Not really sure what exactly it was that writer/director Ivan Zuccon tried to accomplish with "The Shunned House", to be honest. Admittedly the concept of intertwining three separate H.P. Lovecraft stories into one horror anthology, entirely taking place in one and the same house setting, is definitely ambitious and original, but at the same time also hazardous and unrewarding. The wicked and ultra-sinister imagination of H.P. Lovecraft is incredibly difficult to translate into a movie – only gifted directors like Stuart Gordon and Lucio Fulci occasionally succeeded – and his devoted fans are very finicky when it comes to adaptations. The script tackles the wondrously atmospheric and nightmarish tales "Dreams in the Witch House", "The Shunned House" and "The Music of Erich Zahn"; all mingled together through the wraparound story of a young couple investigating the dark history of a house where tragic events occurred spread over three centuries. Beforehand, I was prepared to witness some really bad acting and perhaps some inferior production values, but the absolute last thing I expected from this film was boredom! The story material is great and the ambiance is thoroughly ominous, but Zuccon's narrative structure simply isn't compelling enough. The stories, and thus also the suspense, are too often abruptly cut off to return to the present day main characters and their continuous uninteresting bickering. Ivan Zuccon doesn't achieve to grab the viewer's full attention and hold it, and that is something quite important in Lovecraft adaptations, as his morbid stories are habitually confusing and tangled already. What "The Shunned House" does have to offer are numerous grisly images (like a girl repeatedly banging her head against a wall for reasons unknown) and multiple downright gruesome make-up effects (like a woman biting through her own wrist). Although not the goriest film of its kind, some of the footage here is definitely nightmare inducing. The acting performances are quite bad and, call me shallow if you must, but I was quite disappointed that lead actress Federica Quaglieri didn't have any nude sequences. All through the film, she's parading around in an incredibly sexy yellow top and her beautiful voluptuous boobs are constantly on the point of popping out
yet they never do.
25 Reviews
a nice try but rather flawed
bogarthemmingway24 February 2006
As a fan of Lovecraft I thought it was an interesting concept to tie some of the madness from the story of the Shunned House with 2 other stories from Lovecraft & the low budget film setting never bothered me. One of the elements of Lovecraft's stories that work so well is setting up the mood for the story, which gets shot apart in this film. You start getting into the tale of the what's behind the strange music from the violinist (in The Music of Erich Zann) and then a couple minutes later you're in present day, wait a few minutes & then you're off again to the story revolving around the mathematician (in Dreams in the Witch House). I think that the movie might have done better if the present day investigators introduced the Shunned House & then started to tell what happened by showing the complete piece on Erich Zann, a little bit more of the Shunned House, the whole piece on the Dreams of the Witch House & then let the Shunned House story finish off the movie. It's good that someone else is making adaptations of HPL's other stories but filmmakers should look to Re-Animator, Dagon or The Resurrected on how to do a singular film on HPL's stories or do an anthology film.
And for anyone who watches this film, the strange singing melody in the film is from Danny Elfman's music in the movie Sleepy Hollow.
And for anyone who watches this film, the strange singing melody in the film is from Danny Elfman's music in the movie Sleepy Hollow.
There's potential but...
borgolarici5 December 2021
The location is adequately creepy and some performances and scenes are haunting and intriguing (the girl with the violin and the young writer storyline especially).
The rest of the movie, however, feels a bit disjointed and the actors who play the "modern" characters cannot act at all. The general vibe is amateurish. Which is a pity because this movie had a lot of potential and could have been a little rural gothic jewel.
The rest of the movie, however, feels a bit disjointed and the actors who play the "modern" characters cannot act at all. The general vibe is amateurish. Which is a pity because this movie had a lot of potential and could have been a little rural gothic jewel.
The Shunned House: Why does every Lovecraft movie suck so very terribly?
Platypuschow7 September 2017
I love the literary work of Lovecraft, the man was the master of the macabre but every time someone makes a movie based on his works they have the habit of being really quite bad.
The Shunned House is the worst one yet, and that is really saying something.
Italian made (So they should really have known better) but every kind of amateurish. The writing is so poor I can confidently say I didn't entirely follow quite what in the blue hell was going on.
The story was baffling the delivery was cringe inducingly boring and as much as I looked I can confidently say the movie does not have one single redeeming feature.
I don't give 1 star very often, but this is so very very deserving.
The Good:
Not a sausage
The Bad:
Every square inch of the film
Things I Learnt From This Movie:
I can't take a character seriously if they're named Luigi
The Shunned House is the worst one yet, and that is really saying something.
Italian made (So they should really have known better) but every kind of amateurish. The writing is so poor I can confidently say I didn't entirely follow quite what in the blue hell was going on.
The story was baffling the delivery was cringe inducingly boring and as much as I looked I can confidently say the movie does not have one single redeeming feature.
I don't give 1 star very often, but this is so very very deserving.
The Good:
Not a sausage
The Bad:
Every square inch of the film
Things I Learnt From This Movie:
I can't take a character seriously if they're named Luigi
This movie blows chunks big time!
