House series

(In French, On Cable TV, October 2020) As much as I was unimpressed by 1985’s House despite its good reviews, I’m sort of amused by House II: The Second Story despite its humdrum reviews. What certainly helps is that this sequel completely abandons any serious attempt at horror scares, style or atmosphere and goes all-out on the comedy adventure potential of a house with portals to other times and places. Weird house, sure, haunted house—not really: the tone is all jokey, upbeat and adventurous as the two protagonists explore the house, go on time-travelling jaunts, make new supernatural friends and see their girlfriend leave them without it bothering them. It’s profoundly silly, with very little to hold the plot together other than some sort of rule-of-cool. The links with the original House film are tenuous at best, and if the first film had any psychological profundity, it’s completely gone here. But House II does leave a stronger, or at least funnier impression than the first film.

(In French, On Cable TV, September 2020) I may need to watch House a second time, because what I got from it was not at all what I was told I would get from it. Various sources say it’s a horror comedy, and, on paper, it’s got a few things that I should love: a writer protagonist, a haunted house, and plenty of gooey 1980s special effects. But in practice? It feels dull, featureless, repetitive and ordinary—just about the base level of what a haunted house film should be, except without any wit or humour. The integration of Vietnam War trauma into genre horror is intriguing but falls flat, and much of the family drama seems overly serious for what’s supposed to be lighthearted. I don’t know—maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for House. Maybe I’ll have another look at some other time. Until then, though, I can’t recommend it.