Don't Go In The House (1980)

Don't Go In The House (R)

One of the video nasties of the 1980's, Don't Go In The House's title belies it's uncampy tone and grim creepy misogyny that it has on display as a socially awkward man starts preying on the women of his town once his domineering mother is out of the picture.

The slasher psycho killer genre of horror films originated with Hitchcock's Psycho, and is copied short hand in DGITH. But those calling it a knock off will miss the skin crawling differences between Donny Kohler and Normal Bates.  The physical abuse of his childhood is shown happening to Donny, his adult character and social abilities obviously flawed because of it (unlike Bates who could "fit in" for years and who's abuse was only implied).  The opening scene where he is transfixed and fascinated by a fellow co-worker who accidentally catches fire sets the scene for a truly mentally broken individual who you can feel for, and when he reaches for the flame thrower there is a kind of unhealthy satisfaction that occurs for both fictional character and viewer.  It is a vexing sensation, one that must be acknowledged.

There are very few scenes of actual violence on display, but one of those few was so psychologically damning that got it banned by the UK.  All the pieces come together there; Donny's psychology, the fear of his victims, the insanity of his childhood, and despite its small budget and limited special effects the scene works chillingly well and haunts the viewer afterward due to its effectiveness of visuals and editing.  Of course surrounding that one scene is a lot of buildup and a lot of hemming and hawing before it's conclusion, and yet the film holds together on the fetishistic horror and skin crawling of just that one scene, and one can hardly blame the British censors for putting the kibosh on it  despite it's low body count.  The simple fact is Don't Go In The House (or its original title of Pyromaniac) isn't as completely outlandish as it's title screamed.  In reality the film's portrayal of a killer skews closer to the reality of the sick perverted weirdos that have actually stalked our streets, making it all the more freaky and a boon for horror genre buffs.

6 Flame Retardant Suit BBQ out of 10 (GOOD)

Motel Hell (1980)

Motel Hell (R)

"They Check In..."

Farmer Vincent and his family are planting and reaping their curious crop to supply their famous delicious fritters (made out of critters) for the whole county. all the while maintaining their roadside reststop Motel Hello.  But when Vince saves a young girl after a motorcycle accident, Vincent falls head over heels in love with her, igniting sibling rivalry and exposes the family's secret recipe for carnage.

Odd distant relative of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's success, Motel Hell cribs most of its plot and ideas from its horror film betters.  However it stands out from the population of ripoffs with its own wildly flavorful ideas that have to be seen to believed, unusual casting (Rory Calhoun and Wolfman Jack amongst those playing against type), and a blackly comic vibe with a country-like innocence that sometimes works.  The final conflict provides thrills, chills and kills but not enough to spare(rib) the movie from choking on its own regurgitated film bones.

5.5 Pork Product Helmet Chainsaw Duels out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)

Atlantic City (1980)

Atlantic City (R) - Review

"The way you squeeze that lemon"

It's Burt Lancaster's and his character Lou's last hurrah in a decrepit Atlantic City, one of the few films ever to be nominated for every major Oscar category (and even rarer, lose them all).  Lou is a former hood now turned nursemaid for an aging sugarmommy, living in a dilapidated tenement dreaming of the former good times that their rundown city witnessed long ago.  A sexy new neighbor moves in(a youthful and lovely Susan Sarandon is introduced by giving herself a bath at the kitchen sink with a lemon) sparking Lou's interest, but when her former husband and her pregnant sister come to live with her trouble follows.  Lou gets wrapped up in a drug scheme with the husband and a love affair with the young woman, resparking his interest in life and crime.

Shot amongst the actual crumbling ruins of Atlantic City by a French-Canadian group, Atlantic City is the actualization of Reagan's Morning in America speech.  The underclassed characters struggle to make rent and keep their jobs and morality as the old and dirty is torn down and the new and unaffordably sparkling chrome buildings go up.  These beautifully nuanced characters must turn on themselves and society to assert themselves, that they exist and their lives matter, punctuated by gun shots.

7.5 Lemon Peels out of 10 (GOOD)