Who doesn't love a haunted house flick? The problem is some reach for subtlety and grab uneventful and long-winded instead. THE EVIL seems to know that it doesn't have the mastery required to go the suggestive route so it pulls out all the stops and puts on a real show. This is a haunted house movie where things go down and they go down in your face (utilizing old school effects, thankfully.) It flirts with silliness and plays with many a cliché but you can't accuse it of not delivering. RICHARD CRENNA stars as a psychologist who along with his wife and a merry band of victims decide to restore an old house with a troubled past. The group are separated and dispensed of one by one with the clockwork of a slasher movie and a man-eating lawn makes attempts of escape appear hopelessly futile.
THE EVIL was filmed in a real castle in Montezuma, New Mexico and, per usual, the utilizing of an actual space with authentic history pays off. Frankly, the location alone is more than enough to recommend this movie. THE EVIL is more frivolous fun than under the skin unsettling, but it's not completely brain dead either. Unlike many a haunted house flick, it comes off as generally interested in the supernatural. An eleventh hour, from left field,
NOTE; most of this post appeared earlier in another post from 2010 (Satan's Unsung) because I'm feeling lazy….
https://www.kindertrauma.com/satans-unsung/
Also I'd like to go on record saying I hate WordPress' new dashboard format. It puts me in a murderous rage.
In any case- THE EVIL really is great so watch it for FREE if you havent seen it already.
I have not seen the movie and TubiTV is not available in my country BUT let me just say how gorgeous that house on the first screen looks. It just drips atmosphere.
Luki8701,
aw rats, I didn't realize Tubi was not available in all areas! Keep an eye out for it anyway! That house really is amazing- one of my favorites in all of horror…
maybe this version on Youtube will work?,,,
As always, Unk, thanks for the thoughtful and charming review.
But, counterpoint! I watched this for the first time back in May. My thoughts at the time were (cue flashback effect)…
Well, you could tell that they tried to take this seriously and make a good film. It's always nice to see a late 70's horror film centered around all adult characters. But this is a silly film. Richard Crenna is out of his element (did he even HAVE an element?) in a horror film. By the time Victor Buono shows up as the honest-to-God Devil we're really in facepalm territory. There are many worst horror films from the seventies but that doesn't mean that this one is any good.
So, mileage may vary etc.
Dr Nick! To each his own (sob) I do see how THE EVIL can be kinda silly but I truly love it. I only wish I came across it earlier in life! There just doesn’t seem to be enough haunted house movies from this era that truly deliver with the kills. I think the quick-sand –like lawn is brilliant and I just love being in that house! But yeah- I can’t honestly say it’s not goofy on occasion(s) too! I just have a real soft spot for this one!
To both Dr Nick and Unk, I agree…with you both. Does it make sense? Nope. How can I explain. Lance, as you typed "Who doesn't love a haunted house flick?" Love 'em. Bring me more. Can we love ALL of them however? Especially when some of us are constantly searching for them.
This is the kind of movie that pisses me off. The Evil and The Haunting (1963) both actually. I love the houses. I love the atmosphere. Others seem to be fans and talk them up. So, why don't I like them?
I keep watching them both, hoping for me to finally see what I've been missing. Hoping this time they will grab me and I will be adding them into my collection and watching them with eager enjoyment every autumn season. But it's just not happening.
Matt,
Wha?! You're not feeling THE HAUNTING either? How is that possible? I could watch it forever…. and probably do watch it yearly. Hmmmmm. I'm flabbergasted but I get that you can't help it if it just doesn't click with you- I feel that way about a bunch of popular movies myself…
I will say that I think the perfect modern haunted house movie has yet to be made. I'd really like to see the action, thrills and effects of a POLTERGEIST movie applied to the old dark mansion routine. Nobody seems to be able to do that properly. I almost think the HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL remake does a good job of it but then they blow it all to smithereens when Chris Kattan comes back as a ghost to save the day (hate that). THE HAUNTING remake has the right idea but then it ends up pure hilarious camp. I dug THE AWAKENING from a few years back but that went the whole classy and understated route. Sounds crazy but FRAGILE w/ Calista Flockhart is really underrated imo. Maybe it's time to do an updated favorite haunted house movie list…