Quella villa accanto al cimitero (1981)

"The House by the Cemetery" (1981) is not just a title; it's a promise of a sinister atmosphere and uncompromising horror, a promise that Lucio Fulci, maestro of Italian giallo and horror, keeps with maniacal persistence. The film is a prime example of the golden age of Italian genre cinema, where directorial skill combined with the masterful creation of a suffocating, almost tangible dread. Fulci, known for his uncompromising approach to violence and surreal visuals, once again proves his status as one of the most significant horror authors.

Plot

The plot revolves around an American family — a couple with their young son — who leave the hustle and bustle of New York for what they believe will be a peaceful life in Boston. Their new home is an old mansion located in the most unfavorable place imaginable for habitation: on the edge of a cemetery. It quickly becomes clear that the house has a dark history: its previous occupant was a certain Dr. Freudstein, whose tomb is situated right in the center of the building. At night, strange and frightening noises emanate from the cellar, foreshadowing something far more sinister than just an old house. The head of the family, succumbing to curiosity or desperation, decides to investigate the source of these sounds, opening the door to the cellar, and this step becomes a fatal beginning for the entire family.

Why You Should Watch It

• Lucio Fulci's Signature Style: The director is famous for his unique style, which includes slow build-up of suspense, close-ups of shocking details, and the creation of a hallucinatory, surreal atmosphere. His works, like this one, always stand out for their visual inventiveness and willingness to venture into the most explicit scenes of horror.
• Classic Gothic Horror: The film brilliantly utilizes time-tested genre tropes — an old house, a mysterious cemetery, a curse from the past — while infusing them with a distinctive Italian eccentricity. A sense of impending doom permeates every scene, creating constant tension.
• Gloomy, Oppressive Atmosphere: "The House by the Cemetery" literally envelops the viewer in a feeling of discomfort and hopelessness. The constant sensation of an otherworldly presence emanating from the very heart of the house maintains tension until the final credits.
• Intriguing Mystery: The enigma of Dr. Freudstein and his unusually located tomb forms the central axis of the narrative, prompting speculation about the nature of the evil hidden in the mansion and its connection to the new inhabitants.

Themes

The central themes of the film are the inevitability of reckoning for past sins, the danger of curiosity that opens a door to the unknown, and the fragility of the family home in the face of ancient evil. Here, motifs of gothic romance and hopelessness intertwine, where the house becomes not just a backdrop, but a living, breathing organism slowly consuming its inhabitants.

Editorial Opinion

"The House by the Cemetery" is not a film for the faint of heart or those seeking light entertainment. It's an immersion into the true, at times repulsive, but always captivating world of Italian horror, where rationality gives way to primal fear. Fulci created a work that still sends shivers down the spine, cementing his status as one of the most significant masters in horror history. It's a must-watch for genre aficionados ready to confront what lies beyond the threshold of the unknown and to appreciate the work of actors like Dagmar Lassander, Giovanni Frezza, and Paolo Malco, alongside Fulci himself.