The Sweet House of Horrors

Normally, I wouldn't expect anything from a made for TV Italian horror flick; but this one was directed by the great Lucio Fulci, and his first entry in the House tetralogy (a collaboration with Umberto Lenzi), House of Clocks, was a nice little film and so my expectations went up for this one. However, it has to be said that The Sweet House of Horrors is one of Fulci's very worst efforts, as the only really striking thing about it is a pair of irritating kids who, combined, rival the awful Giovanni Frezza in Fulci's House by the Cemetery for sheer irritation. The plot focuses on a house where a couple were murdered. However, it's not the end of the line for them as the dead people return to get revenge for their murder, protect their kids who are still living in the house, and to prevent the house from being sold. The way that the film plods out is almost completely devoid of interesting scenes, and strangely Fulci puts the focus on the kids and it makes the film seems almost childlike. The gore that Fulci is famous for only really appears in one sequence, and it's not even that good as it just feels out of place in the context of the film. Fulci made some brilliant horror films over his vast career; but this isn't one of them. Not recommended.

I had the misfortune of watching this movie with an English dub which is awful. If you can, watch it in Italian. But the dub itself couldn't completely ruin a good movie, except "La dolce casa degli orrori" or The Sweet House of Horrors" isn't a good movie. This is a weird mix of the usual horror offering from Fulci and a slightly comedic family movie. Except from some passable music, a few (un)intentionally funny moments and a nice idea, there isn't anything all that good about this movie. It's watchable, I can say that, but it's a far cry from an entertaining movie or a hidden gem and if you're not a most hardcore Lucio Fulci fan, there is no reason to watch it. 4/10!

A couple moves into a nice country mansion to care for their niece and nephew after the children's parents are brutally murdered one night returning from a cocktail party. Strange things begin happening so the couple decide to take the children away and sell the house. But it soon becomes apparent that the house is full of spirits that are out for revenge and have some sort of connection to the kids.

This Lucio Fulci made-for-Italian-TV horror isn't one of his best to be sure but it does seem to have a bit of its own charm. The overall story is a bit nutty (a murder thriller with a supernatural twist) but I thought decent enough. The English dubbing was God awful as most of these imports tend to be so the acting comes off as uneven and even hilarious. But Fulci fans should check it out just because and those with a fondness for little cheesy a la Italiano might be interested too. 2 of 5

A couple is killed in an extremely sadistic way, but their souls return to their two orphaned children to caress them, to take revenge on the killer and to mock the relatives who want to sell the house and the one who wants to buy it respectively. Sounds odd for a Fulci movie, doesn't it?

And it really is kind of odd. It starts like a typical Fulci-gorefest with the murder scene which has to be seen to be believed, especially when one considers this one was made for TV. But after this unbelievably violent prologue, the whole thing turns into a fairy tale. There are even scenes that could come right out of a typical Italian slapstick comedy! So, "La Dolce Casa degli Orrori" is an extremely strange mix of genres, and most of the special effects are very cheesy, although the murder scene is outrageously disgusting.

It's not bad, but by far inferior to Fulci's other film in the four part TV-series Houses of Doom, "La Casa nel Tempo", which is terrific (the other two are by Umberto Lenzi and called "La Casa delle Anime Erranti" and "La Casa dei Sortilegi").

Probably under-rated more so due to the lack of people having seen it than anything else TSHoH is still brutally under-rated by those that bothered to rate it at all. If you're a fan of haunted house movies there is plenty of entertainment to be found here.

The plot is a bit weird though, ghosts that run the house and are very interactive with their guests. They aren't subtle that's for sure but at least they get straight to the point and the mystery doesn't leave you wondering its just a bit shallow when the reveal happens.

The gore and blood was pretty good too especially for a daytime tv horror. Just ignore the ugly cover and don't go in expecting City of the Living Dead. Lucio did a good job trying to save a lack-luster script which I think was the worst aspect of the movie.