Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Don't Go in the House Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 9, 2017

Reworking elements from “Psycho” to manufacture a new tale of damaged childhood and motherly worship, co-writer/director Joseph Ellison goes deep into the psychological abyss with 1979’s “Don’t Go in the House.” Already an uneasy picture due to its horror content, the feature takes aggression to the next level with its depiction of abuse and murder, fulfilling a genre obsession with the torture of women. While decidedly low budget, “Don’t Go in the House” is effective in spurts, winning points for its bizarre depiction of violent appetites and Ellison’s mild style, which puts in a noticeable effort to sell frights and repulsion without breaking its concentration on the nightmarish story it’s trying to sell.

“Don’t Go in the House” concerns the mental breakdown of Donny (Dan Grimaldi), who’s recently lost contact with reality after the death of his vicious mother, taking his grief out on single women he lures into the family home, roasting them with a flamethrower to complete his charred family of corpses. Ellison has a grim tale to begin with, and he manages a consistent tone, identifying Donny’s mental issues and dangerous behavior, and while the film goes wild when it comes to the torturous demise of innocents, it never breaks character outside of a few unintended low-budget goofs and dismal supporting performances.

Don't Go in the House Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation brings "Don't Go to the House" to Blu-ray with a filmic look. There's a good amount of detail to explore even with low-budget cinematographic limitations, handling busy facial particulars and house ornamentation well, and make-up effects are open for inspection, picking up on charred textures. Colors are satisfactory, largely remaining muted to represent the winter season, but primaries show some life, and more pronounced disco hues are stable. Delineation is comfortable, permitting a view of a feature that's largely shot at night. Source has mild blips of chemical damage, scratches, and speckling, but nothing distracts.

Don't Go in the House Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does have an issue with hiss and pops, which run throughout the listening experience. A few mild fluctuations in volume level remain as well. The rest of the track services the mild sonic reach of the movie adequately, with largely dubbed dialogue exchanges clear enough to follow, also detecting when natural sound is used. Scoring is secure and weighty, adding mood when needed. Sound effects aren't detailed, but they carry a satisfying blunt force to help with horror needs.

Don't Go in the House Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features actor Dan Grimaldi.

• Interview (11:30, HD) is a 2005 chat with Grimaldi, which covers performance inspirations and his loneliness while working in the dead of winter, often lunching with one of the production assistants just to find some company. Grimaldi also shares some behind-the- scenes anecdotes, and teases interpretations of Donny's psychosis.

• Interview (25:30, HD) with Robert Osth (now Carnegie) is a lively discussion of the actor's experiences with "Don't Go in the House," including his casting journey and a longstanding friendship with Grimaldi, which was forged on set as the pair struggled to find sources of heat. Osth is generally good about detailing the decidedly non-union shoot, highlighting technical and thespian limitations, but his claim that the feature was made for just $10,000 is a little hard to swallow. Also interesting is Osth's explanation on how certain fire effects were achieved.

• "Don't Go in the House…Again" (10:49, HD) returns to the Strauss Mansion, with Atlantic Highlands Historical Society member Greg Gaggiano acting as the host for special tour of "Don't Go in the House" moments. Once a summer home for the rich, the mansion was turned into low-income apartments in the 1970s, allowing the cast and crew to use the place as they saw fit. Now semi-restored and protected, the mansion welcomes visitors, especially those with a fondness for the movie.

• "Ghost Hunting in the Strauss Mansion" (7:36, HD) returns to Gaggiano, who claims there are a "fair share of ghosts" in the enormous dwelling, revealing a second job as a paranormal investigator, sharing a few tales of eerie encounters. You can embrace Gaggiano's tales of poltergeist pursuit, trusting his authority on haunted houses, but keep in mind Gaggiano's selling a book on the subject and uses the hunting to boost tourism at the mansion.

• Alternate Title Card (1:35, HD) restores "Don't Go in the House" main titles to the movie.

• Additional Scene (:54, HD) catches up with Donny during one of his fits of anger in front of his beloved charred corpses.

• T.V. Spot (:13, SD) is offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:58, HD) is included.

Don't Go in the House Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While it's far from the most horrific thing committed to film, "Don't Go in the House" is rough stuff, with an uneasy fixation on the suffering of female victims. If one can't mentally clear that hurdle, there's a smattering of B-movie invention and concentration worth a look.