[4] The Lutz family move into their
dream house, and all goes well until a series of bizarre events,
climaxing in Lutz Sr. cracking up and attempting to kill his family
(never have happened if they'd bought a Barratt home). Contains some
good shocks and is supposedly based on fact - Rod Steiger puts in an
appearance as a priest who discovers the house is evil.
The sequel,
made in 1982, is actually a prequel, which tells the story of the
previous occupants who weren't so lucky; their son is possessed by the
house and shotguns his family to death, tho' not before the usual
things happen (taps drip blood, spooky noises, etc). These all
contribute to a film which is as good as, and perhaps slightly better
than, the original, even if the climax is a rip-off of The Exorcist.
5/10 & 6/10