Captain_Couth15 September 2004
The Shunned House (2003) is a terrible film "based" upon the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. I have seen some bad adaptations before but this one takes the cake. Not only did the filmmaker used the basis of The Shunned House for the movie but he also used Music of Eric Zahn and Dreams of the Witchhouse. Sadly none of these show up in the movie. The director should have stuck with one story and made a lame version of that instead of taking from several stories.
The "movie" was shot on digital video, I can deal with that but their was nothing in this one that was the slightest of interest. Blood, gore and nudity was tossed into the picture but it's still bad. People want to throw around the title worst movie ever made. I have nominate this one. It is that horrible. A message to the director, don't try to adapt anymore H.P. Lovecraft. Please!!
Unwatchable, don't even try to watch this abortion.
You might get a few chuckles if you get a bunch of your friends and watch it. That's the only way I would see this one again. Don't say I didn't warn you!
The "movie" was shot on digital video, I can deal with that but their was nothing in this one that was the slightest of interest. Blood, gore and nudity was tossed into the picture but it's still bad. People want to throw around the title worst movie ever made. I have nominate this one. It is that horrible. A message to the director, don't try to adapt anymore H.P. Lovecraft. Please!!
Unwatchable, don't even try to watch this abortion.
You might get a few chuckles if you get a bunch of your friends and watch it. That's the only way I would see this one again. Don't say I didn't warn you!
3 stories of H.P. Lovecraft in 1 movie
marc-vankerschaver211 September 2005
As a fan of Lovecraft I'm always on the look for film adaptations. And now I've seen The Shunned House. And yes, it is a horror movie, horror as in horrible. It's a low (or no) budget, Italian straight to video, with awful actors desperately trying to speak English. It's really boring, utterly confusing, it has little or nothing to do with Lovercraft's work, the music is terrible and to my personal belief Howard is turning over is his grave. Oh yes, you get some cheap gore, but that doesn't make a movie, does it. The thing doesn't even qualify for a B-movie. If you want some good Lovecraft stuff, stick to the classics. The wonderfully dark humored Re-animator, or From Beyond, and more recently Dagon. Just leave Shunned House, its a complete waste of time and money.
Total Crap
mjmiller-14 January 2004
What is this movie about? Granted, I couldn't even finish it, I had seen enough! I have to tell you, it takes allot for me to not finish a movie, i even sat through In the woods, trying to make the best out of it, atleast you could laugh at the bad acting and terrible effects. This had a combined crapeyness of bad acting, bad story, bad effects, and bad direction. I am glad I had a free rental that I used on this or I would be really mad. The name of the film company who put this piece of garbage out is called Brain Damage films, and after you see this, thats exactly what you will have. These are the times I wish there was some number less the one you could pick for your vote. I enjoy a B-movie, don't get me wrong. Sometimes the budget is mot there but the story is still good and entertaining. I am not slamming it because of the camcorder back yard feel it gives off. It just sucks.
Horrible!!
steph10100211 September 2003
A few days ago we got a coupon in the mail that said we can rent up to 3 movies for $0.99 each.So we went to the video store and I found this movie called The Shunned House.It looked like a pretty good movie from what the box said but i was sooo wrong.The movie was sooo boring that I fell asleep within minutes.The movie tries to scare you but it fails to.So if u see this movie at ur video store do NOT get it.I cant believe I wasted $0.99 on this piece of junk.
read the books first
dutchchocolatecake21 May 2012
I have to admit, this movie is weird. Now I watch a lot of strange stuff, but this one goes in the top 10 strangest movies I've ever seen.
This is a movie that requires patience and time spent actually *reading* the stories it includes in order to understand what's going on. So if you haven't read "The Shunned House," "The Music of Erich Zann," or "Dreams in the Witch House;" do so before watching this. With a quick google search you will probably find the e-texts you need; and I highly recommend going online for this because my own Big Book of Lovecraft did not include "The Shunned House."
I am giving this a 7 out of 10. The movie moves fairly slow, and some scenes the acting was not stellar. However, the old world imagery and style is consistent; and the music is good. There were complex female characters, who despite being written vaguely at least acted well enough to add to the ambiance of their scenes.
There's only a few critical things I would say about this movie:
1. This movie will be too bizarre for people who are not already Lovecraft fans. They will not be able to understand the context to each of the story lines.
2. The plot moves incredibly slow, and is hard to follow. It tends to jump from the main plot line to the dream sequences in no particular order and no particular reason than just to do so.
3. The movie did not include anything from the ending of the book "The Shunned House." It would have been nice to see the protagonist return with vats of acid to cleanse the hideous cellar of it's monstrous mold- ridden fungus-creeping alien influence like he did in the book. Then again, I can't think of any Lovecraft movie that had a happy ending. So at least it's consistent with the genre so far.
In conclusion, I don't think it's terribly awful. It seems like the producers of this movie put a lot of effort into this; only to have their creative vision unappreciated by those that can't be bothered to read the books in the first place. So, just take the time to read the books first. This is not a movie that can "teach" you Mythos.
This is a movie that requires patience and time spent actually *reading* the stories it includes in order to understand what's going on. So if you haven't read "The Shunned House," "The Music of Erich Zann," or "Dreams in the Witch House;" do so before watching this. With a quick google search you will probably find the e-texts you need; and I highly recommend going online for this because my own Big Book of Lovecraft did not include "The Shunned House."
