Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Hammer House of Horror: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 28, 2020

By the time 1980 rolled around, things weren’t looking good for Hammer Films. The theatrical side of the business dried up and public interest was fading. It was time to return to television, with producer Roy Skeggs dreaming up “Hammer House of Horror,” the company’s second pass at an anthology series. Over the course of 13 episodes, the production aims to bring strange tales of terror to living room audiences, offered a more R-rated push of the macabre, with plenty of sexploitation thrown in to keep viewers interested. “Hammer House of Horror” is nicely varied, touching on the supernatural, monster affairs, and pure madness, brought to life by a talented team of writers, directors (including company man Peter Sasdy), and especially actors, with interesting British performers of the day capably communicating levels of panic and confusion required to sell the small-scale nature of the program.

“Hammer House of Horror” doesn’t have a host or a theme, remaining a straightforward production that delivers a new nightmarish tale every week, trying to support the brand name as characters find themselves involved in threatening situations. As with most things Hammer, it’s a talky program, and show costs money, while tell is basically free, gifting the actors a chance to really sink their teeth into these varied personalities, and most episodes are saved by the performances. Hammer icon Peter Cushing shows up in “The Silent Scream,” portraying a wicked man organizing secret experiments on human subjects, and famous faces such as Denholm Elliot and Brian Cox also appear on the show (Pierce Brosnan has a tiny part in “Carpathian Eagle”). Emotions run hot in “Hammer House of Horror,” bringing life to chapters that don’t have enough wicked energy on their own. While the show is meant to highlight genre activities, it’s the casting that’s most impressive.

Disc 1

“Witching Time” (53:59)
At Woodstock Farm in rural England, movie composer David (Jon Finch) is working on his latest assignment, but he can’t stop thinking about his wife, Mary (Prunella Gee), who’s away for the week, having an affair. Dropping into his life one afternoon is Lucinda (Patricia Quinn), a witch from the 1600s who’s successfully time traveled to 1980. While David battles possible madness as he’s seduced by Lucinda’s dark ways, Mary returns home to confront the evil that’s claimed her husband.

“The Thirteenth Reunion” (54:00)
Ruth (Julia Foster) is a journalist assigned to infiltrate a controversial weight loss program held at The Chesterton Clinic. Participating in “Think Thin,” Ruth gradually understands that something else is happening on the property, teaming with funeral director Andrew (Gerard Kelly) to understand what’s happening to the bodies of those who die near Chesterton.

“Rude Awakening” (54:00)
Estate agent Norman (Denholm Elliot) is desperate to divorce his wife, Emily (Pat Heywood), drawn to the charms of his secretary, Lolly (Lucy Gutteridge). When he’s hired to look into the sale of Lower Moat Manor, Norman stumbles into a strange time-loop dreamscape that exposes him to dangers and insanity, with evil urging him to kill Emily.

“Growing Pains” (54:13)
After the death of their son, William (Christopher Reilly), parents Laurie (Barbara Kellerman) and Terence (Gary Bond) look to start over with James (Matthew Blakstad), a boy they’ve adopted. James’s presence in the household triggers strange, unexplained events, putting stress on Laurie, while Terence is focused on his science experiments, neglecting the new addition, who comes into contact with William’s life.

“The House That Bled to Death” (53:57)
Young couple William (Nicholas Ball) and Emma (Rachel Davies) have found the perfect home. Ready to start their new life with daughter Sophia (Emma Ridley), seemingly supernatural horrors soon emerge in the dwelling, which was the site of a gruesome murder many years ago. Dealing with the nightmare with help from neighbor Jean (Patricia Maynard), William and Emma try to carry on with life, only to be pulled deeper into the haunting.

Disc 2

“Charlie Boy” (53:58)
Inheriting an art collection from his late uncle, Graham (Leigh Lawson) and his wife, Sarah (Angela Bruce), elect to keep “Charlie Boy,” an African sculpture. Taking his anger out on the new addition, Graham soon realizes Charlie Boy has voodoo powers after members of his family begin dying in ways he fantasized about.

“The Silent Scream” (53:59)
Fresh out of prison, Chuck (Brian Cox) is ready to get on with his life, reunited with his wife, Annie (Elaine Donnelly). Taking a job at a pet store run by Martin (Peter Cushing), Chuck is handed responsibilities, but he’s tempted by a criminal opportunity, soon trapped in a cage with no hope of escape.

“Children of the Full Moon” (53:58)
Couple Tom (Christopher Cazenove) and Sarah (Celia Gregory) elect to take a vacation in the country, but car troubles bring an end to their escape. Offered shelter by Mr. Ardoy (Diana Dors), Tom and Sarah try to settle in for the night, only to realize things aren’t right in the house, which is filled with strange children.

