Delusion (1980)

...aka: House Where Death Lives, The

Directed by:

Alan Beattie

Patricia Pearcy (from the memorable killer worm movie SQUIRM) stars as Meredith Stone, a woman who becomes the live-in nurse for the crippled, elderly Ivar Langrock (Joseph Cotten). When Ivar's teenage grandson Gregory (John Dukakis) shows up at the house, Meredith falls for him and they start a sexual relationship, then suddenly a series of unexplained murders occur. A dog is impaled and victims are beat to death with table legs. The acting is decent and it's generally well made, but long stretches of boredom try viewer patience and it's not as shocking as it's original title (THE HOUSE WHERE DEATH LIVES) and ad art suggested. I don't know whether or not I liked the surprise conclusion or not. It's narrated by Pearcy. The director also co-scripted and co-produced. Also in the cast are David Hayward, Leon Charles (who died shortly after this was made), Alice Nunn (FANGS), Simone Griffeth (DEATH RACE 2000), James Purcell and Shelby Leverington. The Embassy video release wasn't until 1984 and this film has yet to see the light of day on DVD.

Score: 5 out of 10