House is great. The title actually has a back story as even in Japan it was named House which made it stand out as it was taboo at the time for a Japanese film to use English in the title.
"It's a shame that it's called House, and not something that catches your attention better" It's probably why it's often spelled "Hausu" on the internet (it's even the official title on IMBd). Kinda like "Ring" (1998) often spelled "Ringu" to make the difference with "The Ring", the american remake. It's still the same word, but helps to make it less generic when it's written.
I absolutely adore this film. Obayashi essentially threw everything at the wall to see what stuck and what would appeal to the younger generations of the 70s, which is where most of the energetic feel of the film shines. However, for all of its batshit insanity, the overlaying theme of House seems to be something incredibly beautiful and tragic, with allegories about war and loss, with gorgeous cinematography and lovely music in the background. I found the ending to be quite melancholic and withdrawn. This director truly new what he was doing because he made one hell of a film.
LeHobbitFan Watch the most recent episode of AVGN - you will find out, and you will *not* be disappointed Edit: At least the newest on YT; I think it's the newest, but not sure
"Criterion Collection, which typically puts out films that are considered masterpieces." May I remind everyone that Michael Bay's Armageddon is in the Criterion Collection.
House/Hausu has got to be the craziest film I've ever seen. It makes Altered States and Jacob's Ladder look like real life and that's really saying a lot. Hell, I'm probably even making a bold statement.
One of my favorite movies ever. I even love the synopsis on the back cover where even Criterion is like "How the fuck do we explain this thing?" And describe it as something akin to an episode of Scoobie Doo directed by Mario Bava.
chinito77 lol. it's such a silly, stupid movie. "I'm a Derek, and Derek's don't run." The best is that it was done by Peter Jackson, and stars him. As Derek. lol
Honestly I find the gore in Bad Taste more repulsive (In a good way, of course) than Dead Alive. Dead Alive is huge on blood, but Bad Taste has blood, brains falling out (and going back in), vomit, eating said vomit, separated limbs, and of course the bit where Derek chainsaws into an Alien and walks around inside his flesh. Awesome Movie.
One of the clubs I was part of in college had a screening of this movie one night. Afterwards, many of us needed a drink to try to comprehend what we had just witnessed.
Watched house a couple months ago. I had a lot of fun with it. The tone of the film when it's being melodramatic reminded me a lot of something like mulholland drive or maybe even twin peaks. Glad you like it James! Kungfu is best girl!
The Japanese horror films are good, James should really check out the Chinese hopping vampire horrors from HK in the 70s-80s they mix horror with humor which is quite interesting.
I absolutely adore this film! In so glad it's starting to get more and more recognition these days. The criterion collection has brought so many forgotten gems to the forefront!
"WTF" Couldn't have said it better myself. There is no better description. And its the one thing I said over and over as I watched. It was recommended to me by a coworker and she set me up big time. "A haunted house movie". Holy shit, not what I was expecting. When I saw her after with that phrase "WTF?!", she laughed her ass off. I will NEVER forget this movie.
Something you should've mentioned was how great the soundtrack for this movie is. It's like a cross between 70s-era J pop and a lighthearted piano motif.
This is one of those movies that I don't remember a single thing about it except one specific detail, and for House, it was that giant orange cat on the cover, and because of this, it has taken me so long to find out what it was from. Might have to give it a re-watch
This is a great film. It's the effects and the melody that play throughout the film that really make it unsettling. As well as the constant change in tone. It gives the film a lot of contrast that makes the horror scenes all the more memorable.
More Japanese horror movies worth checking out if House is your cup of tea: Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People (1963) Kwaidan (1964) Sweet Home (1989) Hiruko the Goblin (1991) Though none of these quite match House when it comes to total wackiness (a few come close though) they all feature that uniquely strange Japanese atmosphere and elements of the surreal or creatively grotesque.
Kwaidan is so fucking good holy shit, I love Hausu but I'm not sure which one I like more. I should check out those other ones. I also have a copy of Jigoku which I need to finish which is prolly good.
Check out Yōkai Hyaku Monogatari (1968) if you haven't already. It's infinitely more toned down than Hausu but still has some snippets of surrealism and interesting stylistic choices.
