The House by the Cemetery (1981 film)

Yes, it's possible.  It's a typical example of the local architecture.  There are probably hundreds of houses like it in the area. - Norman

Day 2 of 1981 Week and we have an... interesting one, to say the least.  I can't remember if I saw this film at the video store when I was younger or not.  I kind of remember the box art, but it could have been from another, similar movie.  Either way, my interest in the film was peaked when I saw the art in Horror Hound's 1981 Horror Tribute article.  (The issue in question, btw, was #29, May/June 2011.)  I happened to have picked up the Pure Terror 50 movie box set not too long ago and this film happened to be in the set, so I considered myself lucky.  It also played a factor in the reason I decided to try a 1981 week in the first place!

The basic story is that a family of three, Norman and Lucy Boyle and their son, Bob, move into the titular house by the cemetery.  A colleague of Norman's has committed suicide and Norman's determined to step in and finish his work.  Bob keeps seeing a little girl that nobody believes is there, Lucy seems to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and Norman seems somewhat oblivious to it all.  As weird sounds start permeating the house and the history of the place comes to light, can the family be saved before the past comes back to haunt them?

I came into this movie with an open mind.  I wanted to like it, I really did, and for the most part, I did.  It was directed by the great Lucio Fulci, of Zombie fame, and it had some good gore effects (including the ever-present worms and maggots that are so prevalent in Italian horror) and make-up and the scenery was beautiful.  That being said, there were several problems I found in this.  First off, there were several plot holes left in that might have been addressed in the film's original Italian, but I'm not sure.  Why did several people recognize Norman, even though he claimed to have never been there before?  Why did the babysitter, Ann, decide to remove the boards blocking the cellar door one night?  And how did Norman and Ann seem to know eachother, if my reading of their eye contact is correct?  My other major gripe is my complete and total confusion over what happens in the ending.  No spoilers, but it comes out of nowhere and left me scratching my head in befuddlement.

The cast was really good in this film.  Playing Lucy Boyle was Catriona MacColl, a British actress who starred in two other Fulci films, City of the Living Dead and The Beyond.  Anin Pieroni plays the baby sitter, Ann.  She also played in Dario Argent's Inferno, and in Fracchia contro Dracula, her last film.  Giovanni Frezza played Bob Boyle, son of Norman and Lucy, who seems to have an invisible playmate.  His last film before seemingly retiring from acting was Demons.

So, all in all an interesting movie with good actors and special effects but, for me, a bit too confusing with unanswered questions.  I have to give this one a 3 out of 5.  Join us tomorrow for an Italian take on Jaws with... GREAT WHITE!  Take care of yourselves and this is Red Hawk signing out!

Identity (2003 film)

If he tries anything, I'm gonna shoot him.  And if anything tries to come in here, I'm gonna shoot it.  And if any of us moves, I'm gonna shoot them.  You got that? - Rhodes

In the middle of the Nevada desert, in a small roadside motel, a fight for survival is raging.  Eleven strangers meet at the motel in the middle of a rainstorm: a family of three, a newlywed couple, a chauffeur and the actress he's driving, a police officer and his prison transfer con, a call girl and the motel's desk clerk.  Someone starts picking them off one by one.  Who is it?  Well, that would spoil the surprise, now wouldn't it?

I first came across this movie in online advertisements.  There was a website for it that had a sort of mini-game on it that you could follow through to find clues about it.  I found the website interesting and the game fun, though my computer couldn't really handle all of it at the time.  So, when ads on TV started showing, I knew this was one I had to see in the theater.  Now, ten years later, it's my honor to bring it to you.

The film is more in line with a classic murder mystery, something of an homage to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None/Ten Little Indians.  The suspense and fear builds up really well until the final reveal of the true identity of the killer.  It'll definitely keep you guessing!

We have a major ensemble cast here, from John Cusack (1408, 2012 and The Raven) to Rebecca De Mornay (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and the Mother's Day remake), Amanda Peet (2012 again and Changing Lanes) to John Hawkes (From Dusk Till Dawn, Wristcutters: A Love Story and S. Darko), Ray Liotta (Turbulence and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City), Jake Busey (The Frighteners, The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting, and Wristcutters: A Love Story again), Alfred Molina (Raiders of the Lost Ark and Spider-Man 2), John C. McGinley (Hear No Evil, Seven and Office Space), the list goes on and on.  You don't see a cast like this very often anymore, outside of the Machete movies!

I give this film a 5 out of 5.  I've always enjoyed the murder mystery format like this, where the killer's identity isn't revealed till late in the game, and this one does not disappoint.  Thanks for joining me for this one.  Tomorrow, we'll have one of my lost films, Manhater.  Take care of yourself, enjoy your weekend, and this is Red Hawk signing out!