Burnt Offerings (1976)

(On TV, June 2022) For some reason, I’m very receptive to haunted-house movies – I’ll record them as soon as they show up on the DVR TV guide. But I’m more often than not let down by the results, and Burnt Offerings is another entry in the promising-but-ultimately-disappointing subgenre. The plot gets underway as a family locates a sumptuous residence for a ridiculously low rent and moves there for the summer. Alas, there’s always a price to be paid, and before long it becomes clear to viewers (but not the characters) that the house is out for their blood and/or souls – as accidents, possession, strange behaviour and unusual portents become commonplace. As far as horror films of the 1970s go, Burnt Offerings has the soft cinematography, contrived plotting, star cameo, dumb characters and downbeat ending of its contemporaries. It does make for a bit of a weird experience – the tonal control isn’t refined, so we go from subtle to blunt in moments, with the grand-guignol violence looking cheap and exploitative. Bette Davis shows up without much to do; Karen Black is a bit bland, and both Oliver Reed and Burgess Meredith also seem a bit lost in a genre film. Still, I’ve seen worse: Burnt Offerings could have been much better and made more out of its premise, but it’s passable entertainment as long as you keep your expectations in check.