With a title like RETURN TO THE HOUSE
ON HAUNTED HILL you pretty much know what you getting before you open
up the package. The second in what is now officially a franchise
this one is going the straight to DVD route but much like a few other
titles we've looked at recently this one as well boasts much better
acting and production values then your standard straight to disc fare.
Although attempts are made to tie this
one in with the original they actually end up going down a completely
different path this time although the outcome ends up the same. The
ghosts of the doctors, nurses and inmates that haunted Hill House the
first time around are still there and still as warped as ever. Genre
fave Jeffery Combs reprise his role as Doctor Vannacutt the fiend
responsible for all the madness now haunting the house and those in
it.
The plot line is confusing but goes
something like this. It seems that the diary of Dr. Vannacutt has
gone missing. The sister of one of the characters from the first
film ends up getting the diary in the mail as it was sent to her by
her sister who has just recently committed suicide. While she is
processing all this info some armed men show up at her door, looking
for the diary of course and take her and her boyfriend hostage. It
seems that they are looking for some idol that is worth millions and
apparently it may be hidden deep in the bowels of Hill house. The
armed gang takes them hostage and head off to the house to find their
bounty.
At some point some professor and some
students show up and of course they all end up locked inside the
house to do battle with each other and the ghosts that dwell the
halls.
The good news is the fact that the FX
are very good. There are a couple of great kill gags that rank right
up there with some of the best in recent memory. I particularly
enjoyed the big dude that gets literally ripped to shreds by some of
the ghosts. Graphic, nasty and bloody, just the way I like it.
The acting and directing are good.
Nothing special but not bad either.
I did find the story hard to follow at
times and quite honestly by about the 2/3 mark of the film I really
didn't give a crap anymore. They managed to get a bunch more people
stuck in that damn house with the metal encased doors and windows and
then knock them off one by one. What the hell more do you want from
them.
Of course they leave it wide open for
the next chapter which I can all but guarantee you will be moving
into production soon. It's always kind of disturbing with films like
these move into franchise territory but I have to give int to WB,
they do it right and they don't skimp on the production value.
All in all a solid effort. Was it
really necessary to make another chapter, probably not but if they're
going to do it at least do it right.
Not a rush right out and get it
title but still worth hunting down when you find the time.
RETURN TO HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL hits
your local DVD retailer on Tuesday Oct. 16th.
Here's the official synopsis from those fine folks at Warner Bros.
Synopsis: Sarah Wolfe was the only living survivor from the
massacre at the Vanacutt Mansion, but no one believed her claims that
ghosts were responsible for the gruesome murders that took place there.
Now her recent and questionable suicide leaves her sister, Ariel, no
choice but to devote herself to finding out who - or what - was
responsible for her death. Ariel discovers that Sarah sent her the
diary of the sadistic Dr. Vanacutt just before she died, offering clues
to the diabolical evil that resides within the house. But the diary
also makes Ariel a target in a deadly treasure hunt that leads a group
of unwitting victims back to the Vanacutt Mansion, reawakening the
terror imprisoned within the house on the hill. This time, the house
and the evil spirits inside are out to make sure that no one leaves
alive.