I got to see this in our cinema last year, and it's definitely something. I'm not a huge fan, but I enjoyed it anyway. I think I heard the director had mainly done commercials up to this point and was wanting to use as many special effects as he could put in. Lately in my online circles this has been probably the most recommended Halloween movie.
Actually to avoid the other House-named films confusion, I've always called this movie "Hausu", the original title, as I've seen a lot of people do too online.
I wonder if anyone can help me figure out the name of a movie I saw in the mid 90's. Now I could have swore the name of the movie was called Demon Night, but every time I search for it, I just get results for the Tales from the Crypt movie Demon Knight, which is not the same movie, I watched it to make sure. The plot of the movie had to do with this house that seemed like it was somewhere in England or something, and the movie started a couple hundred years in the past I believe. I think someone was killed in the house, or a demon was trapped in this house maybe. Fast forward to the present time, the house is still there, mostly in ruins, and some people try to go inside, but it like transports them to another realm, or to the house in the past like when the demon was sealed there or whatever. I don't really remember much else, besides renting it from a movie place in the mid 90's, but it may have came out earlier than then. If anyone knows what movie this is, please let me know, been trying to find it for a while.
If it wasn't for you to guide me through horror movies, I would've never watched any. Your videos convinced me to watch Halloween ('78 John Carpenter)- and I loved it! I get scared easily, but by watching your Monster Madness review talking about suspense and minimal gore, it seemed perfect for me, and it was. Thank you, James Rolfe!
I haven't watched James' review yet but I can say this is one of the most hilariously random, weird films of all time. So completely ridiculous! If you love cinema you should really watch this crazy ass film. It's mostly comedic, but has a few creepy moments and scars. A surrealist goofball horror comedy.
I just watched the movie today... WTF! I expected a generic horror film with outdated special effect. What I got was a roller-coaster ride, and while old, it throws so many special effects and filters at you, that turn the whole film surreal and you can't help but believe them.
I remember Mike Metai's review of this movie. It looks like a fun spooky ride, and considering it's from the same studio that brought us the "Godzilla" films, that's another reason for me to hopefully come across it sometime.
Hey James, another incredibly unknown but fantastic old horror movie from China of all places, is one of my new favourites, Mr. Vampire. It is an incredible Asian horror film that paved the way for horror comedy. It has vampires, zombies, ghosts, kung-fu and is a great comedy. I suggest checking it out! It's difficult to find out in the wild, but you can find it on UA-cam. I own a dvd but part of me believes it's a bootleg. It's definitely a hidden gem.
God I love this movie. It was supposed to be Japan's answer to Jaws. So um...yeah. That's kinda like how Faust's debut album was supposed to be Germany's answer to the Beatles and the Stones.
James, do yourself a favor and check out Happiness Of The Katakuris (it's a Japanese Takashi Miike remake of the South Korean film The Quiet Family, which is also good, but Happiness cranks it all to 11).
i have this movie. I bought it because i thought it was some other movie I was tracking down. I didn't really like it. However I may give it another watch to see if I my opinion changes. The Criterion blue ray was expensive.
Has Mr. Rolfe talked about "Watcher in the Woods"? That's that early 1980s horror movie by Disney. Yes. Disney made a horror movie. And according to Doug Walker, it's actually really scary.
"A group of girls who go on a trip..."
They were tripping alright.
acid tripping
House is great. The title actually has a back story as even in Japan it was named House which made it stand out as it was taboo at the time for a Japanese film to use English in the title.
wow, I didn't know that!
But isn’t its title Hausu?
@@RobbieSkyeHamilton
That's just the transliteration of the English word into Japanese phonetics. The actual Japanese word for house is ie.
@@help4343 gotcha. It is titled “Hausu” on two older copies of it that I own, not “House”.
@@RobbieSkyeHamilton
But again, "Hausu" is not a Japanese word, it is the Japanese pronunciation of an English word.
its like LSD Dream emulator the movie
That's the perfect way to describe this movie XD
lol now there needs to be house the video game
made by talltale haha
Don't know what LSD you've had but I definitely didn't see this...
not talking about the drug im talking about the game on PS1
You didn't even talk about my favorite part: the bananas
not spoilering it is probably for the best
RIP Mr. Togo
“Do you like watermelon?”
