Bloodbath At The House Of Death

It was a little seen movie 24 years ago when it was released, but since then has been equally elusive. Thankfully film historian Marc Morris and filmmaker Jake West have finally bought Bloodbath At The House Of Death to DVD for the first time anyway (Legally) in the world, courtesy of their niche market DVD label Nucleus.

 

Taking a nod from the often ludicrously titled horror movies of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s; this 1984 movie takes a series of good hard stabs at the horror movie in this off the wall spoof that later inspired a dozen horror spoof movies. Unusually based in the UK and penned by Ray Cameron and Barry Cryer, Bloodbath At The House Of Death will ultimately be most favoured by fans of the 70’s and 80’s sitcom; and as if to solidify this fact gathers some of the best known comedy names of that period to carry the movie forward. Headlining the picture is Kenny Everett of all people, as Doctor Lucas Mandeville a rather wacky boffin who has gathered a team of the best phenomenon experts in the world to Headstone Manor the site of 18 possibly 19 gruesome deaths on one night somewhere back then; date never clearly revealed.

 

As the movie unfolds you discover that the events all circle around a strange cult led by character credited as “Sinister Man” but best placed as the devil’s right hand I guess; this character is played by none other than horror legend Vincent Price in yet another suitably bizarre role (if you have not seen the actors horror comedy movies check out Theatre Of Blood, and the Doctor Phibes movies).

 

Like a football match, Bloodbath is a game of two halves the first half being ultimately superior to the second. Starting with a lot of genuinely funny gags including Vincent Price’s “You Pi** Off!” statement, Kenny Everett ridicule and subsequent intestine flinging, and the crazed mother complete with built on pope style booth; probably best not asking too many questions.  But after some really good laughs it turns into a down on its luck sitcom, with apparent jokes that just are not funny and a bizarre woodland encounter straight out of a bad Monty Python sketch. Towards the end of Price’s role the sort of lines initially funny just start to annoy “Good job I wore my old robe” he shouts as he gets a little inflamed. Although I did have one last giggle near the end as the teddy with a flick knife made an appearance.

 

Bloodbath spoofs a large chunk of popular horror movies of the time Carrie, Invasion Of The Bodysnatchers, and The Entity being prime targets, but unlike the less subtle Scary Movie movies it does allow a certain amount of subtlety, yes if you look at them deeply they are direct spoofs, but given that there is a little unique British humour chucked in, the rip offs are far less obvious.

 

The movie is like a who’s who of British comedy culture of the 70’s and 80’s Everett is joined by Pamela Stephenson, Don Warrington, Cleo Rocos, John Fortune, Gareth Hunt, Sheila Steafal and Pat Ashton; all of whom revel in their big movie offering being actors who were mainly found on television.

Everett really hams it up for the movie, but then what can we expect from the comedian who’s ridiculously funny TV (in a variety of form) ran from 1970 to the late 1980’s; there are lots of preposterous dialogue scenes where Everett clearly knows what he is gabbling on around while the rest of us are without a clue, as well as the usual Everett confusion as he argues in the local pub about the amount dead in the past massacre. Yes he was silly, but when you watch Bloodbath you realise that now a generation have been deprived of his unique sense of humour.

 

The movie is rather unfairly in my opinion given a 15 certificate in the UK, there is little here to justify the certificate, with a brief scene of sexual pleasure courtesy of a supernatural entity that shows nothing, and a few minor swear words I have heard and seen far worse in lower certificated movies. Don’t let the movies horror aspects put you off; there are far more scary things in your own home.

 

On the special features front things are a little thin on the ground, Running The Bloodbath is a great little documentary that looks at aspects of the movies making with interviews by producers Laurence Myers and Stuart Donaldson, there are some wonderful moments of old footage featuring Everett included which make this a really great to watch feature. The theatrical trailer pays an important part, so much so there are two versions. And for those that have a DVD player in your PC (pretty much everyone really) an additional gift of the movies script for you to peruse at your convenience.  Not being on the Nucleus list of preview disc recipients I had to borrow the DVD to view it, so sadly my review does not grant it the attention it deserves.

 

You can purchase Bloodbath At The House Of Death on DVD now.