I am giving this a 7 out of 10. The movie moves fairly slow, and some scenes the acting was not stellar. However, the old world imagery and style is consistent; and the music is good. There were complex female characters, who despite being written vaguely at least acted well enough to add to the ambiance of their scenes.
There's only a few critical things I would say about this movie:
1. This movie will be too bizarre for people who are not already Lovecraft fans. They will not be able to understand the context to each of the story lines.
2. The plot moves incredibly slow, and is hard to follow. It tends to jump from the main plot line to the dream sequences in no particular order and no particular reason than just to do so.
3. The movie did not include anything from the ending of the book "The Shunned House." It would have been nice to see the protagonist return with vats of acid to cleanse the hideous cellar of it's monstrous mold- ridden fungus-creeping alien influence like he did in the book. Then again, I can't think of any Lovecraft movie that had a happy ending. So at least it's consistent with the genre so far.
In conclusion, I don't think it's terribly awful. It seems like the producers of this movie put a lot of effort into this; only to have their creative vision unappreciated by those that can't be bothered to read the books in the first place. So, just take the time to read the books first. This is not a movie that can "teach" you Mythos.
I liked it!
maelstrom23 January 2004
This film has tons of atmosphere, great sets, and some genuinely creepy moments. Although not a strict adaptation of Lovecraft's story, it does touch on several "Lovecraftian" themes. The acting is so-so, and the story is a bit convoluted, but definitely the best film Brain Damage has released.
A gross misrepresentation of the genius of Lovecraft!
mordollwen30 April 2007
I could not appreciate this movie in the slightest. The characters were non-existent in the Lovecraft canon. The stories were twisted into an attempt to be scary, introducing romanticized elements that were totally unnecessary. The material in the books far outclass it in horror and suspense. Whoever thought they could pass this swill off as a Lovecraftian horror film was thick in the head! I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, Lovecraft fan or otherwise.
If you want a good--not necessarily period appropriate, but good--Lovecraft horror film, I'd recommend The Reanimator. It's not the best, but it's better than this piece of garbage.
If you want a good--not necessarily period appropriate, but good--Lovecraft horror film, I'd recommend The Reanimator. It's not the best, but it's better than this piece of garbage.
An MJ Simpson review!
ivan-interzona17 June 2006
Ivan Zuccon, without a doubt the most exciting young genre director in Italy, has stuck with the works of HP Lovecraft for this, his third feature. But whereas The Darkness Beyond and Unknown Beyond were generically Lovecraftian, La Casa Sfuggita (co-scripted with Unknown Beyond writer Enrico Saletti) adapts three specific HPL short stories.
Rather than a straightforward anthology, however, Zuccon and Saletti have set all three tales in the same building, interweaving them to achieve a dreamlike sense of horror. So in the present day we have paranormal journalist Alex (Giuseppe Lorusso) and his sceptic girlfriend Rita (Federica Quaglieri) in an adaptation of 'The Shunned House' itself. Alex is investigating an old inn which has seen scores of mysterious, often violent deaths over the previous three centuries. Much to Rita's displeasure, they are going to camp out in the derelict building until Alex has finished his research.
In the same building, 50-60 years earlier, Luigi Montella (Emanuele Cerman) is a young mathematician, who is investigating the non-Euclidean geometry of the inn's plans and playing chess against his neighbour Nora (Silvia Ferreri). This part of the film is based on 'Dreams in the Witch House.' Finally, right back in the 1920s, a writer name Marco del Vespro (Michael Segal - not the British actor who was in I Claudius etc) becomes bewitched by the haunting violin music emanating from the next room, where lives the beautiful but mute Carlotta Zann (Cristiana Vaccaro). That's 'The Music of Eric Zann.' With three stories set in different times - perhaps more: who/what/when is that mysterious masked figure? - The Shunned House is not an easy film to follow, which is entirely in keeping with the complexities of Lovecraft's work. Zuccon (who also edited the film) doesn't just mix smoothly between stories; the whole point of the film is that these three tales interact, as characters from one time see/hallucinate those from another. It would be pointless for me to be specific; the film must be seen as a whole.
And there's blood. And dead people. And people get killed in awful ways. This is a horror film in the grand tradition and confirms Zuccon's place as the natural successor to Lucio Fulci. Luigi may be a somnambulist child-killer; Rita sees dead people; there's a mysterious girl repeatedly hitting her bleeding forehead against a wall; and when Carlotta's last violin string breaks... Christ, it's horrible! It all comes together in a bloody, scary conclusion.
Zuccon's camera, often roaming around a room, brings the audience right into the world(s) of these people. There is nothing workmanlike here. Every shot is just right: the angle, the movement, the lighting, the cutting. It's just a shame that this was shot on video and not film. Please, someone give Ivan Zuccon the budget to shoot in 35mm! The cast all cope well with the English dialogue. Particularly notable are Cerman (also in both Beyond films, as was Segal) whose boyish good looks and sensitive-yet-unnerving performance reminded me of Brendan Fraser in The Passion of Darkly Noon, and Vaccaro, who overcomes (in fact, uses) her lack of dialogue to bring exceptional depth to her role as the troubled violinist. Massimo Storari's make-up effects are as gruesome as ever, and kudos also to costume designer Donatella Ravagnini and set designer Roberta Romagnoli, and indeed everyone involved with this marvellous film.
