Quella villa accanto al cimitero (1981)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Elisa Briganti (story)
Lucio Fulci (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

BEWARE THE DEMON FORCES OF THE...BLOOD BEASTS

Plot:

A deranged killer lives in the basement of an old mansion and pops out occasionally to commit grisly murders that include be-headings...

Plot Keywords:

Body Part | Poker | Basement | Stabbing | Blood

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Catriona MacColl	...	Lucy Boyle (as Katherine MacColl)
Paolo Malco	...	Dr. Norman Boyle
Ania Pieroni	...	Ann, the babysitter
Giovanni Frezza	...	Bob Boyle
Silvia Collatina	...	Mae Freudstein
Dagmar Lassander	...	Laura Gittleson
Giovanni De Nava	...	Dr. Jacob A. Freudstein
Daniela Doria	...	First female victim
Gianpaolo Saccarola	...	Daniel Douglas, the librarian
Carlo De Mejo	...	Mr. Wheatley
Kenneth A. Olsen	...	Harold (as John Olson)
Elmer Johnsson	...	Cemetary Caretaker
Ranieri Ferrara	...	Steven, a victim
Teresa Rossi Passante	...	Mary Freudstein

Also Known As:

The House Outside the Cemetery
The House by the Cemetery (USA)
Zombie Hell House (USA)

Runtime:

87 min | USA:82 min (2002 DVD release) | UK:85 min (cut)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (re-rating: 1988) (heavily cut) (re-rating: 2001) (cut) | UK:(Banned) (1984-1988) | UK:X (original rating: 1981) (cut) | Sweden:18 (video rating) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | West Germany:18 (cut) | Netherlands:16 | UK:18 (uncut version, re-rating) | Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Italy:VM18 | Norway:(Banned) (video rating) | USA:Unrated | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Fulvia Film

Trivia:

Though the final line ("No one will ever know whether the children are monsters or the monsters are children") is attributed to Henry James, it was actually fabricated by Lucio Fulci.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene were Laura Gittleson - the real estate agent is killed by Dr Freudstein, we see her body lying on the floor with her eyes closed and her mouth open. A few moments later we see Freudstein drag her into the basement and her eyes are now open, but her mouth is closed. Then later, when we see her hanging in the basement near the end of the film, her eyes and mouth are both open.

Quotes:

Bob Boyle: Ann? Mommy says you're not dead. Is that true?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Voodoo Curse - Legba's Rache (2009) (V)

Terrifying Fulci Classic

Another terrifying Italian shocker from the legendary Lucio Fulci. A family move into a creepy old house and are unaware that living in the cellar is the flesh-eating zombie of a 19th Century surgeon. The little boy is soon a friend with the ghost of the late doctors daughter who warns them to stay away but to little effect. The creature gruesomely kills and dismembers a variety of Estate Agents, Copulating teenagers and Babysitters leading to a terrifying finale in the corpse-strewn cellar. The Lucio Fulci trademark of graphic gore is abundant as ever but it is the atmosphere that makes this movie stand out. Bumps in the night and the ominous crying of children coming from the cellar are just some of the factors that assault and disturb the viewer. This is a truly amazing movie that relies on shock and terror rather than revulsion. The gore just adds to what is already a truly chilling little tale of cannibalism and depravity that will linger in the mind long after you've forgotten about the illogical plot and poor dubbing. One of Fulci's best films. Deserves its cult reputation. My Rating – 9 out of 10.