House II: The Second Story (1987)
Also known as "Doom with a View"
Doom with a View
Starring: Arye Gross, Jonathan Stark, Royal Dano, Bill Maher, John Ratzenberger, Lar Park Lincoln, Amy Yasbeck, Gregory Walcott, Dwier Brown, Lenora May, Devin Devasquez, Jayne Modean, Ronn Caroll, Dean Cleverdon, Doug MacHugh, Mitzi Kapture, David Arnott, Kane Hodder, Susan Isaac, Gus Rethwisch, Gil Birmingham
Director: Ethan Wiley
Running Time: 88 minutes
US MPAA rating: PG-13UK BBFC rating: 15
Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Horror
On DVD If you want to introduce young children to horror, you could always start them off in the deep end with
DVD Extras: Scene selection; choice of Dolby stereo 2.0/Dolby 5.1; still gallery; trailer; full audio commentary by writer/director Ethan Wiley and producer Sean S. Cunningham, who discuss Royal Dano's elaborate and expressive make-up, and the upwardly mobile career of David Arnott (who went on from playing a banana at the Halloween party in this film to writing the screenplays for 'The Last Action Hero' and 'The Adventures of Ford Fairlane') - and "the infamous scene with the cater-puppy, which makes absolutely no sense".
It's Got: An electro-pop band called 'Puce Glitz and the Avoiders'; a 170-year old Rip Van Winkle-style cowboy who is less impressed with television ("this Ronald Reagan feller...sure is a pansy") than with tissue boxes ("this is great - they just keep comin' & comin' & comin'"); dinosaurs; virgin sacrifice; gunfights; a very experienced electrician; family values; and the pointless but cute cater-puppy.
It Needs: Less padding.
Alternatives: 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure', 'The Goonies', House, House III, House IV
Summary: A weirdly charming adventure in ultra-light horror that is strictly for the kids.
Review Date: 31st August 2004
External Links
House II: The Second Story at the IMDB