Ultimately, what does it all mean? I'm not 100 per cent certain (and I've read the script!) but frankly the film wouldn't be true to the Lovecraftian source material if I was. It is all (I think) connected with the mathematics of the inn's design, thus putting The Shunned House into the tiny sub-genre of mathematical fantasy horror, along with the brilliant Pi, the disappointing Solid Geometry, and a handful of other titles. I think that ultimately the building itself is 'the monster', much like The Fall of the House of Usher or The Shining. But I strongly suggest that you take any opportunity to see this film and decide for yourself.
MJS rating: A www.mjsimpson.co.UK
Rather than a straightforward anthology, however, Zuccon and Saletti have set all three tales in the same building, interweaving them to achieve a dreamlike sense of horror. So in the present day we have paranormal journalist Alex (Giuseppe Lorusso) and his sceptic girlfriend Rita (Federica Quaglieri) in an adaptation of 'The Shunned House' itself. Alex is investigating an old inn which has seen scores of mysterious, often violent deaths over the previous three centuries. Much to Rita's displeasure, they are going to camp out in the derelict building until Alex has finished his research.
In the same building, 50-60 years earlier, Luigi Montella (Emanuele Cerman) is a young mathematician, who is investigating the non-Euclidean geometry of the inn's plans and playing chess against his neighbour Nora (Silvia Ferreri). This part of the film is based on 'Dreams in the Witch House.' Finally, right back in the 1920s, a writer name Marco del Vespro (Michael Segal - not the British actor who was in I Claudius etc) becomes bewitched by the haunting violin music emanating from the next room, where lives the beautiful but mute Carlotta Zann (Cristiana Vaccaro). That's 'The Music of Eric Zann.' With three stories set in different times - perhaps more: who/what/when is that mysterious masked figure? - The Shunned House is not an easy film to follow, which is entirely in keeping with the complexities of Lovecraft's work. Zuccon (who also edited the film) doesn't just mix smoothly between stories; the whole point of the film is that these three tales interact, as characters from one time see/hallucinate those from another. It would be pointless for me to be specific; the film must be seen as a whole.
And there's blood. And dead people. And people get killed in awful ways. This is a horror film in the grand tradition and confirms Zuccon's place as the natural successor to Lucio Fulci. Luigi may be a somnambulist child-killer; Rita sees dead people; there's a mysterious girl repeatedly hitting her bleeding forehead against a wall; and when Carlotta's last violin string breaks... Christ, it's horrible! It all comes together in a bloody, scary conclusion.
Zuccon's camera, often roaming around a room, brings the audience right into the world(s) of these people. There is nothing workmanlike here. Every shot is just right: the angle, the movement, the lighting, the cutting. It's just a shame that this was shot on video and not film. Please, someone give Ivan Zuccon the budget to shoot in 35mm! The cast all cope well with the English dialogue. Particularly notable are Cerman (also in both Beyond films, as was Segal) whose boyish good looks and sensitive-yet-unnerving performance reminded me of Brendan Fraser in The Passion of Darkly Noon, and Vaccaro, who overcomes (in fact, uses) her lack of dialogue to bring exceptional depth to her role as the troubled violinist. Massimo Storari's make-up effects are as gruesome as ever, and kudos also to costume designer Donatella Ravagnini and set designer Roberta Romagnoli, and indeed everyone involved with this marvellous film.
Ultimately, what does it all mean? I'm not 100 per cent certain (and I've read the script!) but frankly the film wouldn't be true to the Lovecraftian source material if I was. It is all (I think) connected with the mathematics of the inn's design, thus putting The Shunned House into the tiny sub-genre of mathematical fantasy horror, along with the brilliant Pi, the disappointing Solid Geometry, and a handful of other titles. I think that ultimately the building itself is 'the monster', much like The Fall of the House of Usher or The Shining. But I strongly suggest that you take any opportunity to see this film and decide for yourself.
MJS rating: A www.mjsimpson.co.UK
Haunting
thewag77722 October 2006
The first time I watched this, I had much to drink. See, when I watch the usual low budget crap, I like to be drunk, it is entertaining that way. Well, the story in this film is very complicated and I couldn't follow it. So, I watched it a second time sober, and was most impressed.
What we have here is three stories tied together - this is not an anthology. A novelist and his girlfriend stay in this Shunned House for inspiration for his novel. She isn't too happy to be there, but he finds more than enough inspiration for his work. So, he tells her about the terrible history of the house, and thus we start seeing the other two stories. One is about a woman with a violin who plays beautifully, but has some kind of dark secret - something on the other side of her window. The other story is about a sleepwalker. Then during the second half there is this woman, all bloody, with her eyes covers and her lips sown together. I still can't figure out how she fits in to the rest of the story. However, as the movie goes, all these stories, according the novelist and his girlfriend, start building up, and climax, and of course, there is a twist or two at the end.
