I remember reading about an Italian TV series that had films from Lucio Fulci and Umberto Lenzi. This was somewhere around 1989-1990. I was an avowed TV hater, but the show sounded interesting. How could it not? I wasn't familiar with Italian television, but it had to be better than what we had in the States.
Alas, I thought the show, The Houses of Doom, would remain forever out of my grasp. They were, in fact, out of almost everyone's grasp. Four episodes were shot, two by Lucio Fulci and two by Umberto Lenzi. They were deemed too violent and controversial to be aired.
The Camelot days of Italian horror were winding down by that point. Horror was fading all over.
Horror didn't die; it came back stronger than ever. Hardcore collectors wanted to see, and own, everything. I heard of various bootleg copies of The Houses of Doom floating about, but I never cast my net for them.
We live in miraculous times, my friends. Legit companies are releasing all the old movies in sparkling new editions. Well, if not everything, all the important movies. As well as unimportant ones that have historical value.
Lucio Fulci and Umberto Lenzi's work is cherished by gorehounds everywhere. Both, however, made authentically good movies in their vast careers. Think what you will about New York Ripper or Hitcher in the Dark. These guys knew how to make motion pictures.
I've seen some Fulci lately, but it's been a while since I supped on a Lenzi, so I thought I'd start off with one of Umberto's movies: The House of Witchcraft.
It's a tried and true formula. Nightmarish dreams, newcomers to a creepy old house, witchery, gory murders, and what spaghetti horror movie would be complete without maggots?
The House of Witchcraft is a handsome production. It's highly watchable, with nice hues and camerawork. Other than that, the story is hackneyed, the effects look like something a teenager would make in his garage, the dialogue laughable, and there are a lot of brain-grinding slow moments. Oh, a blind man with a German Shepherd worked out well in Suspiria. Let's use it again here.
These aren't necessarily bad things. I knew what I was getting into with The Houses of Doom. I enjoy a bad Italian movie and I've seen kilometers worse than The House of Witchcraft.
It's all pretty ludicrous. The witch in question evokes more chuckles than chills. She looks like Martin Scorcese's mother on a drunk, cooking up a decapitated head instead of red sauce.
There's a big, hairy twist at the end, but unlike modern suspense potboilers, there's only one. Wait, am I really complimenting Umberto Lenzi for showing restraint?
The House of Witchcraft is a fun little trifle, but Italian horror newbies should definitely not start here. After seeing the obligatory Argentos and Bavas, go with the gritty seventies or early eighties materials. Save The Houses of Doom for later. Of course you should see Lenzi movies, but please go with Nightmare City, Eyeball, Seven Blood-Stained Orchids first. Umberto Lenzi personally started the wave of Italian cannibal movies, so watch Man from Deep River and Eaten Alive!, then proceed with caution to Cannibal Ferox. If you survive all that with your skin intact, later you can watch The House of Witchcraft.
Caudron Films did us a great service by bringing The Houses of Doom and other forgotten classics out in beautiful Blu-ray editions. For fans like me, who kneel at the alter of Italian horror, they are a godsend. Now how about bringing us Ruggero Deodato's The Washing Machine? Pretty please?
Written by Mark Sieber
Alas, I thought the show, The Houses of Doom, would remain forever out of my grasp. They were, in fact, out of almost everyone's grasp. Four episodes were shot, two by Lucio Fulci and two by Umberto Lenzi. They were deemed too violent and controversial to be aired.
The Camelot days of Italian horror were winding down by that point. Horror was fading all over.
Horror didn't die; it came back stronger than ever. Hardcore collectors wanted to see, and own, everything. I heard of various bootleg copies of The Houses of Doom floating about, but I never cast my net for them.
We live in miraculous times, my friends. Legit companies are releasing all the old movies in sparkling new editions. Well, if not everything, all the important movies. As well as unimportant ones that have historical value.
Lucio Fulci and Umberto Lenzi's work is cherished by gorehounds everywhere. Both, however, made authentically good movies in their vast careers. Think what you will about New York Ripper or Hitcher in the Dark. These guys knew how to make motion pictures.I've seen some Fulci lately, but it's been a while since I supped on a Lenzi, so I thought I'd start off with one of Umberto's movies: The House of Witchcraft.
It's a tried and true formula. Nightmarish dreams, newcomers to a creepy old house, witchery, gory murders, and what spaghetti horror movie would be complete without maggots?
The House of Witchcraft is a handsome production. It's highly watchable, with nice hues and camerawork. Other than that, the story is hackneyed, the effects look like something a teenager would make in his garage, the dialogue laughable, and there are a lot of brain-grinding slow moments. Oh, a blind man with a German Shepherd worked out well in Suspiria. Let's use it again here.
These aren't necessarily bad things. I knew what I was getting into with The Houses of Doom. I enjoy a bad Italian movie and I've seen kilometers worse than The House of Witchcraft.
It's all pretty ludicrous. The witch in question evokes more chuckles than chills. She looks like Martin Scorcese's mother on a drunk, cooking up a decapitated head instead of red sauce.
There's a big, hairy twist at the end, but unlike modern suspense potboilers, there's only one. Wait, am I really complimenting Umberto Lenzi for showing restraint?
The House of Witchcraft is a fun little trifle, but Italian horror newbies should definitely not start here. After seeing the obligatory Argentos and Bavas, go with the gritty seventies or early eighties materials. Save The Houses of Doom for later. Of course you should see Lenzi movies, but please go with Nightmare City, Eyeball, Seven Blood-Stained Orchids first. Umberto Lenzi personally started the wave of Italian cannibal movies, so watch Man from Deep River and Eaten Alive!, then proceed with caution to Cannibal Ferox. If you survive all that with your skin intact, later you can watch The House of Witchcraft.
Caudron Films did us a great service by bringing The Houses of Doom and other forgotten classics out in beautiful Blu-ray editions. For fans like me, who kneel at the alter of Italian horror, they are a godsend. Now how about bringing us Ruggero Deodato's The Washing Machine? Pretty please?
Written by Mark Sieber
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