Review: The Horror Show (1989)
(aka House III, House III: The Horror Show, La Casa 7)
Directed by: James Isaac, David Blyth
Starring: Lance Henriksen, Brion James, Rita Taggart
Written by: Allyn Warner, Leslie Bohem
Music by: Harry Manfredini
Country: United States
Available on: Blu-ray/DVD (Scream Factory)
IMDb
For some reason, this 1989 supernatural slasher — which has way (way) more in common with Wes Craven films Shocker, released the same year, and A Nightmare on Elm Street — was originally titled “House III” (a title it retained in the United Kingdom and Europe), though it’s not at all related to the first two entries in that franchise. I guess about half of this Lance Henriksen vehicle does take place in a house, and that’s enough for it to also be included in the loose Italian series of La Casa films, which consists of random shit like Ghosthouse (1988), Witchery (1988), and Beyond Darkness (1990). Anyway, this movie follows Mr. Henriksen as Lucas, a cop who arrests an infamous meat cleaver-themed serial killer (Brion James) who, at his execution via electric chair, vows to return and destroy Lucas’ life. Brion James went huge for this flick, as if he’d never get another acting gig in his life (though nobody’s ever accused him of subtlety in his craft). Still, this is an over-the-top psychotic yet stilted performance to rival the likes of Scott MacDonald in Jack Frost (1997). James is handed a whole shitload of mean-spirited one-liners, none of which land. But he’s obviously having a lot of fun, and has reflected fondly on this role, so I’m not gonna be a killjoy. Especially because Henriksen plays that role well here, looking bored as hell. He’s coasting through this thing, with his shirt off through large portions, strutting that sinewy Iggy Pop sex appeal. Though the plot is the stuff of half the horror films released between 1988 and 1992, there is enough strangeness to be found in The Horror Show to keep things moving. Whether you’re after a roast turkey with an itsy bitsy Brion James face and throbbing pustules; a “blue plate special” consisting of a cop’s decapitated head on a plate with some peas and mashed taters; Lance sucker-punching an old man into very sudden, limp unconsciousness; an awkward cuck makeout sesh while a mutilated cat corpse meows incessantly; or a 5-year supply of Texas chili, this movie has something for you. There are some valiant attempts at surreal and unsettling imagery, though I wish there were a heck of a lot more of them. This is a flick that needed to really trip headfirst into the bizarreness and gore with which it’s heavy petting, but it’s unfortunately tethered by a ham-fisted script and some lazy performances.
Overall rating: 5 out of 10