“No!”
“What then?”
“Bananas!”
Farmer just turns into a skeleton
Do you think the killer piano in Mario 64 took inspiration from this?
The house itself is also weird as this movie.
Actually yes it is
Wouldn't surprise me if it did.
"It's a shame that it's called House, and not something that catches your attention better"
It's probably why it's often spelled "Hausu" on the internet (it's even the official title on IMBd). Kinda like "Ring" (1998) often spelled "Ringu" to make the difference with "The Ring", the american remake. It's still the same word, but helps to make it less generic when it's written.
That's not how Ringu or Hausu got those names.
Ringu is just a Japanese word for Ring, lol
I absolutely adore this film. Obayashi essentially threw everything at the wall to see what stuck and what would appeal to the younger generations of the 70s, which is where most of the energetic feel of the film shines. However, for all of its batshit insanity, the overlaying theme of House seems to be something incredibly beautiful and tragic, with allegories about war and loss, with gorgeous cinematography and lovely music in the background. I found the ending to be quite melancholic and withdrawn. This director truly new what he was doing because he made one hell of a film.
Really crazy movie especially for 1977.
Not surprised by Japan.
Tentacles...
...finding an entrance wherever they can....Eels!
watch?v=0AckvdGbk4w
Crazy for 1977? They made lots of crazy movies back in the 70s. Ever seen The Holy Mountain?
for context both Star Wars and Eraserhead came out that year as well.
I think there is a typo in the title. It's supposed to be Manster Mednass in this universe.
What's the joke? I see comments of people talking about how words are written diferently in parallel universes, is that a thing with the AVGN?
LeHobbitFan Watch the most recent episode of AVGN - you will find out, and you will *not* be disappointed
Edit: At least the newest on YT; I think it's the newest, but not sure
LeHobbitFan Heh! No problem; it is a good episode for sure
Really? I always remember it being spelled Muster Mudness.
What do you mean? It's Monstir Madnis, you guy should go to school, I'm sure you write You're instead Your
I'm sorry James but the crazy parts are all over the place from begining to end, not just after one hour mark.
"Criterion Collection, which typically puts out films that are considered masterpieces."
May I remind everyone that Michael Bay's Armageddon is in the Criterion Collection.
makes the Nerd all the more accurate haha
ITSAMASTAPEACE
And The Blob from 1958
Yes, and it's a masterpiece.
House/Hausu has got to be the craziest film I've ever seen. It makes Altered States and Jacob's Ladder look like real life and that's really saying a lot. Hell, I'm probably even making a bold statement.
One of my favorite movies ever. I even love the synopsis on the back cover where even Criterion is like "How the fuck do we explain this thing?" And describe it as something akin to an episode of Scoobie Doo directed by Mario Bava.
Finally! A review of House! One of my all-time favorite movies!
Wrong movie dude. You're talking about the 1980's horror movies. Like Rolfe mentions in this video, this is the 1977 Japanese movie.
mike reviewed this about four years ago lol
This movie gave me some kind of shellshock.
Indeed. "Just see the movie." Mandatory for any flim fan(antic).
FUCK YEAH, AVGN AND MONSTER MADNESS.
Where I'm from it's spelled Manster Modness.
Ta0 Software madness*
In my childhood it was named Munster Mudness. What happens here?
+Dirty Bong Water you missed the joke
T2266 shitty joke
New AVGN video and new Monster Madness video the same day? Is this real life?
Or it is just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality.
open your eyes
svrdandrew It isn't real life, the AVGN video was put out yesterday.
It's october is what it is my friend
SO GOOD, omg, I remember this
The original Japanese title for the film is "Hausu". I tend to go with that in order to avoid confusion. XD
You and your parallell dimensions...
or ハウス
Isn't that just the english word spoken with a bad Japanese accent?
Morgil yes
Well no, it's the translitaration of the katakama transliteration of 'house'
Will he ever review "Bad Taste"? the cover that's always being used for WTF Wednesday?
RisingVictor I was just going to say that!