The music was brilliantly haunting, the effects were very good for the low budget (it doesn't look like Brain Damage Films usual cheap slasher). This is a serious horror film, not some cheap horny teenagers go smoke dope have sex with each other and get gruesomely murdered one after another. The acting in this film was also very good for the budget range. Hey, better than some of the terrible actors in Hollywood, Sandra Bullock ain't got nothing' on The Shunned House, ROFL. Seriously though, only a total movie snob, obsessed with high tech effects and A-List acting would turn his nose up at this one. I definitely recommend it for all horror fans. 7 out of 10.
What we have here is three stories tied together - this is not an anthology. A novelist and his girlfriend stay in this Shunned House for inspiration for his novel. She isn't too happy to be there, but he finds more than enough inspiration for his work. So, he tells her about the terrible history of the house, and thus we start seeing the other two stories. One is about a woman with a violin who plays beautifully, but has some kind of dark secret - something on the other side of her window. The other story is about a sleepwalker. Then during the second half there is this woman, all bloody, with her eyes covers and her lips sown together. I still can't figure out how she fits in to the rest of the story. However, as the movie goes, all these stories, according the novelist and his girlfriend, start building up, and climax, and of course, there is a twist or two at the end.
The music was brilliantly haunting, the effects were very good for the low budget (it doesn't look like Brain Damage Films usual cheap slasher). This is a serious horror film, not some cheap horny teenagers go smoke dope have sex with each other and get gruesomely murdered one after another. The acting in this film was also very good for the budget range. Hey, better than some of the terrible actors in Hollywood, Sandra Bullock ain't got nothing' on The Shunned House, ROFL. Seriously though, only a total movie snob, obsessed with high tech effects and A-List acting would turn his nose up at this one. I definitely recommend it for all horror fans. 7 out of 10.
Worst Lovecraft adaptation ever!!
Davros422 November 2003
I have been a huge fan of H.P. Lovecraft's writings for almost ten years and jump at the chance to see any movie based on his works. I have enjoyed all of them including the recent "Beyond Re-Animator" which many people hate. However, I did not enjoy "The Shunned House" in the slightest. The acting is bad, the special effects are cheesy to say the least, and the plot is near impossible to follow due to the constant shifting of time and introduction of new characters with little or no development. It seemed like the director did not care very much about this film due to the amount of detail that was ingnored. For example, there are several characters that obviously did not speak English during filming, but were dubbed over with English. At least in "Hurcules in America" Arnold learned how to speak English before filming so that the dubbing, no matter how horrible, would be somewhat believable. There was also an inconsistent use of subtitles in the film whenever a character wrote in another language. The one time they were used, they seemed awkward and out of place. The almost constant use of the strobe light is enough to bring on an epileptic fit and the music is repetitive and mind numbing. The film did have its moments though. The DP did make some interesting choices with the camera work and there were some moments that were genuinly creepy. If you're looking for a good adaptation of Lovecraft stay far, far away from this piece of crap. Try out something like Dagon, Necronimicon, or From Beyond. If you're looking for a good nappy time film though, The Shunned House is a sure thing.
Excellent
ThingUnderTheStairs16 January 2004
I enjoyed this movie immensely, although the title is a bit misleading. The movie is actually a synthesis of 3 of H.P. Lovecrafts tales (The Shunned House, The Dreams in the Witch House, & The Music of Erich Zann). Very creepy and suspenseful. I new it was going to be a good experience when my wife screamed only a few minutes in. The story stretches across different time periods so if you have trouble following the transitions this might spoil the experience for you.
if you like satanism or muddled thoughts..
satansuckscock18 August 2005
If you're a big fan of neo-satanism, are a satanist, or are fond of muddled thinking in general this is the movie for you. Filled with references glorifying evil, and an annoying soundtrack it's sure to rub hundreds the wrong way. Please don't not voluntarily view this movie. If you have time to kill find another way of burning a few hundred minutes. You might have more fun watching paint dry, or you might delight in watching the grass grow. Hey there's always stargazing, or helping the elderly cross the street. If you like killing this you should seek the same kind of attention as you should if you enjoyed watching this horrifically poor movie.
Wow, seriously?...
paul_haakonsen31 December 2015
I sat down to watch this movie given its alleged Lovecraftian nature, but wow, are you kidding me? I have never seen anything of this magnitude before. This was one big mix of random scenes thrown together incoherently, and director Ivan Zuccon attempted to pass this off as a Lovecraft movie adaptation. Yeah, the Dreamlands are not waiting for more of your input.
This movie was brutal to witness and was plagued by an amazingly annoying and repetitive music score that sounded like opera being played backwards. And it was playing for so much of the movie that it became an irritation that just dragged down this disastrous movie even more than the story and direction was doing.
I will say that the acting in "La casa sfuggita" (aka "The Shunned House") was adequate, but nothing particularly noteworthy.
"La casa sfuggita" should not have been Associated with the written works of H.P. Lovecraft, because this movie just, well let's be honest, stunk to high heaven.
I gave up 35 minutes into the movie. I just couldn't suffer through this piece of artistic rubbish any further.
If you are a fan of Lovecraft and the cosmic dread of his mythos, then do yourself a favor and stay clear, very clear, of "La casa sfuggita". It should, as the English title fittingly suggests, be shunned.
