The Horror Show
The Horror Show
R | 28 April 1989 (USA)
The Horror Show Trailers

Vowing revenge on the detective who apprehended him, serial killer "Meat Cleaver" Max Jenke returns from beyond the grave to launch a whole new reign of terror.

Reviews
ClassicHorror

The Horror Show is an amazing movie. It has everything a horror movie should have, I can't think of one thing I didn't like or that it's missing. The acting is great and while it is 99% horror, it does have some comedy mixed in, but it only adds to the movie. This movie only gets better with time.10/10

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videorama-759-859391

While watching this kind of stylish jargon, you do keep forgetting this is part of the House franchise. The only other one I saw, that I really liked was of course the first. What we got here is some ghastly violence and some rather nasty unpleasantries. Child murder isn't something to take lightly on film, where I admit in my earlier years, the scene with the girl's flying head and decapitation disturbed me lightly. The versatile Brion James, plays one of the nastiest and vile killers, that makes the hitcher's John Ryder look tame. James is Max Jenke, a killer who is about to be fried, on the chair. Unfortunately all this high voltage that is 'spose to send this sick son of a bitch to hell, only makes him immortal, thus returning back into this cop's (Lance Henricksen's) life and taunting him, before slaughtering all his family. He is warned by a guy (Thom Bray) who deals with the phenomenon of serial killers who survive executions (in the real world, remember, there hasn't been any) but it's Jenke's avenging spirit, that's returned, playing havoc with Henricksen and his family. The daughter's hot too, and the son's a real character who loves heavy metal, Quick and Chilli, apparently in bulk. Of course, James steals the horror show, while Henricksen was very good, where I thought Thom Bray, as the weird warning nut, was good too. Matt Clark, an actor I like, ever since Tuff Turf, I was glad to see show up in this, while legend and reservoir dog, Lawrence Tierney, at the start ,as the warden speaking with very little words for Jenke, was another appreciative moment. But honestly House 3 is bad, though entertaining and stylish junk, with a nasty streak, where really understanding the whole business of the film had me at heavy qualm. Is Henricksen imagining it? Is it real? Which parts are? E.g. The daughter receiving the phonecall from Jenke. He would have to be alive. And the whole near slaughtered family coming back to life, after killing the spirit. Doesn't make sense, but too consider the first film, but that one made my sense, as from Roger Cobb's view. You didn't know what instance was real, or not, whatever. But this film is bad, mainly because of the nasty nature of it, with some gruesome occasional violence. A nice intimate scene I liked with daughter Pfeiffer, and the soon to be slaughtered stud, Vinnie.

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merklekranz

When one of the writers is named "Alan Smithee", it is usually not a good sign, and it's easy to see why one of the original writers pulled his name off of this. Other than the presence of Lance Henriksen and Brion James, the movie is boring and makes no sense. Watching James turn into a human barbecue, and then return from the dead to torment Henriksen, is not exactly Oscar material. In addition, the teenage siblings are both annoying and stereotyped. Countless trips to the basement simply to build tension along with numerous jump scares, does not a movie make. So what you get is a strong opening, followed by a script that really goes nowhere. If you don't believe me, just ask Mr. Smithee". - MERK

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sydneyswesternsuburbs

Director James Issac who also created another classic flick, Pig Hunt 2008 has created another gem in The Horror Show.Starring Lance Henriksen who has also been in other classic flicks, Bone Dry 2007, Abominable 2006, AVP: Alien vs. Predator 2004, One Point O 2004, Mimic: Sentinel 2003, Dead Man 1995, Hard Target 1993, Stone Cold 1991, Hit List 1989, Pumpkinhead 1988, Near Dark 1987, Aliens 1986, The Terminator 1984, The Right Stuff 1983 and Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977.Also starring Brion James who has also been in other classic flicks, The Underground 1997, Steel Frontier 1995, Nemesis 1992, Silverado 1985, Blade Runner 1982 and Southern Comfort 1981.Also starring Rita Taggart.I enjoyed the special effects.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic haunted house flicks, Amityville II: The Possession 1982, Amityville 1992: It's About Time 1992, The Amityville Horror 2005, Dead Birds 2004, The Haunting 1963, The City of the Dead 1960, House 1986, Insidious 2010, The Legend of Hell House 1973, The Conjuring 2013, Insidious: Chapter 2 2013, Insidious: Chapter 3 2015, Housebound 2014, The Conjuring 2 2016, The Pact 2012 and Poltergeist 1982.

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