The Film (5/5)

After a fight with her father and future step mother, Gorgeous (Kimiko Ikegami) writes her Aunt and asks if she and her friends can visit during summer break. Her aunt jumps at the chance to have company and agrees to let her, and six friends stay at her isolated mansion. As the girls soon discover, there is something wacky yet sinister waiting in the house.

HOUSE (1977) has gained a reputation as one of the strangest Japanese horror movies. It's also one of the most experiential. Making something that is both an arthouse masterpiece and a grindhouse favorite.

The film marked the directorial debut of commercial king Nobuhiko Obayashi, who had already directed hundreds of crazy ads. Instead of following a traditional narrative, Obayashi went full steam ahead with wild imagery and a break neck pace.  As for tone, he mixed comedy, comic book style, and horror. In terms of Comic Books, all of the characters have fun names, such as Gorgeous, Kung Fu (Miki Jinbo), Fantasy (Kumiko Oba), Melody (Eriko Tanaka), and Sweet (Masayo Miyako).

HOUSE is one of those you kind of must see to believe. The mix of animation, silent film footage, wire work, and blood spewing cat paintings make this the ultimate kind of head trip. While the film feels like a Scooby Doo Episode on Acid, it still has plenty of heart. And with repeated viewings turns into a fever dream.

Audio/Video (5/5)

Eureka! Goes the extra mile in terms of video transfer and soundtrack. The film comes with 2.0 LPCM Japanese audio track. The sound mix is out of this world and filled with sharp bizarre sounds. There is no hiss or pops. The shifting sounds of the mix never spike or sound sloppy. English subtitles are included.

The 1080p HD transfer is out of this world showcasing the bizarre textures. The reds and yellow pops and the focus is sharp. The black levels are smooth. The black and white sequences also stand out. One of the most impressive transfers of the year!

Extras (5/5)

The main extra is a video essay by critic and filmmaker David Cairns. Cairns covers almost every aspect of the film and its production. Obayashi's career is looked at more in-depth, and we even hear more about the ads of the time. Next up is 90 minutes of interviews with Obayashi, writer Chigumi Obayashi, Actress Kumiko Oba, and Toho promotional executive Shoho Tomiyama.  Most of these interviews go way back, but the material is still useful. Obayashi's interviews are a joy to watch. His endless enjoyment of life makes them essential viewings. Rounding out the disc is the original Japanese theatrical trailer, and a 44-page booklet of liner notes that includes an essay by Paul Roquet, and archival stills.

Overall (5/5)

Obayashi's HOUSE is one of the wildest horror movies out. It's an essential addition to any film fan's collection. Eureka! Master of Cinema's release to a sight to see. The transfer and extras make this one of my favorite releases of the year. Highly Recommended.