House (1977)

User Review

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  TheMovieDiorama

  6 / 10

  House (Hausu) is absolutely, indefinitely, one-hundred percent bonkers. I mean...I...I have no words. WHAT was this? Is it a secret masterpiece or does it sit in the exclusive "so bad it's good" zone? I honestly couldn't tell you after my first watch, I just couldn't. Reviewing this surreal experience would be like describing relativity in sign language, seemingly impossible. Alas, here I am attempting to detail the indescribable. Seven young girls travel to the countryside where they visit one of their aunties and stay in her residence. Unbeknown to them, they have actually stepped into a house that turns realism into fantasy. The story is incomprehensible, it makes no logical sense. The visual effects are downright atrocious to the point that it's actually hilarious. The editing of sequences is incredibly frantic. The acting is questionable and the narrative's tone is incredibly inconsistent. But, I don't know how, this film hypnotised me. Ôbayashi's direction was clear, both for viewers and Toho Studios. Experimentalism. Pushing the boundaries of what one can do with the art of filmmaking. Mixing horror, comedy and fantasy into a cauldron of frenetic energy to create something that is totally Japanese. A girl named Kung-Fu who consistently kicks and punches projectiles like an anime superhero, schoolgirls dancing and gleefully loving life, spellbound housing items attacking the group of girls and even long ominous smirks to the camera. You couldn't get anymore Japanese than "Hausuuuu". That, 70's visuals that one would find in an old 80's CD-I video game and the hilarious death sequences are all part of the appeal. Its charm is the fact that it never takes itself seriously, it doesn't try to be something metaphorical or meaningful. Just pure insane entertainment. Having said that...I honestly don't know what this was trying to be. It's so confused and purposefully "out there" that actually the outlandish segments detracted from the aesthetic appeal of the film itself. A masterpiece? Honestly I don't know, but what I do know is that I'm definitely watching it again!

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