This movie was brutal to witness and was plagued by an amazingly annoying and repetitive music score that sounded like opera being played backwards. And it was playing for so much of the movie that it became an irritation that just dragged down this disastrous movie even more than the story and direction was doing.
I will say that the acting in "La casa sfuggita" (aka "The Shunned House") was adequate, but nothing particularly noteworthy.
"La casa sfuggita" should not have been Associated with the written works of H.P. Lovecraft, because this movie just, well let's be honest, stunk to high heaven.
I gave up 35 minutes into the movie. I just couldn't suffer through this piece of artistic rubbish any further.
If you are a fan of Lovecraft and the cosmic dread of his mythos, then do yourself a favor and stay clear, very clear, of "La casa sfuggita". It should, as the English title fittingly suggests, be shunned.
The best Lovecraft-based movie I've seen to date
taraka16 January 2004
Considering the reviews that have already been posted for this movie, it's one that you'll either love or hate. I thought the Lovecraftian atmosphere in this movie to be sublime. I loved the time transitions, such as when a mathematician sets a chess piece down on the table, and it disappears to end up in the present. The movie is full of mysteries too. For example, the enigmatic voice whispers to the mathematician, "Zero is the infinity," and lo and behold, they eventually reveal this secret to the audience, and I found it's Lovecraftian significance quite fascinating. Let me give you a hint to this riddle: the house is a place where every time someone is murdered, you open a door in time. And there have been a lot of murders throughout time...
The movie is rich with ambient lighting and sound effects, and I most especially enjoyed the haunting soundtrack, particularly the repetitive piece which sounds like a distant opera being played back backwards, which still filters through my memory. Many would argue that a lot of the movie doesn't make sense, but, hey, this is Lovecraft were talking about. If the mythos starts making sense, you're definitely going insane (by human standards anyway).
The movie is rich with ambient lighting and sound effects, and I most especially enjoyed the haunting soundtrack, particularly the repetitive piece which sounds like a distant opera being played back backwards, which still filters through my memory. Many would argue that a lot of the movie doesn't make sense, but, hey, this is Lovecraft were talking about. If the mythos starts making sense, you're definitely going insane (by human standards anyway).
The best Italian horror movie in a while and a good Lovecraft adaptation
studiointerzona30 December 2003
The best Italian horror movie in a while and a good Lovecraft adaptation
written by ColonelKong November 20, 2003 - 8:48 AM PST
I have no idea who director Ivan Zuccon is, but I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future, and I hope that he can get financing to make something really great. His debut film, The Shunned House is a very effective and spooky horror movie made on what must have been a pretty low budget. I think it's right up there with Session 9 and 28 Days Later in the recent wave of shot-on-video horror films that aren't cheapo Romero or Fulci knockoffs.
It's a fairly loose adaptation of three stories by Howard Phillips Lovecraft: The Shunned House, The Music of Erich Zann (with the title character changed to a woman) and Dreams in the Witch House with the title story as sort of a modern-day framing sequence and the other two stories providing events from the past (the title story provides some of the past events too). The film plays around with time a lot, and we get the feeling that the characters in the past and present are literally right around the corner from each other. There are some good "shock" scenes, and the film doesn't shy away from gore, but you get the feeling that the feeling that Zuccon is most interested in creating is one of creeping dread.
This is one of the best-looking shot-on-video horror movies I've ever seen, I've held a predjudice against video in the past, but I think that films like this one and 28 Days Later have chipped away at it. There's nothing "cheap"-looking about the visual style of this film, and I think that, in a way, having been shot on video works in it's favor and makes it just that much spookier somehow.
If you want proof that the Italian horror movie is alive and well and a demonstration of how you don't need a big-budget to make an effective HP Lovecraft adaption, you could do worse than to watch The Shunned House.
written by ColonelKong November 20, 2003 - 8:48 AM PST
I have no idea who director Ivan Zuccon is, but I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future, and I hope that he can get financing to make something really great. His debut film, The Shunned House is a very effective and spooky horror movie made on what must have been a pretty low budget. I think it's right up there with Session 9 and 28 Days Later in the recent wave of shot-on-video horror films that aren't cheapo Romero or Fulci knockoffs.
It's a fairly loose adaptation of three stories by Howard Phillips Lovecraft: The Shunned House, The Music of Erich Zann (with the title character changed to a woman) and Dreams in the Witch House with the title story as sort of a modern-day framing sequence and the other two stories providing events from the past (the title story provides some of the past events too). The film plays around with time a lot, and we get the feeling that the characters in the past and present are literally right around the corner from each other. There are some good "shock" scenes, and the film doesn't shy away from gore, but you get the feeling that the feeling that Zuccon is most interested in creating is one of creeping dread.
This is one of the best-looking shot-on-video horror movies I've ever seen, I've held a predjudice against video in the past, but I think that films like this one and 28 Days Later have chipped away at it. There's nothing "cheap"-looking about the visual style of this film, and I think that, in a way, having been shot on video works in it's favor and makes it just that much spookier somehow.
If you want proof that the Italian horror movie is alive and well and a demonstration of how you don't need a big-budget to make an effective HP Lovecraft adaption, you could do worse than to watch The Shunned House.
