Released in 1980, Don’t Go In The House, directed by Joseph Ellison, went on to define the video nasty era of the slasher genre. The darker and more bleak of the slasher nasties, compared to the fellow 1980 release of Friday The 13th, this psychological horror was met with controversy from the very get go. Telling the story of pyromaniac Donny Kohler, a young man who is left disturbed and traumatised after suffering both horrific physical and psychological abuse at the hands of his mother. After his mother’s death, Donny begins to terrorize women, murdering them with his weapon of choice – the flame thrower.
The combination of imaginative kill sequences and ambiguous supernatural qualities makes this slasher one that should have received more fanfare both at the time of it’s release and retrospectively.
With a heavy influence from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), Don’t Go In The House perfectly marries the depraved and shocking violence that the 80s video nasties infamously characterized, as well as the heartbreaking consequences of childhood abuse seen in the psychological deterioration of the antagonist Donny. The combination of imaginative kill sequences and ambiguous supernatural qualities makes this slasher one that should have received more fanfare both at the time of it’s release and retrospectively.
Arrow have released a bumper limited three disc edition blu-ray of Don’t Go In The House chock full of special features as well containing both original and uncut versions of the film in a brand new 2k restoration. The extra features that span all three discs are truly downright fascinating, exploring the world of not only the craft of filmmaking, but also the cultural emergence of the film itself. Highlights include We Went In The House, a featurette that explores the filming locations and then delves into the character of the house itself. Much like the house of Norman Bates, the home of Donny Kohler is an entity in and of itself, both on screen and in reality. Also of note is the documentary Grindhouse AllStars: Notes From the Sleaze Cinema Underground that interviews a number of exploitation filmmakers, a gem for both video nasty novices and fans of the genre.
The Arrow blu-ray release of Don’t Go in The House is a must have addition to any slasher fan’s collection. Embodying the video nasty era as well as a schlocky psychological thriller, the extra features alone should be enough to entice a purchase.
DON’T GO IN THE HOUSE IS OUT NOW ON ARROW VIDEO BLU-RAY
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ARCHIVE – DON’T GO IN THE HOUSE (1980)
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