Bad Taste was the only movie I remember that had so much gore, that I felt nauseous from watching it. I was a big horror movie fan as a teenager.
chinito77 lol. it's such a silly, stupid movie. "I'm a Derek, and Derek's don't run." The best is that it was done by Peter Jackson, and stars him. As Derek. lol
next week's review maybe?
Honestly I find the gore in Bad Taste more repulsive (In a good way, of course) than Dead Alive. Dead Alive is huge on blood, but Bad Taste has blood, brains falling out (and going back in), vomit, eating said vomit, separated limbs, and of course the bit where Derek chainsaws into an Alien and walks around inside his flesh. Awesome Movie.
Saw this at a film festival last year, it was fantastic to see with a cinema full of people WTFing at it all together
You mean "Howse" in this parallel universe ;D
AS SURE AS CHERRIES WERE MADE FOR EATING
AND FISH WERE MADE TO SWIM
IN THE SEA
cyraxmaster23
YOU WERE MADE TO BE LOVED A LOT
BY NOBODY ELSE BUT ME
One of the clubs I was part of in college had a screening of this movie one night. Afterwards, many of us needed a drink to try to comprehend what we had just witnessed.
Watched house a couple months ago. I had a lot of fun with it. The tone of the film when it's being melodramatic reminded me a lot of something like mulholland drive or maybe even twin peaks. Glad you like it James!
Kungfu is best girl!
The Japanese horror films are good, James should really check out the Chinese hopping vampire horrors from HK in the 70s-80s they mix horror with humor which is quite interesting.
I absolutely adore this film! In so glad it's starting to get more and more recognition these days. The criterion collection has brought so many forgotten gems to the forefront!
It was Mike's review that encouraged me to see this initially, and boy was it worth it! Such an artsy, bizarre piece of work!
Saw this movie two weeks ago on TCM and it was glorious!
House is a miraculously batshit crazy work of off-the-rails bonkers genius. It's a perfect movie.
I wonder if the man eater piano inspired Miyamoto for Super Mario 64...
1977? I'm all for it. Thanks for bringing this interesting film to our attention, James.
They had this on Turner Classic Movies a couple of weeks ago...I'm still trying to figure out what I watched.
YES! FINALLY SOMEONE GIVES CREDIT TO THIS MOVIE! THANK YOU!
james .. you need to watch "sweet home" it a nice japanese horror movie with the best effect of a melting man
It's best to play the NES game than watch the movie.
Marco Rastrelli
Yeah those door animations give it away.
The game gave birth to Resident Evil, also.
The game is also better than any Resident Evil game.
+Marco Rastrelli Shinji Kimaki didn't have any thing to do with the Sweet Home movie or game.
One of the weirdest films I seen next to Tetsuo, Gummo, Eraserhead, Pink Flamingos and Videodrome.
1:40 SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS SEND SHIVERS DOWN YOUR SPINE, SHREAKING SKULLS WILL SHOCK YOUR SOULS AND SEAL YOUR DOOM TONIGHT... etc.
"WTF" Couldn't have said it better myself. There is no better description. And its the one thing I said over and over as I watched. It was recommended to me by a coworker and she set me up big time. "A haunted house movie". Holy shit, not what I was expecting. When I saw her after with that phrase "WTF?!", she laughed her ass off. I will NEVER forget this movie.
I love this film so flipping much. I keep watching it over and over and it keeps getting better.
Something you should've mentioned was how great the soundtrack for this movie is. It's like a cross between 70s-era J pop and a lighthearted piano motif.
This is one of those movies that I don't remember a single thing about it except one specific detail, and for House, it was that giant orange cat on the cover, and because of this, it has taken me so long to find out what it was from. Might have to give it a re-watch
House is an awesome film! Love the tone & effects!
This is a great film. It's the effects and the melody that play throughout the film that really make it unsettling. As well as the constant change in tone. It gives the film a lot of contrast that makes the horror scenes all the more memorable.
More Japanese horror movies worth checking out if House is your cup of tea:
Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People (1963)
Kwaidan (1964)
Sweet Home (1989)
Hiruko the Goblin (1991)
Though none of these quite match House when it comes to total wackiness (a few come close though) they all feature that uniquely strange Japanese atmosphere and elements of the surreal or creatively grotesque.
