6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Eight friends go to fix up an old house that Mark has purchased. Upon arriving they find the grave of Annabelle (the former owner) in the back yard. She had killed her husband back in the 40's. Bob (one of Mark's friends) smashes the headstone and awakens Annabelle, this begins the carnage. But the dead don't stay dead and the living can't escape as the house locks down to keep them in.
Starring: Mark Zobian, Victor Verhaeghe, Sarah Newhouse, Douglas Gibson, J.D. CernaHorror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (96kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo verified. (96kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
First and foremost, 1989’s “The House on Tombstone Hill” has a bit of trouble with titles. It was shot as “The Road,” and presented on Blu-ray as “The Dead Come Home.” The feature was ultimately sold to the video market as “Dead Dudes in the House,” with Troma Films electing to entice renters not paying close attention to the details of the picture by pushing the effort as a hip-hop comedy, with title font that resembles a UPN pilot. It’s a wild, wacky world of identification for the endeavor, with “The House on Tombstone Hill” the most accurate description of the material, which plays like a slasher version of an HGTV show, pitting home rehabbers against a ghostly opponent who enjoys killing those with big plans for her house. Writer/director James Riffel aims to please with a low-budget chiller, and while the movie has pacing and overcrowding issues, the helmer understands gore zone needs, keeping the feature excitable with violent encounters and panicking characters, offering a simple ride of single location terror.
Billed as "Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 16mm original camera negative," "House on Tombstone Hill" delivers a compelling viewing experience, respecting the low-budget look of the feature. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers stable primaries with period costuming and red splatters of blood, and skintones are distinct, with a pleasing pinkness and, for Abigail, a grayer sense of aging. Property greenery is striking, and interior decoration expresses decay. Detail goes as far as the original cinematography allows, and while some inherent softness is there, frame particulars are easily surveyed, including makeup effects and fabrics. Gore zone visits are equally vivid, keeping violence pronounced. Delineation survives numerous evening encounters. Source is in healthy shape, with only a brief speckle storm right when the end credits begin. Grain is heavier but filmic.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is a modest but effective listening event for "House on Tombstone Hill," which doesn't demand very much from the production. Age is apparent, with a slight dulling of the track, along with mild sibilance issues, but dialogue exchanges are comfortable, picking up on character attitude and surges of fear, along with undead threats. Intelligibility isn't threatened and distortion is avoided. Scoring cues launch basic synth stings, but heaviness is communicated, along with suspenseful moods. Sound effects are blunt but available.
"The House on Tombstone Hill" makes a few critical errors during its run time, with the primary problem being the introduction of teens Ricky (James Griffith) and S (Rob Moretti) near the third act, bringing more characters into a movie that already has plenty to deal with, finding poor Jamie and Linda barely addressed during all the panic. Even with this collection of victims and ghosts, Riffel can't quite get the picture to top speed, often resorting to prolonged stalking moments just to reach 90 minutes. Despite some sluggishness, "The House on Tombstone Hill" is entertaining and an interesting addition to never-ending list of slasher efforts from the 1980s. When he gets around to it, Riffel has some creative ideas for killing idiots, while the addition of the supernatural and the elderly gives the feature enough oddity to amuse.
Standard Edition
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Secta Siniestra
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Quella villa accanto al cimitero
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