Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
A divorced horror novelist coming to terms with the disappearance of his young son inherits an old mansion home to malevolent supernatural residents.
House (1985) is a fun blend of horror and comedy that blends Vietnam War guilt with haunted house antics in a way that feels somewhat unique for its era. The plot juggles several threads — the missing son, Vietnam trauma, and supernatural horror — with moderate success, though the tonal shifts can feel uneven and the script is unpolished. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable; William Katt carries the film adequately but the supporting cast ranges from broad to flat. Visually it's a competent mid-80s production with decent practical creature effects but nothing cinematographically memorable. The novelty lies in its genuine attempt to ground supernatural horror in Vietnam-era PTSD and domestic dysfunction, which was a fairly fresh angle at the time, though it doesn't fully commit to its thematic ambitions. The ending wraps up the Vietnam guilt arc and the missing son storyline in a rushed and convenient fashion that undercuts the emotional weight the film was building toward.