Watching: House (1985)

House is an interesting film that I'd seen before but had not revisited in a while. Now that the film is on Blu Ray it felt like a good time to rewatch and take some screen caps of the paintings that feature in the film- some of which give little plot hints about the weird goings-on in the haunted house (though they're largely in the background for ambience more so than plot!) I'd always liked the weird surreal paintings and wanted to get a good look at them again.

Roger Cobb is a Vietnam veteran and a horror novelist whose son went missing, causing his divorce. When the aunt who raised him commits suicide in her eerie old house, he returns to stay there and attempts to write a book recounting his experience in Vietnam. As we find out, the house itself and his past may have had a role in the disappearance of his son as strange creatures and phenomena appear.

The film has a somewhat silly tone that cuts through the sadness of Roger's ordeal. We get a sense of his trauma and feelings of loss, but we don't really wallow in it as he starts to unravel he mystery inside the house. With interference from his neighbor Harold and some humorous physical comedy, the film has a fair share of comic relief. There's also practical effects and gory creatures a-plenty!

 Here's some screencaps of the various paintings in the house- most painted by Richard Hescox, while the partially finished painting in the studio was made by William Stout.









Not all of the paintings are online but I did find a few images shared by Richard Hescox



That's Joe Dante being pierced by the swordfish, btw



This last one is unfortunately a tiny size!

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