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ALL THROUGH THE
HOUSE: AN HOMAGE TO 1980s SANTA SLASHERS
by Thomas M. Sipos, managing editor [July
15, 2017]
[HollywoodInvestigator.com]All Through the House
offers nothing that hardcore slasher fans
haven't seen before. This has to be one of the most
painstakingly derivative slasher films yet
made. Care was taken to hit all the retro 1980s marks. The film's strengths
(e.g., grisly gore effects) are classic slasher strengths. Its
weaknesses (e.g., mediocre and hammy acting) are common slasher weaknesses.
The result is a gorily entertaining romp that blends thrills with nostalgia.
As in
The Unseen,
Rachel (Ashley Mary Nunes) has dumped her nice guy boyfriend (who still loves her), and
her girlfriend is trying to reunite them. Meanwhile, Rachel's creepy
neighbor, Mrs. Garrett (Melynda Kiring), recruits Rachel and her two
girlfriends to finish decorating her house for Christmas while she
attends a party.
As in
Halloween, a lunatic escapes from an asylum, returns home, and the
body count mounts. As in
The Burning,
this particular lunatic favors garden sheers and boldly brandishes
them on a regular basis. (You have to admire a slasher who takes pride
in his tools.) Why is this slasher such an angry young man? Ah,
there's the rub. Man. You see, as in in
Sleepaway Camp and
Castle Freak, Mrs. Garrett wanted a daughter instead of a son, and
did something drastic about it.
Perhaps it's an oversight, but nothing in the
film's story relates to Christmas. The story is set during Christmas
season. Decorations abound. Mrs. Garrett's house is full of Christmas
decor, including creepy mannequins dressed as Santa. The killer
dresses like Santa, though he wears a Krampus mask. (Krampus,
we are told, is a sort of anti-Santa. The dark side of the Santa
legend. So really, he's a Krampus killer, rather than a Santa killer.)
However, unlike in
Silent Night, Deadly Night or
Christmas Evil, the killer is not motivated by Christmas. He could
have done his killing spree any time of year.
All Through the House uses Christmas as a backdrop rather
than a motivating factor.
Christmas season does make for pretty
backdrops. The cinematography and production design is
pretty, partially due to the many colored Christmas lights. The film
boasts a cornucopia of Christmas lights and decorations, leading one
to speculate on just how much of the budget went toward it. Sound
quality is professional. The gore effects are plentiful and well done,
as befits a slasher film.
The acting is serviceable, but nothing
special. Kiring turns in a hammy performance as Mrs. Garrett, lacking
subtlety or nuance. It's appropriate for a low-budget, horror
villainess. The rest of the cast do their mediocre best. It's not a
real problem, but the three girlfriends look about 15 years apart in
age. Jessica Cameron has enough baby fat to pass for early 20s. Nunes
looks to be late 20s. Johanna Rae appears well into her 30s. I didn't
know if they were supposed to be coeds, recent grads, or longtime
friends.
However old, they, and most of the other
female victims, make for decent eye candy -- a legitimate
consideration for low-budget, exploitation fare. And lest you think
this film is sexist, there are male victims too -- and castrations
aplenty!
Yes,
All Through the House is an exploitation film. That's not
true of all slasher films.
Curtains rises to the level of art. This film, not so much.
There's not much more to say about
All Through the House. Dark family secrets, sexual
deviancy, lunatics, gory deaths, pretty girls, all amid colorful
Christmas lights and decor. Slasher fans will enjoy.
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