Probably the best Lovecraft adaptation to date.
mancarter17 September 2003
To find a direct-to-video, independent, video-lensed, low budget horror movie that does not rely all its potential on the belief that huge tits, bad effects and awful acting are funny to watch, just for the shake of a movie done on a low budget level is a hard thing.
To find a video-lensed indie that is well lit, well shot, well edited, very well acted (even though a horrible italian accent) and really well written is almost impossible.
But finding both in the same movie, and finding that it is probably the best adaptation that the Providence Master has received yet, makes The Shunned House a miracle.
Saletti and Zuccon offers us 3 of the most spooky tales from the mythos interlaced in three times and one sole location. Visuals, storytelling and frights are directly linkable to Bava, Argento, Fulci and Avatti, although Zuccon character development is, in most cases, superior to these italian masters. There's some point on the nightmarish ambient that even reach the level of some new-born Buñuel.
Anyway, the film is not perfect. It is a true dialog-driven and in sometimes lacks a bit of action, but the story is told with its own rythm, and that can result boring for some people, probably these preferring teen slashers and Michael Bay's 50-shoots-per-minute action extravaganzas. Another big drawback are in the make-up effects department, that it is not bad, but certainly not in the level of the rest of the movie.
So, wheter you are a Lovecraft adept, or a horror-fan, near to lose your faith in the genre, The Shunned House is probably the best option to rent in a videostore full with heart-less and bad-to-the-bone horror movies.
To find a video-lensed indie that is well lit, well shot, well edited, very well acted (even though a horrible italian accent) and really well written is almost impossible.
But finding both in the same movie, and finding that it is probably the best adaptation that the Providence Master has received yet, makes The Shunned House a miracle.
Saletti and Zuccon offers us 3 of the most spooky tales from the mythos interlaced in three times and one sole location. Visuals, storytelling and frights are directly linkable to Bava, Argento, Fulci and Avatti, although Zuccon character development is, in most cases, superior to these italian masters. There's some point on the nightmarish ambient that even reach the level of some new-born Buñuel.
Anyway, the film is not perfect. It is a true dialog-driven and in sometimes lacks a bit of action, but the story is told with its own rythm, and that can result boring for some people, probably these preferring teen slashers and Michael Bay's 50-shoots-per-minute action extravaganzas. Another big drawback are in the make-up effects department, that it is not bad, but certainly not in the level of the rest of the movie.
So, wheter you are a Lovecraft adept, or a horror-fan, near to lose your faith in the genre, The Shunned House is probably the best option to rent in a videostore full with heart-less and bad-to-the-bone horror movies.
The Holy Grail
Captain_Roberts23 November 2004
This is it, the holy grail of Lovecraftian adaptations, a good film. The Shunned House is an Italian film that is actually comprised of three stories; the Music of Eric Zann, Dreams in the Witch House, and the Shunned House. Unlike other anthology films, the Shunned House does not tell the stories one at a time, instead allowing them all to unfold together with the house as a major character in its own right. While this can make things a bit confusing from time to time, overall the tactic works quite well.
Another plus is that the film is visually stunning, capturing mood and evoking that darkness that Lovecraft is so famed for. Certainly these are not literal translations of Lovecraft's stories to film, but the additions made are eerie and continue to call on the darkness that the filmmaker has conjured forth.
Yes, there are things that seem a bit out of place, and there is one scene in particular that seems to have been heavily influenced by the Blair Witch Project, but none of this matters. This is a great film. My only concerns are raised by a few technical hiccups in the DVD. As mine was new and fresh out of the wrap I can not help but wonder if these imperfections are found in all copies of the film, or merely mine. In any case they were easy to overlook and caused no severe problems.
Another plus is that the film is visually stunning, capturing mood and evoking that darkness that Lovecraft is so famed for. Certainly these are not literal translations of Lovecraft's stories to film, but the additions made are eerie and continue to call on the darkness that the filmmaker has conjured forth.
Yes, there are things that seem a bit out of place, and there is one scene in particular that seems to have been heavily influenced by the Blair Witch Project, but none of this matters. This is a great film. My only concerns are raised by a few technical hiccups in the DVD. As mine was new and fresh out of the wrap I can not help but wonder if these imperfections are found in all copies of the film, or merely mine. In any case they were easy to overlook and caused no severe problems.
Very creepy Italian horror film.
HumanoidOfFlesh21 November 2004
Ivan Zuccon's "The Shunned House" has been made quite cheaply and has Italian actors talking in English with partly atrocious accents.Still I enjoyed it very immensely and I'd recommend "La Casa Sfugitta" to anyone interested in Italian horror.The film is based on three short stories by H.P.Lovecraft and it features really haunting sequences and some disturbingly violent moments like throat slashing with a razor.Another plus is that "The Shunned House" is visually stunning and easily captures extremely dark atmosphere that Lovecraft is so famed for.Many horror fans trashed this eerie flick,but I really don't understand why.Give this movie a chance and you won't be disappointed.My rating:9 out of 10.