“Carpathian Eagle” (53:58)
A serial killer of men is on the loose, and Inspector Clifford (Anthony Valentine) is on the case, teaming with author Natalie (Suzanne Danielle), who’s writing a book on the subject, taking inspiration from ancient violence.

“Guardian of the Abyss” (53:57)
Taking possession of an ancient mirror, art dealer Michael (Ray Lonnen) finds himself in the middle of a troubling situation when cult leader Charles (John Carson) sets out to reclaim the object, putting Allison (Roselyn Landor), a runaway from the secret society, in harm’s way.

Disc 3

“Visitor from the Grave” (53:58)
After suffering through a traumatic life, Penny (Kathryn Leigh Scott) is brought to the edge of sanity when she’s attacked by Charles (Stanley Lebor), killing him during the struggle. Husband Harry (Simon MacCorkindale) arrives to help Penny, electing to cover up the incident, exposing his wife to horrifying visions.

“The Two Faces of Evil” (53:55)
Martin (Gary Raymond) and Janet (Anna Calder-Marshall) are on a vacation, driving along with their son, David (Paul Hawkins). After experiencing terror with a hitchhiker, Martin undergoes emergency surgery on this throat while Janet can’t remember much about the incident. Soon realizing that something isn’t right about the situation, Janet learns of an evil force that’s entered her life.

“The Mark of Satan” (53:58)
Hospital morgue employee Edwin (Peter McEnery) fears he’s come into contact with an evil virus, battling sanity as he’s pushed to commit unimaginable violence to save his life.

Hammer House of Horror: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Hammer House of Horror" provides strong colors that favor period hues, dealing with bold fashion choices and decorative additions. Red blood is powerful. Skintones are natural. Greenery is vivid. Detail is also satisfactory, picking up on facial surfaces for tight T.V. close-ups, and costuming is fibrous. Tours of towns and rural areas retain dimension. Delineation is satisfactory. Artifacting is periodic, with blockiness and banding visible at times. A more egregious example is found at the very start of the "Carpathian Eagle" episode.

Hammer House of Horror: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't really demand a surround presence, but scoring cues go circular, and not entirely naturally at times. Instrumentation remains distinct, supporting suspense and horror sequences. Dialogue exchanges are sharp, dealing with often overwhelming emotionality and fits of anger without distortion. Low-end isn't challenged.

Hammer House of Horror: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1

• "Witching Time" features commentary by film historians Mark Gatiss and Kim Newman.

• "The Thirteenth Reunion" features commentary by film historians Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons.

• "Rude Awakening" features commentary by film historians Mark Gatiss and Kim Newman.

• "The House That Bled to Death" features commentary by film historians Mark Gatiss and Kim Newman.

Disc 2

• "Charlie Boy" features commentary by film historians Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons.

• "The Silent Scream" features commentary by film historians Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons.

• "Children of the Full Moon" features commentary by film historians Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons.

• "Guardian of the Abyss" features commentary by actress Rosalyn Landor and film historian Kim Newman.

Disc 3

• "The Two Faces of Evil" features commentary by film historians Mark Gatiss and Kim Newman.

• "The Mark of Satan" features commentary by film historians Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons.

• "Housekeeping" (7:57, HD) is an interview with actress Mia Nadasi, who was married to director Peter Sasdy at the time of her appearance in "Visitor from the Grave." The interviewee explores her character and explains the plot of the episode. She also details her acting history and Hungarian background, experiencing a different industry when she moved to England. A director's assessment is also offered.

• "Grave Recollections" (9:42, HD) is an interview with actress Kathryn Leigh Scott, who wasn't a genre fan early in her career, but ended up working on "Dark Shadows" and "Hammer House of Horror." Early professional achievements are shared, along with an appreciation for location work on the series. Co-stars from "Visitor from the Grave" are fondly recalled, along with director Sasdy.

• Gallery (11:14) collects press kit pages, publicity stills, and BTS snaps.

• Widescreen Version of "Guardian of the Abyss" is included.

• "Opening Montage and Raw Takes for 'Rude Awakening'" (12:40, HD) are presented.

Hammer House of Horror: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Quality varies from episode to episode, but most of the stories score. A particular standout is "The House That Bled to Death," which is a clever riff on "The Amityville Horror," using the nonsense surrounding the origin story to inspire something of a satiric take. Genre demands are mostly met, with bloodshed common and gruesome encounters popping up at times, and the darkness of the series is pretty wild. We're talking baby-eating extremes. Certainly "Hammer House of Horror" could use a boost of screen activity from time to time, but it's a solid representation of Hammer Film interests buttered up with relaxed network standards of the day.