Bloodbath at the House of Death

This is a comedy in the tradition of Airport (Flying High) and Police Squad (or The Naked Gun), where a group of scientists are gathered to investigate the goings on at a haunted house in the country woods of Britain. Kenny Everett is the star of this film, pulling from characters developed from his various video shows to create his main character, with a good backup of other actors making up the rest of the group. The slapstick comedy (played seriously) comes frequently right from the start of the film but then tends to fall a little flat in the second half, but is still very enjoyable if you're a fan of Everett. Vincent Price's name might be a surprise for such a film, but he plays his role with the usual strength he carries. Pamela Stephenson has a memorable scene which re-energises the film, while subtle humour in other scenes carry it to the end. Check it out if you enjoy British humour.

This movie is a classic - it must be, I have been living in Russia and seen 2 copies for sale (legal of course) on DVD (converted from VHS). I still laugh just thinking about it!!! It is so corny but clever. I VAS ZE VORLDS GREATEST!!!! The music to jaws on the bass and the toilet / Hall scene. Making love with a ghost .. . then "I guess I will never see you again" The scene in the pub. The two gay men in the car.. . The song. . . . . Its just great. the thing I notice the most is there is no swearing!!! its just clever This movie is one you can watch many times and as you see it more often, you start to pick up more and more subtle things.

Not from Hellraiser, but from many other movies from the 80s or before (this movie was made). ET and the Alien scene being the most prominent one I'd reckon. But there are other references and jokes/spoofs/stabs this takes on things you know. I mean it even uses a lightsaber at one point ... I wonder how much that would cost to have in your movie nowadays ... but back to this.

And just to be clear if you haven't figured it out yet: it mixes comedy and horror. I have friends who think that is a combination that is an absolute no go. They don't like it, if you feel the same way - well better not watch this. It's quite the curiosity though. Having Vincent Price in it, who I can only imagine had quite the fun time with this. Many jokes are silly, but if you roll with them, you can still enjoy them.

There is still enough blood and violence ... not enough to warrant the title mind you, but I would assume they used that in a funny self deprecating way! A weird little movie with surely a weird (in a good way) fan base for it.

Edit: I re-watched this the other day ... and have to admit, I really more than enjoyed the re-watch ... I had forgotten many things ... and this was really funny ... especially the first half ... there is the cringe Poltergeist/invisible man scene I reckon ... might not play in the best way ... but enjoy this for what it is if possible ... silliness galore! With a Price - no pun intended ... he always lends gravitas.

Starring horror icon Vincent Price & comedy legend Kenny Everett this camp British horror comedy is a hugely mixed bag.

It tells the story of a group of scientists and experts in their field who investigate the mysterious Blood House where 18 people were savagely murdered in one night.

When the jokes are on point the movie is really enjoyable, sadly too many jokes fall flat and leave the movie more of a bust than it should have been. With Price & Everett this should have by all rights been a cult classic.

To it's credit the film has a lot of imagination, from original death scenes to some fantastic satirical humour!

However for every laugh there are three or four poor jokes ranging from silly to cringe inducing.

A harmless effort and ahead of it's time, but comes across a bit rushed.

The Good:

Price and Everett are excellent

Very inventive kills

Some great gags

Well scored

The Bad:

Not as funny as it should have been

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Kenny Everett should have broke Hollywood

Kenny Everett was a zany comic who started out as a DJ in the 1960s before fronting a prime time TV comedy show in the 1980s. This 1984 film is his only attempt at a big screen offering. Kenny died of AIDS-related illness in 1995, aged 50.

The film is a Hammer horror spoof, though many other films and genres are spoofed along the way. It is written by Barry Cryer, who appears in the title sequence. Eight scientists (including Kenny and, more plausibly, Dr Pamela Stephenson) investigate an old house where, 18 years earlier, 18 people were killed there in one night. The others are played by John Fortune, Sheila Steafel, Don (Rising Damp) Warrington, Gareth (coffee ads) Hunt, Cleo Rocos and John Stephen Hill. All were well known 80s British personalities but not entirely convincing as scientists!

The best known actor here is Vincent Price, though he only appears in a few scenes, as the 'sinister man'. Pat Ashton's appearance as the murdered barmaid marked her last appearance in a run of 20 years of British comedy shows before she disappeared, which is a shame as she was always good fun. It pretty much also marked the end of John Stephen Hill's acting career though he is better mapped as he went on to immerse himself in his Jesuit faith.

The film is a bit hit and miss, like Everett's TV shows - lots of scenes that don't really work, interspersed with occasional moments of genius. It is the only opportunity to see Everett on the big screen, and it represents a peak of sorts in early 80s British comedy. I don't want to judge it too harshly.