Kwaidan is so fucking good holy shit, I love Hausu but I'm not sure which one I like more. I should check out those other ones. I also have a copy of Jigoku which I need to finish which is prolly good.
Check out Yōkai Hyaku Monogatari (1968) if you haven't already. It's infinitely more toned down than Hausu but still has some snippets of surrealism and interesting stylistic choices.
this movie is insane! absolute bonkers! I watched this last Halloween and I actually felt like I was going insane. this is one of my favorites!
When I saw the thumbnail I thought you meant the 80's one, which I grew up watching. Will have to check this one out now!
Does this star Hugh Laurie?
Nope. It stars William Katt. :P
I got to see this in our cinema last year, and it's definitely something. I'm not a huge fan, but I enjoyed it anyway. I think I heard the director had mainly done commercials up to this point and was wanting to use as many special effects as he could put in. Lately in my online circles this has been probably the most recommended Halloween movie.
Actually to avoid the other House-named films confusion, I've always called this movie "Hausu", the original title, as I've seen a lot of people do too online.
Love this movie. Such visual creativity. Kung Fu is my fave of the girls. She gives the "Hausu" all she can trying to survive.
I watched this one! And I believe it was because Mike already made a review in Cinemassacre some time ago.
This is my second favorite movie of all time. I love it.
Hey the watermelon flying head girl would be a great castlevania enemy!
I wonder if anyone can help me figure out the name of a movie I saw in the mid 90's. Now I could have swore the name of the movie was called Demon Night, but every time I search for it, I just get results for the Tales from the Crypt movie Demon Knight, which is not the same movie, I watched it to make sure. The plot of the movie had to do with this house that seemed like it was somewhere in England or something, and the movie started a couple hundred years in the past I believe. I think someone was killed in the house, or a demon was trapped in this house maybe. Fast forward to the present time, the house is still there, mostly in ruins, and some people try to go inside, but it like transports them to another realm, or to the house in the past like when the demon was sealed there or whatever. I don't really remember much else, besides renting it from a movie place in the mid 90's, but it may have came out earlier than then. If anyone knows what movie this is, please let me know, been trying to find it for a while.
I somehow got mike to mention this movie during a livestream. I'm not bragging but that actually happened.
fuck, i'd brag about that too, especially for such a good movie
Lord I love this movie. I'm so glad James is gonna give it some much deserved attention.
Watches end of video, sees a link to another AVGN video
"AVGN: Berenstain Bears!
Berenstein Bears - Angry Video Game Nerd: Epi..."
God damn it!
It's a total insight into what really became that mashup chaos in Japanese horror
I saw this movie because Mike reviewed it years ago, regret nothing, awesome movie.
Criterion also put out Fiend Without A Face and Atomic Submarine!
Incredible movie!!!! Great Pick!!!!! Happy Halloween James and Mike!!!!!!!
Hold up.......I was thinking of the 1986 version!!!!! LMAO
The sequel "Garage" is much better.
What about the prequel, "Foundation"?
The Mortgage Trilogy
+DragnSly 'Car' was way better.
I like "Noun" better
"Attic" is trash tho. They should have stopped after the 4th one.
Just got back from seeing it on the big screen. My local art house theater screened this as their midnight Halloween movie this year. Trippy as balls.
One of my alltime favorites. The naive brilliance of it is undeniable.
This movie is so good. One of my favorite Criterion Collection Blu-rays I own.
If it wasn't for you to guide me through horror movies, I would've never watched any. Your videos convinced me to watch Halloween ('78 John Carpenter)- and I loved it! I get scared easily, but by watching your Monster Madness review talking about suspense and minimal gore, it seemed perfect for me, and it was. Thank you, James Rolfe!
I wonder what you'd think of this movie.
I haven't watched James' review yet but I can say this is one of the most hilariously random, weird films of all time. So completely ridiculous! If you love cinema you should really watch this crazy ass film. It's mostly comedic, but has a few creepy moments and scars. A surrealist goofball horror comedy.
I just watched the movie today...
