House II: The Second Story
| House II: The Second Story | |
|---|---|
 UK DVD cover |
|
| Directed by | Ethan Wiley |
| Produced by | Sean S. Cunningham |
| Written by | Ethan Wiley |
| Starring | Arye Gross Jonathan Stark Royal Dano Bill Maher John Ratzenberger |
| Music by | Harry Manfredini |
| Cinematography | Mac Ahlberg |
| Editing by | Martin Nicholson |
| Distributed by | New World Pictures |
| Release date(s) | August 28, 1987 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $7,800,000[1] |
House II: The Second Story is the 1987 sequel to the 1986 film, House. While it is a sequel, this film ignores the storyline and characters from the first film, in favor of a new supernatural comedy. Also, the film's tone was much lighter than the original film and the other following sequels. It is also the only House movie to receive a PG-13 rating.
In Italy, the film is known as La Casa 6, making it an unofficial sequel to The Evil Dead.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Young urban professionals Jesse (Arye Gross) and his girlfriend Kate (Lar Park Lincoln), move into an old mansion that has been in Jesse's family for generations. They are soon joined by Jesse's goofy friend Charlie (Jonathan Stark), who brought along his diva girlfriend Lana (Amy Yasbeck), in the hopes of being discovered by Kate, who works for a record company. Jesse has returned to this old family mansion after his parents were murdered when he was a baby. While going through old things in the basement, Jesse finds a picture of his great-great grandfather (and namesake) in front of a Mayan temple holding a crystal skull with jewels in the eyes. In the background is a man Jesse learns is Slim Razor, a former partner of his great-great grandfather turned bitter enemy after a disagreement over who would get to keep the skull.
Reasoning that the skull must be buried with him, Jesse and Charlie decide to dig up Jesse's great-great-grandfather in the hopes of procuring the skull. They unearth the casket only to be attacked by the corpse (Royal Dano), who then shows himself to be friendly when Jesse reveals his identity as the senior Jesse's great-great grandson. Jesse and Charlie take the cowboy zombie, nick-named "Gramps", back to the house, where he is horrified to learn that the skull hasn't rejuvenated his body as he had hoped. Gramps and Charlie go out drinking and driving, and later the boys listen for hours to Gramps' stories of the old west and his outlaw life. Gramps explains that the house is actually a Mayan temple, and that each of its rooms act as a hidden doorway across space and time. He charges Charlie and Jesse with defending the skull against the forces of evil.
During an impromptu Halloween party thrown by Charlie, Gramps makes an appearance, (though he is overlooked as it is a costume party), Kate leaves Jesse (taking Lana with her) after he is seen with an old girlfriend by her smarmy boss (Bill Maher), and Jesse and Charlie pick up two new pets in the Jurassic era, a baby pterodactyl and a caterpillar-dog. Throughout many adventures in the house and its various portals the boys also pick up a Mexican virgin who was about to be sacrificed, who seems to like Jesse but throws things at Charlie.
Eventually, Slim Razor makes his appearance. Slim shoots Gramps, who then gives Jesse his guns and reveals that it was Slim who shot and killed Jesse's parents when he was a baby. Jesse jumps through a window into the Old West, and eventually succeeds in killing Slim by blasting off his head with a shotgun. Gramps, who has been mortally wounded, passes away with a final warning about the power of the skull, encouraging Jesse to get what he wants from the enchanted object and then get rid of it. The film ends with the revelation that Jesse used the skull to travel back into the Old West, where he, Charlie and the rest of their strange friends drive off in a wagon, leaving the crystal skull behind, marking Gramps' new grave.
[edit] Cast
- Arye Gross as Jesse
- Jonathan Stark as Charlie
- Royal Dano as Gramps
- Bill Maher as John
- John Ratzenberger as Bill
- Lar Park Lincoln as Kate
- Amy Yasbeck as Lana
- Dwier Brown as Clarence
- Gregory Walcott as Sheriff
- Jayne Modean as Rochelle
- Lenora May as Judith
[edit] Reception
House II: The Second Story received negative reviews, although there are currently not enough reviews to warrant a consensus on Rotten Tomatoes.[2]
[edit] Comic adaptation
In October 1987, Marvel Comics released a comic book adaptation of House II. It was written by Ralph Macchio, with artwork by Alan Kupperberg (pencils) and Kupperberg, Hilary Barta, Danny Bulanadi, Jose Marzan Jr., and Pat Redding (inks). Its cover price was $2.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ House II: The Second Story at Box Office Mojo
- ^ House II: The Second Story at Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ House II: The Second Story comic information at ComicBookDB. Accessed March 20, 2008
