Horror House on Hwy 5

Given the lack of budget, the fact most of the actors have not appeared in any other film and a completely homemade feel of this film, I would ascertain it must have been a student project for film school. Given that assumption, the film manages to succeed modestly on a few levels. The lack of budget only enhances this type of film and most everyone in the film, including the antagonists, is at least likeable. The mood is too light, even comical, for most of the film. It never sinks into misogyny, even though several opportunities arise. While this makes the film more appealing, it does not necessarily make for an effective thriller. There is some quite terrible acting is displayed here; especially atrocious are Randy Daitch as the professor and Max Manthey as Gary. Additionally, Phil Therrien hams it up something awful as Dr. Mabuse, a man obsessed with carrying on the experiments of a German rocket scientist who had relocated to the area following WWII. The choice of naming the doctor after Norbert Jacques's criminal mastermind is intriguing, though the relationship is apparently perfunctory. As fortune would have it, a student from the local City College comes knocking on Dr. Mabuse's door, looking for information about our German scientist for her school project. The good doctor conspires to use this student for some bizarre experiments. He reads some incantations in what, one can assume, is supposed to be German (as a fluent German speaker, I could not recognize more than two words he reads) and orders his assistant, Gary, to brand the student with a hot iron. Alas, the dim-witted Gary has fallen in love with student Sally, who really only wants to escape this madness. (Rather wisely and perhaps presciently, Sally is listed in the credits only as "Irene F.") To compound matters, a killer is roaming the area concealed by a mask of Richard Nixon. The actor is listed as Ronald Reagan, which, obviously with intention, conjures thoughts of animosity toward these two Republican presidents. "You fascists!" screams Sally at her captors at one point. It is not apparent to me what point the filmmakers were trying to make, except to compare her oppressors with Nazis, Reagan and Nixon, and to make it abundantly clear these people are all wicked. There are no heroes, however, only victims. Despite some (ostensibly intentional) overacting throughout most of the early proceedings, the film does manage to build a modest amount of suspense toward the end. The other high point is Susan Leslie, who plays a student conducting research on rocket propulsion. Ms. Leslie is one of the most attractive actresses I have seen in recent memory and she appears to have some acting ability, so I find it unfortunate this film was her sole appearance.

While not great, this movie does serve as a fairly entertaining diversion: there is a little nudity (a rather attractive female with a fantastic body); an engrossing, albeit simplistic, storyline; some cool music, and the aforementioned Ms. Leslie. If you are a fan of horror, especially 70's and 80's cheapo horror, give this one a look. If you like your films with big budgets, extravagant effects and Hollywood stars, pass up this one.

One final note: I find it ironic that an obscure, independent film such as this is coupled on DVD with "The History of Hollywood Horror Films." Just one more odd thing about this DVD.

HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5 is one of my favorite low (nearly nonexistent) budget movies. We get gratuitous nudity, a psycho-killer in a Richard M. Nixon mask, and two moronic nazi / sadist / occultists trying to re-animate the dead Dr. Bartholomew (inventor of the mythic V2 rocket)! There's also a pot smoker guy and a scientist gal who use their launching devices as a make-shift minefield, and their experimental rocket as a handy bazooka! Watch for the garden-rake lobotomy too! Lots of twisted / stupid humor make this one a pleasure to watch! HHOH5 is my kind of insanity! God bless the makers of this delightful mass of ghoulish ghoulash...

Hey, if you've never had the pleasure of seeing Horror House on Highway 5, now's your chance, since it's now out on DVD! The DVD itself is nothing overly special, it's a bit rough at the beginning but the picture quality (?) improves after the first few minutes. There are 3 students assigned to do a project on some German ex-patriot rocket scientist guy that did secret and weird things in some old house (off Highway 5, of course) and off 2 of them go to the house while one stays in town to do in-depth interviews with other psychos. We have some guy running around in a Richard Nixon mask (who is credited as Ronald Reagan) and one unfortunate student who is also a pothead that ends up with a garden tool embedded in his forehead yet still manages to get around. The soundtrack is rather interesting as it's mostly old instrumental surf music and garage bands like The Count Five, etc. In some ways this is almost like a horror movie fashioned by the hands of John Waters, but in other ways it's almost indescribable. For comic releif we have two bumbling psychos, one by the name of Dr. Mabuse who thinks he has brain parasites. Like you really need any comic releif in this. You have to wonder in what spirit this was made, and I personally think it was made in the spirit of fun, but it's really hard to tell sometimes. If the folks that made this movie were even remotely serious about their efforts then I'd be very surprised. This is a real hoot and a must for any fan of trashy stupid horror movies. YEAH!