The leads make the difference in this undistinguished but adequately entertaining horror film from producer Sean S. Cunningham. It marked the directorial debut for the late effects artist James Isaac, who was brought in to replace a man named David Blyth. With a screenplay credited to Leslie Bohem and the pseudonymous "Alan Smithee" (in reality Allyn Warner), it bears a strong resemblance to Wes Cravens' "Shocker" from the same year, and never has any really good ideas, or scares. There's some enjoyable makeup effects, and mild gore, by KNB (in one of their earliest gigs as a company), and a reasonable level of cheese (including the expected end credits rock song). Although unrelated to the two "House" horror comedies from 1986 & 1987, it was retitled "House III" for the overseas market, so when Cunningham and company made another entry in the series stateside, they were obliged to name it "House IV".
Lance Henriksen is typically rock solid in his portrayal of Lucas McCarthy, a police detective haunted by images and the voice of Max Jenke (the late, great character actor Brion James, in an amusingly campy turn), a vicious serial killer whom Lucas had captured and who had been strapped into an electric chair and fried. Not surprisingly, Jenke has found a way to "live on" and he proceeds to terrorize McCarthy and his family by injecting nightmares into reality. With the clue to defeat Jenke supplied to him by scientist Peter Campbell (Thom Bray), Lucas determines to fight his undead foe and finish him once and for all.
As "rubber reality", "A Nightmare on Elm Street" type cinema goes, "The Horror Show" isn't bad, although some fans of the genre may be disappointed that it doesn't go farther than it does. As it is, it's pretty tame. Still, there are elements to enjoy; other than those already mentioned, there's the cinematography by genre pro Mac Ahlberg, a very nice Harry Manfredini score that's unlike the stuff he did for the "Friday the 13th" series, and a supporting cast featuring a number of familiar faces: Rita Taggart as Lucas's wife, Dedee Pfeiffer and Aron Eisenberg as his kids, Matt Clark as a psychiatrist, Terry Alexander as your standard-issue doomed partner, Lewis Arquette as Lucas's boss, Lawrence Tierney as a warden, and Alvy Moore as a chili salesman.
The contrasting styles of Henriksen and James work for their roles; the latter does look like he's having a ball and reportedly had stated that Jenke was his favourite out of the roles he'd played.
This should serve as a decent diversion for some horror junkies although others may indeed find it dull and underwhelming.
Seven out of 10.
Lance Henriksen is typically rock solid in his portrayal of Lucas McCarthy, a police detective haunted by images and the voice of Max Jenke (the late, great character actor Brion James, in an amusingly campy turn), a vicious serial killer whom Lucas had captured and who had been strapped into an electric chair and fried. Not surprisingly, Jenke has found a way to "live on" and he proceeds to terrorize McCarthy and his family by injecting nightmares into reality. With the clue to defeat Jenke supplied to him by scientist Peter Campbell (Thom Bray), Lucas determines to fight his undead foe and finish him once and for all.
As "rubber reality", "A Nightmare on Elm Street" type cinema goes, "The Horror Show" isn't bad, although some fans of the genre may be disappointed that it doesn't go farther than it does. As it is, it's pretty tame. Still, there are elements to enjoy; other than those already mentioned, there's the cinematography by genre pro Mac Ahlberg, a very nice Harry Manfredini score that's unlike the stuff he did for the "Friday the 13th" series, and a supporting cast featuring a number of familiar faces: Rita Taggart as Lucas's wife, Dedee Pfeiffer and Aron Eisenberg as his kids, Matt Clark as a psychiatrist, Terry Alexander as your standard-issue doomed partner, Lewis Arquette as Lucas's boss, Lawrence Tierney as a warden, and Alvy Moore as a chili salesman.
The contrasting styles of Henriksen and James work for their roles; the latter does look like he's having a ball and reportedly had stated that Jenke was his favourite out of the roles he'd played.
This should serve as a decent diversion for some horror junkies although others may indeed find it dull and underwhelming.
Seven out of 10.