Burnt Offerings (1976)

"I've been waiting for you, Benji..."
The 70's certainly had a fair share of both good and not-so-good horror films. This one falls somewhere in the middle, but I'm bumping it up to four stars because it's worth the price and a bowl of popcorn on a rainy Sunday. Dan Curtis does a fairly decent job bringing this haunted house yarn to the screen. I found Morasco's novel weak in parts, and the pacing of the film is geared for those who are accustomed to suspense. There's no quick thrill here. The viewer is slowly drawn in, and some genuine frights represent the ultimate reward.

Oliver Reed is terrific as the skeptical dad. "What's the catch?" He inquires when told of the price to rent a somewhat neglected mansion for the entire summer. Well, there's always a catch, and you don't have to be a fan of horror or supernatural thrillers to appreciate that bit of advice. Anyhow, Reed, maintaining his British accent throughout, seems in charge of things until he agrees to satisfy his wife's yearning to live like royalty, albeit for a mere three months. Karen Black plays Marion, and I think she is also a credible actor who, although somewhat attractive, has a genuinely creepy visage--a face made for the horror genre. She had worked previously with Curtis on his telepic "Trilogy of Terror," and was actually a few months pregnant during the filming of "Burnt Offerings."

Betty Davis makes an appearence, too, playing the tough-as-nails Aunt Elizabeth who plainly tells Benji (a nickname she calls Reed's character), "I don't like it here...I want to leave this house." Unfortunately for Aunt Elizabeth, the house already has her and the family right where it wants it at this point. I generally don't like "kid" actors, and you'll find no one more annoying than the little brat in this film. Apparently, he was in quite a few television series and movies during the 70's. By far, the creepiest character in the film is delivered to us through a series of Ben Rolf's dreams (although Aunt Elizabeth appears to see him too at one point). This character, as I'm sure fans of the film will agree, is the smiley hearse driver, who--without uttering a syllable--makes a lasting impression. Oh, that confounded smile! So wicked! And still unmatched. He's presented to us through black and white imagery mostly, but each time he's on screen, the film chimes with excitement. You won't forget his smile, or the intention behind it.

The film score is worth mentioning, too. Although the main title music is predictable, I enjoyed the music box score. It had an eerie quality to it that added greatly to the tension. By the way, at the film's end, when the camera pans across the table of photos, you'll notice that all the photographs have one thing in common--none of them are smiling. Yet that compulsively wicked hearse driver smiles and smiles. It's never explained why, and perhaps this is the best reason of all to like this film.

70's-era horror fare not exceptional but still worth a look
Slightly dull, slightly sketchy horror fare is enlivened by a handful of undeniably scary scenes and an overall feeling of dread throughout. Old pros Bette Davis and Burgess Meredith lend credibility to the whole affair, as do solid performances by Oliver Reed and Karen Black.

This is one of those horror movies- "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Omen" are two others- that wants to be taken a little more seriously than your typical exploitation shocker, and to that end brings the acting and directing talent to the table. As a result, one indeed gets some quality, but also a little dryness and dull formality that B-movie thrillers- regardless of their own sins- rarely impose on an audience. But, if you like those old gothic stand-bys like old mysterious houses, locked rooms at the top of the steps, and helpless innocents slowly being drawn into a dark world of secrets, you'll probably get a little enjoyment- creepy enjoyment, but enjoyment nonetheless- out of "Burnt Offerings".

The DVD offers a nice sharp print of the film, the original trailer, and an entertaining, chatty commentary track featuring actress Karen Black, director Dan Curtis (now sadly departed), and one of the film's writers. Fans of Mr. Curtis' old "Dark Shadows" horror soap will especially enjoy the commentary, as Mr. Curtis relates many anecdotes about that series in addition to talking about "Burnt Offerings".

70's-era horror fare not exceptional but still worth a look
Slightly dull, slightly sketchy horror fare is enlivened by a handful of undeniably scary scenes and an overall feeling of dread throughout. Old pros Bette Davis and Burgess Meredith lend credibility to the whole affair, as do solid performances by Oliver Reed and Karen Black.

This is one of those horror movies- "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Omen" are two others- that wants to be taken a little more seriously than your typical exploitation shocker, and to that end brings the acting and directing talent to the table. As a result, one indeed gets some quality, but also a little dryness and dull formality that B-movie thrillers- regardless of their own sins- rarely impose on an audience. But, if you like those old gothic stand-bys like old mysterious houses, locked rooms at the top of the steps, and helpless innocents slowly being drawn into a dark world of secrets, you'll probably get a little enjoyment- creepy enjoyment, but enjoyment nonetheless- out of "Burnt Offerings".

The DVD offers a nice sharp print of the film, the original trailer, and an entertaining, chatty commentary track featuring actress Karen Black, director Dan Curtis (now sadly departed), and one of the film's writers. Fans of Mr. Curtis' old "Dark Shadows" horror soap will especially enjoy the commentary, as Mr. Curtis relates many anecdotes about that series in addition to talking about "Burnt Offerings".