TheHouseonSkullMountain

The House on Skull Mountain (1974)

This is a cool little movie from the early 70s that uses a tried and true formula with a twist. When the matriarch of the family is killed off the 4 remaining distant relatives are summoned to the old house for their inheritance. But what none of them realize is that they are being summoned to their deaths. The old woman was a very powerful priestess of voodoo and she had her enemies that wish to take her home and her power. The plot here is basically lifted from the old dark house movies of the 30s and 40s with a group of strangers (even if they are related) being thrust together in a scary old home to be picked off one at a time. To make things even more interesting this is mostly an all black cast, except for the one odd white relative! Will they figure out who is after them before they are picked off one at a time?

Okay this movie had me from the very beginning. From the groovy 70s vibe (music, cars, clothes) to addition of Voodoo to the tried and true plot formula this movie just put a smile on my face. Though I think the movie reveals the identity of the villain far too early I was still entertained and never bored with the story. The characters are interesting and are given a chance to play off of each other for a short time before the killings start. And having the white relative is an interesting twist for what is basically a Blaxsploitation movie. Plus how can you not love a movie that has zombie great grandma rise from the grave to kick some butt? The cast is very good and includes Victor French (Little House on the Prairie), Janee Michelle (Scream Blacula Scream), and Mike Evans (The Jeffersons). This solid cast only makes the already decent material better, which is probably why the movie is as entertaining as it is. That said I will admit there are a couple of voodoo dance numbers that seem to go on for way too long. Other than that it is a pretty decent little movie.

The special effects here are very cheesy looking, but in a way that fits a movie from the early 70s and for me just added to the fun. For example there is a killer Matte shot of the mountain that literally has a giant skull carved into the side of it! Really if I were headed off to meet part of my family that I’ve never met before and I saw that I’d be headed off to the nearest Holiday Inn to rest up for my drive home. Also pretty cool is the ghost effect as used when one of the character steps outside of her body. Not really a great effect, but one that just screams late 60s early 70s filmmaking. The locations used in the movie are great, as is the camera work used to capture them on screen.

All in all I really like this movie and consider it one of those gems that you stumble on once in a while. I recommend that everyone give this at least a rental, especially if you are a fan of 70s cheese.

3 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer