31 Days of Horror: House (1977)

Horror isn’t just a genre; it’s an amalgamation of pop culture, cozy traditions, and things that go bump in the night. This year, we're taking our 31 Days of Horror across the entire cultural spectrum. We’ll be taking a look at movies that scare us, games that kept us paranoid, scary books we cozy up with under blankets, music that sets that spooky tone and seasonal food we’re craving–or strange food you’d have to tie us up and force feed us. Whether you’re looking for something truly terrifying or a cozy autumn haunt, come back every day this month for a new bite-sized review or spooky adjacent list.

Sometimes you just want to sit down and watch a normal, run of the mill horror movie that is easy to follow with plenty of standard issue scares coming at you at a steady clip and totally not a batshit insane trip into a fantastical Japanese countryside where a supernatural house devours a pack of schoolgirls one by one in the most absurd and inventive way. And by sometimes I mean not today be cause we're talking about House (1977).

I first became aware of this beautiful monstrosity of a film the way I imagine most Americans did, through it's inclusion into the Criterion Collection. I know I had heard rumblings of the film for years, but was never able to acquire a copy even in those wild west Internet days. So the moment it was released on the boutique label I immediately purchased it and let it wildness wash over me and let me tell you, it's WILD.

The story is pretty bare bones and archetypal as all get out in that post-modern sort of way. A young girl know for her beauty and aptly named Gorgeous becomes disillusioned with her widowed father who has just remarried. Instead of vacationing with them, Gorgeous opts to visit her Aunt in the countryside with a group of her schoolgirl friends; all with names as descriptive as Gorgeous' - Prof, Melody, Kung Fu, Mac, Sweet, and Fantasy.

What follows is a dream like if not lysergic journey into another world. Gorgeous' aunt's house is of the supernatural sorts with way more that you could even image. Carnivorous pianos, floating head, butt bites, ghosts, demons and more descend on the schoolgirls and it's all done in the most genuinely hallucinatory fashion.

I know this film is not for everyone, and quiet honestly in a month where I've recommend some pretty out there films, this is at the top of the list. It's a comedy, a horror show, a stream of consciousness dream as told through cartoonish logic. An obscene odd anime brought to life to illicit as much emotions as possible. So if you looking for something uproariously strange, House is there for you!

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Would it have been funny if I did a mishmash dual post about House (1977) and House (1985)? probably not but that could make for a random double features. Anyway go watch House (1977) for free on Tubi.