House is a film that never really got the appreciation it deserved. While more of a comedy than anything else, House still maintains a lot of creatively creepy moments, and also shows off some impressive special effects, both in monster makeup and even a few sequences of stop-motion animation.

After his aunt's death, and his son's mysterious kidnapping, novelist Roger Cobb (William Katt) moves back into her house to finish work on his newest novel, a personal account of his experiences in Viet Nam. He soon finds out the house is haunted, and his memories of Viet Nam may be more than just memories. While that may very well be the worst synopsis I've ever written, the film is certainly more creative than I can explain.

House tells two simultaneous stories- what is occurring in the house- present day, and revealed through Roger's creative process, what occurred during his time in Viet Nam. Both stories end up tying together quite well during the films final act. Fred Dekker is the man responsible for the story, and for those of you familiar with his other works, will certainly know that the man can be incredibly creative. His other works include both the cult classic Night of the Creeps and The Monster Squad. All three films are deserving of their cult status, as they all provide a level of originality not seen in many pictures during the mid-eighties. Also of note is the very effective combination of both horror and comedy within these films. Something seldom seen dealt with in such an effective manner during this period of horror filmmaking.

Anyway, back on topic. The house in question plays all sorts of tricks, and is inhabited by what would more closely resemble monsters than a traditional ghost. The monsters in question are all strange creatures, either an original looking creation, or some bizarre twist on the human form. There are monsters in the closet, and weapons which seem to float on their own. There are all sorts of strange occurrences… nearly all of which are dealt with in a highly comedic manner. This certainly raises the level of enjoyment of the film, as it is clear from quite early on, that the film has no desire to take itself seriously. I certainly appreciate the effort that went into the creation of the film, and can honestly say it's director Steve Miner's best work in the horror field.

House is certainly deserving of it's cult status, but it's a shame more people are not familiar with the film. While not one of the best horror films to come out of the eighties, it is certainly one of the most enjoyable, and well worth a watch for those of you who haven't seen it. It was followed by a number of sequels, both related, and unrelated, yet none were particularly good. Stick with the original.