10 Film Sequels That Went In Wildly Different Directions

8. House III: The Horror Show

United Artists
United Artists

These days House is associated with Hugh Laurie, but fright fans remember it as the banner of a quirky horror property portfolio. House was the story of a horror author and homeowner haunted by the spectres of Vietnam. The sequel deviated somewhat. And Part III? Well it went right off the road and through the burger van. Much like Season Of The Witch it was made by the same team, but intended to be an original offering. The Horror Show went under the same estate agent, strictly for sales purposes.

Lambasted by reviewers, the tale of cop Lance Henriksen being terrorized by the spirit of deceased murderer Brion James is noted today for being a mirror image of Wes Craven's Shocker. In a spooky coincidence both were released in 1989. Aside from containing a dwelling it bore little resemblance to its predecessors.

The film starred two of the ultimate cult actors in Aliens' Henriksen and Blade Runner's James. It's just a shame they couldn't lift it above the level of bog standard fare. Though not a continuation of the House saga by any stretch of the imagination it did leave enough of a mark for House IV to enter production in the early Nineties.

Contributor
Contributor

I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.