If you're a Lovecraft fan, don't shun it!!
studiointerzona24 September 2003
THE SHUNNED HOUSE. With Fedrica Quaglieri. Directed by Ivan Zuccon. Running time: 100 minutes. Not rated (Brain Damage Films on VHS). The stories of H.P. Lovecraft present a challenge to any filmmaker trying to adapt them. The great American fantasy writer always wrote of "nameless horrors" and "indescribable creatures," so how can you show them onscreen? One of the few filmmakers to do right by Lovecraft is Italian director Ivan Zuccon, a genuine talent who has made several Lovecraft-inspired films, the latest of which is THE SHUNNED HOUSE. Shot on digital video, it looks better than many 35mm movies, with its Mario Bava-inspired lighting scheme and fluid tracking shots. The film combines three Lovecraft tales: THE SHUNNED HOUSE, THE MUSIC OF ERICH ZANN and DREAMS IN THE WITCH HOUSE. Each tale takes place in a different era: the 30s, the 40s and the present. It's all filmed in a real house somewhere in the Italian countryside, and the house itself becomes a character, ala Stanley Kubrick's THE SHINING, which this film in many ways resembles. There are some truly creepy and disturbing scenes here, and some of the images will haunt you for days--especially that of the insane woman whose lips are sewn shut, and who is compelled to pound her head against the wall over and over. Zuccon is a filmmaker to watch: if this is the kind of movie he can make on a low budget, what could he do with lots of money? You can get THE SHUNNED HOUSE on video from Brain Damage Films. If you're a Lovecraft fan, or a fan of the genre, don't shun it. --Bruce G. Hallenbeck
'To stay in this darkly dreaming Witch House is to shun life itself'
Weirdling_Wolf20 January 2021
In stylish Director/D.O.P Ivan Zuccon's starkly atmospheric, visually striking H.P Lovecraft adaptation 'The Shunned House' (2003) he not only dynamically expresses himself as being an exciting new voice in horror, his grisly Gothic nightmare can also be resolutely placed among the glorious pantheon of Italian genre greats, a densely macabre work ominously references the genius of horror icon Lucio Fulci with its slowly creeping, darkly-shadowed menace, the heady, pervasive threat of its sepulchral settings, the morbidly insinuating suggestions of some ancient, inexorable evil and scintillating splashes of nauseatingly effective gore. To have so expertly woven these ancient yarns of diabolical dread: 'The Shunned House', 'The Music of Erich Zann' and 'The Dreams in the Witch House' into one seamless terror tapestry of modern eldritch horror is certainly no mean feat and to do it with such fluency is an extraordinarily creative achievement.
A rather aloof, self-possessed writer Alex (Giuseppe Larusso) and his pulchritudinous squeeze Rita (Frederica Quagliari) uncomfortably sojourn in an especially desolated, mildewed house of doomy historical disrepute, ostensibly residing there in order for Alex to get some colourful background for his new book but he may have altogether sinister ulterior motives for so brusquely dragging his buxom beau to this benighted, aggressively inhospitable ruin!
Zuccon wastes little time embedding the seed of squirmy unease in the viewer and it is not long before said angst-laden mote germinates into an especially virulent manifestation of reality warping, multi-dimensional madness in this witheringly eerie, profoundly grim-looking portmanteau of vividly-rendered Lovecraftian mania! With the exception of maestro's Stuart Gordon and Lucio Fulci few filmmakers are able to so successfully evoke the nihilistic, foul-smelling, soul-tainting terror so indelibly prevalent in the fitful psyche of H.P Lovecraft's more corrosively malevolent stories.
Director Zucco's chiaroscuro photography is gloomily evocative, bringing to mind the dismally subterranean, nightmare-inducing vistas of maestro Fulci's 'City of The Living Dead', morbidly expressed in the diabolically dank and tomb-blackened art direction of Roberta Romagnoli. The sublimely sinister film's tasteful special effects / make-up designs by Massimo Storari are gruesomely chilling and the nervy, unsettling score by Acid Vacuum means that no molecule goes unmolested during their visit to Lovecraft's diabolical, demon-laden domicile 'The Shunned House'.
Captures The Gloom...
azathothpwiggins9 February 2022
H. P. Lovecraft was a morose, effective horror writer. His stories were / are filled with a thick, bleak atmosphere of encroaching shadows and ultimate doom. THE SHUNNED HOUSE takes three such tales -mostly their collective mood- and blends them together in a modern setting.
Fittingly, this all occurs in a crumbling old mansion.
Dueling realities clash, overlap, and bleed together as two investigators experience what lurks in this dark place. Are they simply losing their minds, or is something else going on?
This is a low-low-budget film, so don't expect multi-million dollar special effects. The story is pretty incoherent and disorienting, which actually adds to the overall sense of nightmare and gloom.
No, it's not a masterpiece. There are several slow spots and this can be tedious. However, It does capture the spirit of a good Lovecraft story, and that's worth at least a watch...
Fittingly, this all occurs in a crumbling old mansion.
Dueling realities clash, overlap, and bleed together as two investigators experience what lurks in this dark place. Are they simply losing their minds, or is something else going on?
This is a low-low-budget film, so don't expect multi-million dollar special effects. The story is pretty incoherent and disorienting, which actually adds to the overall sense of nightmare and gloom.
No, it's not a masterpiece. There are several slow spots and this can be tedious. However, It does capture the spirit of a good Lovecraft story, and that's worth at least a watch...
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