Dr. Norman Boyle has just landed a new job outside of Boston, so he, his wife Lucy, and their son Bob move into a new house. The house in question is a large, creepy old building located right next to a cemetery. As it turns out, a certain Dr. Freudstein once lived there — a man known for some very special experiments. It’s soon revealed that his grave is actually located beneath the house. Oh, and there’s also a basement — but the door is nailed shut, which is never a good sign…
Here we have another gory outing from the legendary Italian director Lucio Fulci. The film can easily be compared to The Beyond, especially since much of it takes place in a spooky cellar. I also think a lot of the atmospheric elements feel quite similar to The Beyond, although this one is perhaps a little less pretentious. That’s not surprising, considering House by the Cemetery was filmed right after The Beyond.
As usual, Fulci’s films are made first and foremost for gore fans. Compared to some of his other movies, this one is relatively light on gore — but the intense ending more than makes up for it. There are a few scenes toward the end that are simply must-sees. The plot is also stronger than in many other Fulci films, with fewer clumsy moments or odd missteps. That might be thanks to Elisa Briganti, who wrote the story. My personal favourite of hers is A Blade in the Dark — this one isn’t quite as strong, but it definitely holds up.
I think Fulci did a great job with the atmosphere in this film. It’s dark and creepy from start to finish — definitely on par with The Beyond. Unfortunately, the story is told in a very vague and muddled way, which can make it feel a bit dull at times, and it’s easy to become detached from what’s actually happening.
A must-watch for gore hounds and Fulci fans. But if you’re looking for a more intellectual or tightly written horror story, this probably isn’t the film for you.
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