Terror en la casa de la abuela

This film was made in the late 1980's--basically at the nadir of the horror genre when most alleged "horror" films being made were either half-ass comedies with some wise-cracking Freddy Krueger knock-off, or softcore sextranvaganzas with a bunch of no-talent "scream queens" running around half-naked in some "haunted" house in the San Fernando Valley. This, however, is a genuinely spooky film. It kind reminded of a couple underrated slasher flicks from the early 1980's, "Silent Scream" and "Funeral Home". Like those films it's fairly bloodless, but atmospheric and creepy. But it also has a nice little sting in its tail with some surprising revelations in the final reel.

The plot involves a recently orphaned brother and sister who go to live in their maternal grandparent's house after the death of their father. The grandfather is played by Les Lesser, an actor best known as "uncle Leo" in "Seinfeld", but who was actually quite an accomplished drive-in horror actor, also appearing as a brutal murderous handyman in the lost 70's minor classic "Blood and Lace". He's equally effective here. Strange things begin to happen in the house--the boy thinks he sees his grandparents disposing of a body. Even more disturbing a weird young women seems to be stalking the children. The woman is played by Brinke Stevens, one of the most famous 80's scream queens. Like the rest of her ilk, Stevens was not much of actress, but she did have at least one talent beyond displaying her incredible naked body, and that was playing a mute psycho like she does here and in Fred Olen Ray's "The Haunting Fear". It might not be saying much, but this is easily Steven's best role--she is genuinely scary. The two kids are kind of weak link, but it's good to see Kim Valentine, a strikingly beautiful teenage girl, actually play a strikingly beautiful teenage girl instead of being typecast as a sub-Molly Ringwald type in a sub-John Hughes movie like she was in all her other roles (although I am sad to report that neither she nor Stevens has any nude scenes in this movie).

The best part though is the end, which I REALLY don't want to spoil in any way. Let's just say the film does a really good job keeping you guessing who the real villain(s) is/are. This movie ranks with "the Stepfather", "Parents", "Pin" and "The Reflecting Skin" as one of the best and creepiest films of its (admittedly pretty sorry) era.

Poor David and Lynn! Their father, the only parent they have left, has just died. As a token of their sympathy and concern, Lynn's and David's grandparents allow the kiddies to stay with them. But little do the kids know, their grandparents are actually bloodthirsty killers! ...Or are they? Who cares. I don't, and you won't either. Trust me. This has got to be one of the most painfully uninteresting movies I've ever had the discontentment of seeing. Even with the disgraceful attempts at shocks and unnecessarily complex and nonsensical plot twists, I still wasn't amused. The only thing that kept me watching was an insightful quote made by a boy talking to David: "If I had a sister like that, I'd boff her." Did somebody get paid to write this?!??

'Grandmother's House' is a mystery thriller about to kids going to live with their Grandparents, who are very happy to welcome them into their big home. However, the kids soon realize things are not what they seem.

I enjoyed the characters and the sense of mystery. The film also features good performances, especially the young boy, David (Eric Foster). 'Grandmother's House' is unpredictable and there's a constant eerie feeling. One can't help but always expect the worst. The film hits us with quite a few surprises! I must be honest, I enjoyed this film almost until the very end - until the film's final moments. The twist ending is not very clear (in fact, I had to read up about it to fully understand it), and ends so abruptly, it almost looks as if they ran out of production time or money. The ending could and should have been better explained. The viewer isn't even given time to process the information he's just been given. By the time you understand the twist ending, very little about the movie makes any sense. What a pity.

Would I watch it again? No.

My review was written in March 1989 after watching the film on Academy video cassette.

"Grandmother's House" (alternately "Grandma's House") is a clever nailbiter, providing suspenseful variations on a gothic thriller theme. Pic should get a good reaction in the video rental market, bypassing theatrical release.

When attractive youngsters Eric Foster and Kim Valentine go to live with their grandparents following their dad's funeral, Foster immediately becomes suspicious of the old folks' behavior.

He's soon convinced that kindly looking Ida Lee and Len Lesser are murderous crazies preying on passers-by. Cinematographer Peter Jensen's script takes an excellent turn midway when Foster frees a mystery woman (Brinke Stevens) seemingly held in bondage by his grandfolks and she immediately tries to kill him. She turns out to be the kids' long-gone mom (they thought she was dead) whom grandfolks were hiding.

Hectic final rel is loaded with switcheroos, including a surprise incest subplot and morbid final twist. Tightly directed by Peter Rade, pic definitely will keep the viewer guessing.

Both Foster and Nastassja Kinski-esue Valentine score in the lead roles, while Len Lesser is properly ambiguous as granddad. Usually a decorative beauty, Binke Stevens is scary in the character role of mom.

Better then you would expect picture about a two teenagers who have lost both of their parents. They are shipped off to their grandparents house to live, but the sudden arrival of a mysterious woman eventually results in an outbreak of violence. Twisty, complicated thriller with its fair share of surprises throughout. The movie is well plotted and thought out, but is negated by routine performances. Still, very suspenseful and thrilling at times.

Rated R; Violence, Adult Themes.