La villa del terror

This has become a bit of a cult film for our family. Two branches meet and we have to watch house on nightmare park. Yes the humour is crass, but we love it. We know the one liners and get a kick out of being the first to say them, ' I was only showing her my little Nell', ' you filthy swine' etc. Excellent British non pic humour.

In this 1973 British comedy horror film (known as "Crazy House" in the U.S.) directed by Peter Sykes, British comedy legend Frankie Howerd is the victim of sinister shenanigans as he stars as Foster Twelvetrees, a struggling actor who scrapes a living by giving hammy performances from the classics. When he is invited to give a performance at the country home of a well-off family he thinks his luck is in, but his joy soon turns to horror when he discovers dead bodies, foul intentions, lots of snakes and a madwoman in the attic. Ray Milland, Hugh Burden, and Rosalie Crutchley are among the supporting cast who want to kill Foster, and in one classic unsettling scene they dress up as dolls and sing a bone-chillingly odd song. This movie successfully spoofs the Hammer horror movies that were popular in the 1960's and early 1970's, and is generally good fun. Alongside Carry on Screaming it has a fairly decent laugh rate, even if most of the humour will probably be lost on International audiences. Terry Nation (creator of the Daleks from TV's Doctor Who) co-wrote the story alongside Clive Exton. The producers conceived this film as a star vehicle for Howerd, but it didn't exactly propel him to super-stardom.

Frankie Howard got few chances on film to showcase his comedic talents. Nightmare Park(AKA House of the Laughing Dead) is probably his best effort to do so on film. Like Benny Hill, only not quite as blatant, Howard is walking innuendo. We see through his eyes and speech an almost endless stream of one-liners, albeit rather tame by today's comparisons. Howard is funny in the main role of a third-rate entertainer who loves himself that has been invited to a mysterious mansion in the English countryside. The rest of the cast is comprised of the inhabitants of the house, a strange lot indeed with Ray Milland as the head of the family. The story is whimsical, and utterly absurd, but through the efforts of Howard, Milland, et all, and the fairly atmospheric direction of Peter Sykes, the film comes off quite well as a somewhat gothic comedy.

First off this is the only review I've ever posted for a film, so that must say something about how strongly I feel for this one in particular, it really is a good film and I assure you is most enjoyable, you will not regret watching it.

Secondly I would like to Pooh-Pooh The_Void from Beverley Hills, England's review (see above or below or wherever it is located) what utter tosh! this film is remarkable, a great cast, great atmosphere, engaging story of horror and in-family skulduggery, I don't know what film you were watching mate but to be honest you say that the jokes fell flat and blah, blah, blah but you then put your very own handle as "The_Void from Beverley Hills, England" is that supposed to be some sort of "funny" joke? Well, if that's the extent of your humour, no wonder you didn't enjoy this flick.

This is a very rare film and if you get the chance to catch it I'd seriously recommend it.

Franke Howerd plays Foster Twelvetrees, a second rate performer of the spoken word to barely awake, small audiences in the early 1900s. He thinks his luck is in when he is invited to a wealthy family's home to perform for them, but he is unaware that they have ulterior motives for the invite.

I've always enjoyed watching Frankie Howerd and this film is no exception. There are some classic Howerd moments that fans will revel in, and perhaps the casual observer too. Plenty of one liners, surprised ooohs and comical countenances that only Frankie Howerd could pull. He's ably supported by the rest of the cast, particularly film legend Ray Milland. It did occur to me, on more than one occasion, that this was meant to be a much bigger success than it ended up, for someone of Milland's calibre to take a role.

There are some very odd, quirky moments which add to the overall eeriness of The House In Nightmare Park and help make it unforgettable. This is not in anyway a Carry On movie which is where I normally see Frankie Howerd. It has a similar feel to many a haunted house film instead, with virtually the entire movie being set in the house and its grounds. There is a sense of foreboding from start to finish, and is genuinely scary and unsettling.

Plot holes abound but they are not enough to spoil your enjoyment of this eccentric horror. The title is perfect and the film does exactly what it says on the tin. Underrated in my opinion, this is an enjoyable hour and a half.