Search - The Shunned House on DVD

Would H.P. Lovecraft approve of his name on this movie, or i

T. A. Boylan | CA | 01/05/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Because "The Shunned House" is attributed to H.P. Lovecraft, I gave it one star. H.P. Lovecraft awesome, this movie, uhh, dung.

Shot on video, "The Shunned House" made me immediately think low-budget and under-propped. The acting "kinda", (ahem!), sucks, and the dialogue, while a minor flaw for the most part, is not always audible or discernable.

I thought it was a total cheeseball maneouver in a "Lovecraft movie" that the main actresses boobies were, albeit subtly, used as an enticement to keep the viewer interested.

"The Shunned House" starts off very slowly, but does not waste any time getting the idea across that something sinister is in the house, and then entirely bored, I turned it off and took a nap.

I awoke about an hour later and turned it back on from where I had left off, hoping that it would get better, and then seemingly quite suddenly in contrast to the, shall we say slow and unsuccessful attempt at developing a mystery in the beginning, and for the rest of the movie, blood is there, and there, and there, and the whole big mystery turns out to be nothing more than, and shall we have the drum-roll please, fwa-ba-doobledy-boop-de-doop and (ta da!),...a woman designed the house to make her guests insane and "forever" so they would kill each other over and over again or something and never leave the house. I guess it is supposed to take place in Spain, which did not feel Lovecraftian (for lack for a better word) at all.

As far as my experience with Lovecraft goes, and although I admittedly can't remember the details of "The Shunned House", this movie is not typical of Lovecraft, who addictively, and necessarily, made a point of making smooth and subtle transitions from the ordinary world of humans towards the hidden mysteriousnessess of other intelligences somewhere within reach of mortal man and vice versa, that sometimes encounter one another, and with contact with the otherness from beyond usually producing major and irrevocable and disturbing changes in the appearance and behavior of the mere human(s) involved, usually involving a single item or room to convey a portal or preoccupation of some kind, but this movie clumsily uses the whole house, I guess in an attempt to overwhelm, but certainly not to bedazzle, which would have been possible if more money was spent on some period furnishings or other prop pieces.

The immense and strange unknown that lurks just beyond the threshold of our feeble grasp of our own human reality that is expected of any work having anything to do with Lovecraft is replaced instead by a fascination with blood and unmotivated, dispassionate murder and, ooh, scary shadows and dumb people with black hair walking around and bumping into each other in their white but blood-stained nightshirts.

I think that Lovecraft's name was used in the title appropriately to some small degree in theme, with regards to "The Music of Eric Zann" or whatever the name of that story is (it has been awhile), but overall this movie is a disgrace to Lovecraft.

The special fear that Lovecraft invokes is that of the growing knowledge that there is "something" overwhemingly otherworldly, and not even necessarily malign or malignant, but most importantly alien (not little green) or just "different" from what we call normal or sane or mundane (come on, it is supposed to be hard to explain, unless you're H.P. Lovecraft), in the darkness, but quite frankly, this weirdo movie only makes me afraid of people with knives.

If you are considering buying this movie in search of a Lovecraftian experience, do not, as there is little for you in it, but as I tried to state earlier, there is some, although...it...is...very...little."

Very Different

A. G. Almond | 08/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Obviously very low budget which I suspect is why the other reviewer did not like it. I was wary at first but it is so unique I got interested. It is very gruesome and gory. Much more than I would have expected. The fact that it is in Italy and all the actors are Italian make it unique also. I bought it in a 10 dollar movie pack with 5 other movies and I think it will be the best one. I dont think I will regret the purchase. It is sort of creepy. Not a waste of time unless you cant handle low budget."

Xtreme Haunted House

Veritas Veritatis | 08/23/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Why do I have to stumble upon great films
based on the work of H.P. Lovecraft almost
by accident when they deserve a high place
in the pantheon of horror cinema?
"Dagon" and now this one, "The Shunned House".

This is one all-out freak-out of a haunted
(haunting?) house story.

It is loosely based on several of the stories
of H.P. Lovecraft, and therefore not actually
one at all, but it successfully achieves the
Lovecraftian sensibility. Well done!

It took me a while to return to my own
dimension after viewing it for the first time,
and, oh yes, I will watch it again, and again.

I loved the look and the sound.
Excellent soundtrack, both music and effects.

The cinematography appeared odd at first,
because it stared with a sort of ultra-realism
that I am not accustomed to,
but as the film progressed,
that sense of realism coupled with the other
goings-on heightened the weirdness factor for me.

The set, the rotten old house, is right on,
and the use of lighting and colors is excellent.

The film becomes a relentless assault on reality,
shifting between plot lines, time and dimensions.
Plenty of gross and bloody stuff too.

What, is outside the window
or under the basement?
We never really find out,
but we know that it is so horrible
that we'd rather not know.

Who, where, and when is the witch
and her sadistic partner
and what are they up to?
We never really find out,
but we know that it is so horrible
that we'd rather not know.

If you are a fan of horror films,
this is one that you ought to see.

"