Grandmother's House (1988)

When I borrowed this particular film from a friend I was expecting something rather similar to the 1989 horror comedy "Parents" and "Grandmother's House" does start out like that aforementioned film, but in a much serious and second-rate manner. It does go for that psychological edge, but it lacks the finesse and deft touches to carry it along. It's quite straight-up, nothing subtle. But then it takes a sudden turn into mundane psycho-killer territory with one very long chase sequence, to only turn back on itself revealing one very demented, if sudden revelation that comes out of nowhere and which I didn't see coming. By this you can say it's a makeshift of ideas that cheaply executed (there's a made-for-TV feel), but does have its moments. After the death of their father, David and his older sister Lynn go to live with their grandparents. One day David sees his grandparents dragging a bag, which looks like the shape of a person and strangely enough a body is soon discovered near the lake by their property. Suspicion arises for David even more, especially when he sees them dragging a body of a drifter lady. Going further into the oddball plot can destroy certain twists. The stilted script has some dumb dialogues and ridiculous inclusions, but it stays entertaining. Suspense kind of comes and goes, being the highlight of a rooftop walk. So does the atmosphere, where it's the music arrangement that keeps it fairly eerie. Performances are ideal with the unnerving Len Lesser giving it his all. Eric Foster and Kim Valentine acquits themselves well enough as the two kids. Then there's Brinke Stevens in a small, but important role. Director Peter Radar does a steadfast job and producing this enterprise happens to be Nico Mastorakis ("Island of Death" & "Blind Date").

Grandmothers House is slow...almost too slow. The first half hour seems to be just following around a young boy who seems too curious about what's around every corner. His curiosity may be killing more then a cat, because his strange dreams of his grandparents hiding bodies in the basement may not be just a dream. As the movie progresses, there appears to be more going on then meets the eye. There are a few surprises, and, well, let's just say it sounds to me like mental illness runs in the family. That's the difference between friends and family, you can choose who you want as your friends. In the end, however, it's going to be a game of survival...a mental one. Grandmothers House is a slick, overlooked treat, and I'm trying very hard to bring notice to these underrated gems that seemed to have gotten buried in the past. It's a creepy, eerie, fun ride, and you won't forgot it, but you'll wish you could.

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.

Two teens go to live with their grandparents after both their mom and dad die, but grandma and grandpa have a few skeletons in their closet that are about to explode. Film is tightly paced and well edited. It also has many shocking and most important believable twist and turns and once you think you have it figured out, it throws another surprise at you. Very unpredictable. Film also has Brinke Stevens only good performance, though the rest of the cast is so-so. A very little seen gem of a film. Not a horror film like many believe it to be, but more of a suspense film. My Rating: 8 out of 10. I still can't believe this film got so many negative reviews.