WTF!
I expected a generic horror film with outdated special effect.
What I got was a roller-coaster ride, and while old, it throws so many special effects and filters at you, that turn the whole film surreal and you can't help but believe them.
Currently available on HBO: Max (along with a ton of other Criterion movies).
I remember Mike Metai's review of this movie. It looks like a fun spooky ride, and considering it's from the same studio that brought us the "Godzilla" films, that's another reason for me to hopefully come across it sometime.
I love HOUSE. It's so fun! Kung-Fu is my favourite character.
Hey James, another incredibly unknown but fantastic old horror movie from China of all places, is one of my new favourites, Mr. Vampire. It is an incredible Asian horror film that paved the way for horror comedy. It has vampires, zombies, ghosts, kung-fu and is a great comedy. I suggest checking it out! It's difficult to find out in the wild, but you can find it on UA-cam. I own a dvd but part of me believes it's a bootleg. It's definitely a hidden gem.
I just love that Criterion cover.
How can so many movies (and a TV show) use the same name as their title? Wouldn't one of them be copyrighted?
Individual words like that can't be copyrighted.
imagine if words like "Christopher" or "Christ" where copyrighted
***** Now that you mentioned it I looked up my last name and found that the word "Jesus" got Trademarked in 2007 by Jesus Jeans
Tell that to king and sony.
The soundtrack of this movie is so beautiful, too
God I love this movie. It was supposed to be Japan's answer to Jaws. So um...yeah. That's kinda like how Faust's debut album was supposed to be Germany's answer to the Beatles and the Stones.
I like you
Toho didn't want a Jaws knock off but something that would be as popular and would appeal to the youth demographic.
I like how he said it's a moving magazine collage that made me chuckle.
This movie is a fucking insane mindfuck. I love it. it's in Hulu as well if you don't want to buy the dvd
House!! Maybe my favorite film of all time, so glad it got the Monster Madness treatment.
I saw this move a few years back after watching a review by Mike and I must say, this movie doesn't disappoint!
I want the movie's soundtrack.
James, do yourself a favor and check out Happiness Of The Katakuris (it's a Japanese Takashi Miike remake of the South Korean film The Quiet Family, which is also good, but Happiness cranks it all to 11).
House is truely the trippiest, weirdest, craziest, movie I have ever seen. Unreal.
Surreal.
And it's very cool.
It's a 15 here, and from what I hear I'm surprised it's not an 18, but don't spoil it for me. I really want to see it.
i have this movie. I bought it because i thought it was some other movie I was tracking down. I didn't really like it. However I may give it another watch to see if I my opinion changes. The Criterion blue ray was expensive.
Really should post a warning about this movie. If you watch it you WILL have the theme music stuck in your head for at least half a year.
Love it. It's one of the most creative films I've seen. An acquaintance of mine here did the poster/cover of the DVD. Definitely a unique film.
sam smith?
2 works of groundbreaking horror in 1977.."Hausu" and "Suspiria"
I love House, where else can you see the Evil Piano from Super Mario 64 in live action?
The cover for the 1977 movie looks like the drawings of the monster in The Babadook
I watched this with a friend one year ago. My brains felt fried afterwards. Amazing experience; it's art to me. Not even joking.
It's art to everyone...because it's art
It's really trippy...Btw nice profile pic
Supp3rdu Thanks, Ken
Has Mr. Rolfe talked about "Watcher in the Woods"? That's that early 1980s horror movie by Disney. Yes. Disney made a horror movie. And according to Doug Walker, it's actually really scary.
To find this easier, just type Hausu.
An amazing film, blew me away when I discovered it too...creepy in a very David Lynch-esque way...
That fucking painting still gives me nightmares
Awww, I was hoping for a cameo of the cat shaking and screaming.
Jesus Christ, this movie makes even the weirdest of Japanese Tokusatsu look like something out of the ordinary! 0_0
I wonder if Tim Burton saw this movie as a kid. Because "House" seems to have horror elements that are both frightening and charming.
It could be searched as Hausu as well, that might narrow down a bit
I was hoping this was House (86) with William Katt! One of my favorite horror comedies.
This movie is a lot of fun!