This is a dark psychological thriller about the consequences of child abuse. Donny Kohler is a man who is growing increasingly detached from his life. One day, while he's at work he witnesses an accident which causes one of his work colleagues to catch on fire. While the rest of the workforce rush about trying to help the man Donny stands transfixed and spellbound by the sight.It brings back to him the memories of his mother's retribution for misbehaviour, where she would hold his hands and arms above the open flame of the kitchen hob. This triggers his psychosis, flames cleanse the sins of man... and woman.Kohler played admirably well by Dan Grimaldi - who is very good at making this psychopathic killer appear as normal - then sets out on his mission of cleansing his town. The most chilling part of this film isn't the killing or the portrayal of Kohler, but the killing room. Kohler covers the walls, floor and ceiling in sheet metal and adds a meat hook in the centre of the room, from which to hang his prey. It's the idea that he's thought this through to this extent so as not to burn down his house that makes it a very creepy and chilling issue and adds a deep psychological darkness to the character. However, there are issues with the story, especially in correspondence with Kohler's character. There are some scenes that don't quite gel with his personality. And some of the directing could have been better. The scene when Kohler goes out with his friend and ends up attacking his date is well thought out story-wise; however, it could have been acted and directed much better There is a few scene's like this.The director, Joseph Ellison, who co-scripted the story with writer Joe Masefield and Ellen Hammill, does create a good film with a variable pace and flow, which helps to create atmosphere and keep the viewers interested. However, I feel he could have done more to bring it above average.The acting is okay though nobody shines through or dominates the film. This is a shame because I think if Dan Grimaldi was a little stronger in his craft it would have made the film a hell of a lot scarier,Overall, the film suffers from averageness, though it is worth at least one watch. This is a film I would love to see remade, though adding a stronger cast and director, as I believe the story could make a classic film. I would gladly recommend the film to anybody who likes darker psychological thrillers and isn't too distressed by graphic and gory scenes. This left a chill in my bones and I will be watching the film again.

A classic example of an exploitation film of the late 1970s, this movies manages to rise above the standard, clichéd roots and become an interesting look at the life of a schizophrenic murderer. The film's main advantage is that it portrays Donny as a believable and sympathetic character, who is simply suffering from delusions and a mental illness. He is not in control of his actions, and it is his mother who is really to blame for the murders that take place. The film also manages to put in a moral line about child abuse. The main actor never disappoints in his role, convincing throughout.However, your average viewer would probably be put off by the sickening scenes of naked women being burnt alive. They're not especially explicit, but even worse are the scenes of Donny interacting with the burnt corpses which really are disturbing. The film has very few supernatural moments, although there is a genuinely chilling climax borrowed from MANIAC. Although the film's trappings have dated in the subsequent decades - particularly in that cheesy disco scene - it hasn't lost its power to shock, and is one of the most interesting of all the low-budget PSYCHO derivatives.

Another film in the horror genre that takes part of it's influence from both Ed Gein and Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), Don't Go in the House, originally titled - more appropriately - The Burning (this was altered due to the release of a slasher-camp film), it focuses on a troubled man who has been perpetually abused by his dominating mother. After a burning incident in an incinerator that Donny Kohler (Dan Grimaldi) witnesses at work, he returns home to find that his mother has passed away. Immediately, Donny hears disembodied voices telling him that he is now free to do whatever he likes. Donny shows a fear of fire, even when using matches. His memories flash back to his mother holding his arms over a burning hob, "punishing" the young boy, presumably due to the fact that he reminds her of his father.After finding pleasure in burning his mothers body (he keeps his mother in the chair that she died in), he constructs a steel-lined room, purpose built to burn any woman he can get back to the house. He seems throughout to be tortured by these women, even seeming to believe that they have all done wrong with him. We only really see the first victim, Kathy Jordan (Johanna Brushay), being torched in the room, as she stands tied and naked, Donny enters the room with an all over fire resistant suit, before "opening fire" with the blow torch.It's not a bad film, considering it is essentially a slasher film (without the slashing of course), which were so prevalent at the time. It is quite different also to this sub-genre, and it often feels more grimy, even dirty than the average fare (The Prowler or Final Exam (both 1981), for example). Of course some of the acting is appalling, but strangely, Donny's descent into madness seems quite palpable. Donny is that disenfranchised man, completely cut off from the world, and only due to his mother. As with many (even real) males who have had an abusive matriarch, this can often translate into an overbearing, all- encompassing misogyny. This madness crescendos in a now clichéd, but still quite chilling, disturbing end.www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com

Don't go in the house is one hell of a tedious viewing experience,for many reasons. It blatantly emulates Psycho every chance it gets. The house is similar to the one in Psycho,the ending is similar to Psycho,hell even the plot and music score is similar to Psycho. It Doesen't shock you in a good way either,most of the time it's just nasty in every way possible,with only one infamous scene that sticks out,that being where Donny burns,a woman to death with a flame thrower. It's just a vile little film that's honestly repulsing to watch. I have seen plenty of Video nasties,plenty of controversial films,but Don't Go In The House made me wanna wash the filth off of me,after viewing this. The main problem with this movie is,there are endless shots of Donny walking around the house,getting all paranoid or having hallucinations,it just gets so boring to watch after a while. There's no suspense,no scares,it's just a grim experience overall that I never want to experience again any time soon.At about the Hour mark,DGITH has this incredibly boring disco sequence that literally almost put me to sleep,I understand the director was influenced by Psycho,but all he does is rip it off completely while making an incredibly poor impression.Performances. Dan Grimaldi is laughable. Hard to believe this guy went on to star in Soprano's,because he Doesen't show even a glimpse of talent here.Botton Line. Don't Go In this house whatever you do. It won't cause you problems,all it will do is cause the most boring stay anywhere around. There are much better shocking Horror films out there,no need to see this one,thank god I found this online instead of paying a fee for it. Avoid.2/10