Sam Panico
It's impossible for me to be objective. The House by the Cemetery is one of my favorite films ever. I cannot defend it's lack of story, the fact that it's influences are pinned to its sleeve or that it makes little to no sense. The first time I watched it - at a drive-in marathon that also included Zombi 2 - was an experience that burned the film into my brain.The beginning will grab you in seconds, as a woman searches for her boyfriend in an abandoned house. She finds him dead, stabbed with scissors. Just then, she's stabbed in the back of the head and the blade of the knife comes out of her mouth! We see her dragged away as the movie begins.Meanwhile in New York City, Bob Boyle (Giovanni Frezza, Warriors of the Wasteland, Manhattan Baby, Demons) and his folks, Norman (Paolo Malco, The New York Ripper, Escape from the Bronx) and Lucy (Katherine MacColl, City of the Living Dead, The Beyond) are moving to the abandoned house we saw in the beginning of the film. Sure, Norman's friend Dr. Peterson killed his mistress and committed suicide there, but why would that be a problem?In one of the eeriest scenes in the film, Bob looks at a photo of the house and notices a young girl moving from room to room. This is the most subtle of all frights, a small moment where reality is not as it should be, and far more potent than even the goriest of grue that Fulci will soon serve up with glee. Only Bob can see this vision, which warns him to stay away.As his parents get the keys to the house, Bob sees the girl again. Inside the rental office, Mrs. Gittleson (Dagmar Lassander, Hatchet for the Honeymoon) is upset that the couple has the Freudstein keys to Oak Mansion, but she promises to find a babysitter from Bob.The mansion is a mess. Yet when the babysitter (Ania Pieroni, Inferno) comes, she enters the previously locked and nailed shut cellar door. Strangeness follows, like a librarian recognizing Norman despite never meeting him, the discovery of a tomb inside the house and a bat attack.The Boyles demand a new house as Norman goes to the hospital. Mrs. Gittleson comes to tell them that she's found a new property, but the Freudstein tombstone in the ground holds her while a figure stabs her in the neck. The next morning, Ann the babysitter cleans up the blood and avoids questions.While the Boyles are at the hospital to treat Norman's injuries from the bat, Mrs. Gittleson arrives at the house to tell them of a new property. Letting herself in, she stands over the Freudstein tombstone, which cracks apart, pinning her ankle. A figure emerges, stabs her in the neck with a fireplace poker, and drags her into the cellar.The next morning, Lucy finds Ann cleaning a bloodstain on the kitchen floor while eluding Lucy's questions about the stain. As they drink their morning coffee, Norman tells Lucy that the house was once home to Dr. Fruedstein, who conducted horrific experiments in the basement. He decides to go to New York City to learn more and on the way, he finds out that Freudstein killed his old friend Peterson's family.Ann can't find Bob, so she goes to the basement where Freudstein slashes her throat and decapitates her. Bob finds her head and screams, but his mother refuses to believe the story. Bob goes back to the cellar but gets locked in. His mother tries to open the door, which can't be unlocked. Norman returns and they make their way down to see Freudstein's hands holding Bob. One axe slash later and the hand is cut off as the monster goes away to recover.Inside the basement, Norman and Lucy find mutilated bodies, surgical equipment and a slab. Turns out that Freudstein is 150 years old and has learned to escape death. He returns and attacks Norman, who returns the favor by stabbing him. The twisted doctor replies by ripping out Norman's throat. Lucy and Bon try to escape, but Freudstein drags her down to the basement where he rams her head into the floor until she dies.Finally, the doctor grabs Bob, who is rescued by Mar and her mother, Mary Fredustein. Mary tells them that it's time to leave as she leads Mae and Bob down to a world of gloom and ghosts.House by the Cemetery is a mash-up of Frankenstein, The Amityville Horror and The Shining. And it's another in the series of classics that Dardano Sacchetti (working with Giorgio Mariuzzo here) wrote for Fulci. If you think it's nonsensical, imagine how early American audiences felt when the original VHS copies released in the U.S. had several of the reels out of order!Seriously, this movie makes no sense whatsoever. There aren't plot holes because there's not even a plot. And sure, some say there's too much gore. Yes, I've heard these complaints and I say no to all of them! Look, you're either going to become an evangelist for this film (if you need me in person, there's a good chance I'll have on a t-shirt with this film's logo, I wear the shirt all the time) and you'll think it's the biggest piece of garbage ever made.
Kontroversial
THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY is part of Lucio Fulci's infamous 7 Gates Trilogy next to THE BEYOND and CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD. Of the three parts I found this to be the weakest entry as it succumbs to be more or less a simple slasher film. By far the worst part of the film are the two child actors (Giovanni Frezza and Silvia Collatina), both butt-ugly, creepy and annoying at the same time. Both could have easily been edited out completely without hurting the "story" (or better, plot) at all, instead they are given way too much screen time. The character of Dr. Freudstein is creepy and well done, the murders are bloody and should satisfy gore hounds out there, although the effects are really dated. Honestly, some editing would have done this film some good, the ending is good, the atmosphere is really good (Fulci is a master in that field), but as I said, those kids should have gone.
MartinHafer
When you see my score of 3, keep in mind that I am not a particular fan of hack 'em up gore films. And clearly, "The House By The Cemetery" is a film of this genre. To me, this film is no better than the typical hack and slash film.The film begins with a family moving into the old Freudstein house. Some awful things happened there years ago but exactly what and why, who knows. Throughout the film there is a lot of foreboding as well as the little boy seeing an apparently invisible or dead friend. Ultimately, it all ends in a messy bloodbath in which a one-armed man rips the crap out of most everyone though who and why really aren't explained....he's just some freak that likes to hack people apart.The bottom line is that if you are looking for death, blood and mayhem, director Lucio Faldi has created a film for you. But, if you want more than lots of fake blood and gore, you too will feel bored by the whole thing.
Neil Welch
Father, mother and annoying son move to a creepy old house where - after several years have passed, though only for you, not in the film - mum and dad are killed by the evil old zombie monster which inhabits the house, and annoying son is saved by the ghost of the evil old zombie monster's daughter.If you are a fan of Lucio Fulci and/or overwrought 1970s Italian gorefests then you may indeed regard this film as a masterpiece. I am not - although I remain open minded and open to persuasion - and I thought that this film was almost entirely without merit. I award points for use of tripod, staying in focus, and gore (on the assumption that's why you're watching it).But it makes little sense, the dubbing is poor, it is full of basic amateur technical mistakes (kid screaming down in the basement, parents hear it outside the basement door at exactly the same volume), and is fairly tedious. I thought it was pretty rubbishy.
