Here we have another movie by Lucio Fulci - with lots of gore, but not much
story.  The Boyle family are moving from New York to small town New England.
They move into an old mansion, that once (and maybe still does?) belong to a
Mr. Freudstein.  The basement door is nailed shut - possibly for a reason?
The Boyles find out after they open it.  People are murdered one by one, and
dragged to the basement.  Who or what is down there?

There are a lot of long, boring scenes in the beginning of this film, and
the end isn't quite worth the torture of sitting through it.  Yes, the gore
scenes are well done and the camera work is great and there is a good deal
of tension/mystery/paranoia in much of the film.  I think my biggest problem
was the kid actor.  He annoyed me to no end.  And the dubbing on this film
(although their lips look like they're speaking the words) is atrocious -
the boy's voice is shrill and irritating.  Most of the movie I was wishing
for his demise.

But, if you likee the gore, then there's some bloody scenes for you - bat
attacks, a knife through the head, body parts strewn around, maggots, and a
barrage of neck effects.  "The Beyond" had a number of eye effects, but
"House By the Cemetery" has the neck effects - there's necks being
punctured, being ripped out, and being sliced - all very well done.  If this
kinda stuff turns your stomach, skip to the next movie, because there's not
much else here.
 
 
 

local note:  some exterior scenes were shot in downtown Concord, MA.
 
 

Quality: 2.0  Visuals: 4.5  Intensity: 1.5 Gore: 5.5 
OVERALL RATING: 3.4