventually Cobb discovers an entry into a sinister other-world through the bathroom medicine cabinet and is pulled into the darkness where he fortuitously locates his lost son Jimmy. Cobb manages to escape with Jimmy, but is soon confronted by an undead Big Ben who wants revenge on him; Cobb did not help him during Vietnam and instead was taken prisoner and tortured before dying. He confronts Ben, no longer afraid of his fears anymore, and destroys him with explosives as he and his son escape the burning house. In the end, he triumphantly glances back at the house while regaining control of his life and reunites with his wife and child. House is a 1986 American horror film directed by Steve Miner and starring William Katt, George Wendt, Richard Moll, and Kay Lenz. The plot tells of a troubled author who lives in his deceased aunt's house and is soon fallen victim to the house being haunted. Upon release on February 28, 1986, it grossed $22.1 million worldwide. It was followed by three sequels: House II: The Second Story, House III: The Horror Show, and House IV. House (1986) Directed by: Steve Miner Starring: William Katt, Kay Lenz, George Wendt, Richard Moll, Mary Stavin, Michael Ensign, Susan French, Steven Williams, Mindy Sterling Screenplay by: Ethan Wiley Production Design by: Gregg Fonseca Cinematography by: Mac Ahlberg Film Editing by: Michael N. Knue Costume Design by: Bernadette O'Brien Set Decoration by: Anne H. Ahrens Art Direction by: John Krenz Reinhart Jr. Music by: Harry Manfredini Distributed by: New World Pictures Release Date: February 28, 1986

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House (1986)

Somewhere in Time (1980)