WILLIAM FLANIGAN HOUSE (HAUSU). Viewed on Streaming. Restoration/preservation = ten (10) stars; cinematography = eight (8) stars; set design = five (5) stars; special effects = five (5) stars. Director Nobuhiko Obayashi (who is also credited as story writer, co-producer, and director of special effects) provides a high-spirited romp through the contemporary horror-film genre packed with creative and outrageous events. Obayashi has constructed a house haunted by a sweetly-appearing, senior-citizen apparition (formerly the aunt of a now visiting high school student accompanied by a half dozen of her classmates) who decidedly does not like sushi (or any other traditional Washoku). The place is filled with inorganic/organic objects who also have a taste (literally) for young, unmarried women including futons, a grand piano, light fixtures, a grandfather clock, and goldfish! And (as is often the case for ghost stories) there is a Neko (Koko No Shiro) mixed up in the proceedings (food preferences unknown). The film is mostly constructed of short takes (reminiscent of TV commercials) populated by miscast, under-experienced actresses (with the exception of Youko Minamida who portrays the spine-tingling ghost auntie) shown as having too much fun playing high school girls while group members are being devoured one by one! (Since the seven actresses are way beyond their high school days, perhaps they over dosed on silly, giggling, and mugging deliveries to help disguise things?) Restoration/preservation is outstanding. Cinematography (narrow screen, color) and lighting are very good. The use of the antiquated narrow-screen format seems to enhance the feeling of claustrophobia. Subtitles are close enough. Special effects are overly obvious, meant to be seen, and to be seen as cheesy (but imaginative)! They include models, glass shots, and jump cuts plus back and forth film reversals. There are always composite body parts floating around plus long shots of small, beautifully painted backdrops obviously erected roadside (next to nondescript fields) and apparently meant to be used for stationary vehicle medium shots. Clever and atypical nude scenes are inserted at the film's end. Set design includes (in the closing scenes) what is likely to be the longest sliding exterior door yet to appear in films. The score is particularly interesting with happy music always accompanying the most gruesome scenes! A great (and defining) cult film! WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.

fathersonholyspirit50 Well, I finally watched house. I felt lucky to find it at vintage stock. It is crazy. I loved the blood effects though. I never got sick of hearing the main theme play through the ENTIRE movie lol. If yoy like surreal horror this is a good watch. There is plenty of groovy 70s tunes featured as well.

Antonius Block Oh my goodness, what at trippy, crazy, cheesy little movie this is. I don't think it has a single scene in it which doesn't have some type of campy, surreal special effect. Early on it seems like part Wes Anderson, part after-school special, part J-pop, part … I don't know, just 'out there', and certainly unique. It gets weirder and weirder as it goes. If you love the bizarre and the downright silly, movies which don't take themselves too seriously and are out to throw wild images at you, you'll probably love this film. Director Nobuhiko Obayashi has a real flair, and he's not out to make things look super-realistic, he's out to entertain. If you're looking for a ghost story, real drama, or horror, well, this isn't it. You never feel real tension, even as the cute little girls are attacked by mattresses, devoured by a piano, etc etc. For me I suppose I fell more in the latter camp, wishing the film had some balance in creating a film about the supernatural, but you can easily see why it has a bit of a cult attraction to it, and your mileage may vary.

Claudio Carvalho The high-school vacation is coming and the student Oshare intends to spend the period with her father in his villa; however she finds that his girlfriend Kyouko will be with him and Oshare gives up going. Meanwhile her best friends will be camping with Keisuke Tôgôbut, but he has a problem and calls off the camping. Oshare writes a letter to her estranged aunt that lives in the country asking whether she could go with her friends Kunfû, Fanta, Gari, Makku, Merodî and Suîto to spend the summer vacation at her house. They are welcomed by Oshare's aunt but soon weird things happen since the aunt is a ghost and the house is haunted."Hausu" is a messy and annoying Japanese ghost story. The silly screenplay is irritating and the music score is awful. Hard to understand why some people consider this garbage cult. My vote is one (awful).Title (Brazil): "Hausu"