You're typical, garbage, horror movie storyline, but makes up for it with some pretty cool visual effects and music. Very enjoyable

I'm sure it's good and I felt savvy for seeing how influential it has been on Tetsuya Nakashima (whose films I don't really like all that much either), but I guess this sort of hyperactive wackiness it's just not my cup of tea, at least not at this stage in my movie watching. In fact I decided to turn it off after 40 minutes or so, so this is very fwiw. YMMV.

Willfully weird films rarely work, but when you get someone who really gets how to make something like this it's wonderful. Totally kooky, but funny, charming, full of crazy editing, skillful camera work, and the soundtrack suits it perfectly. I can't really compare it to anything I've seen, and as crazy as it is one doesn't feel bombarded. The deneuoment even has an honest sweetness to it. I caught myself sitting with my mouth agape or with a goofy grin much of the time.

The only way to describe this movie is FUCKING INSANE. Definitely a movie to watch with friends because you just have to look at each other and confirm that what you just saw happened. It's such a schizophrenic mess that I can't tell whether it's a legitimately good movie, or one that's so terrible you can't help but enjoy it. Regardless, one of the most fun movies ever made.

Absolutely insanity. A masterpiece in it's own right.

Well, that was something. I suppose it's best described as a flurry of colorful nonsense, albeit a well-composed one. I think its most endearing element was the utterly bizarre archetypal nature of each girl character. There's probably some great thesis on Japanese feminism based on these characters as a whole just waiting to be written. It was pretty entertaining, but I was definitely losing interest in its complete lack of order by the last half hour.

Well this is officially the most insane movie I've ever seen (bananas, one might say). It must take massive balls to produce something like this.

Completely ridiculous and hilarious, there is nothing quite like seeing this movie for the first time. One of the most memorable movies I've ever seen.

The story is nothing out of the ordinary, but the visual presentation is absolutely mental. The film is campy and absurd, and is packed with clever effects and camera/editing tricks...a bizarre combination of virtuoso technique and rapid fire strangeness. It's a twisted kaleidoscopic nightmare that simply HAS to be seen to be believed.

Brings back that spook house fun with wanton abandonment. An ambitious film which most filmmakers can't even dream up.

This movie almost defies description. It is certainly one of the most visually interesting films I've ever seen, and it has a quirky sense of humor with a good ghost story (and a dancing skeleton). Highly recommended!

If you don't get swept up in this movie's hell-bent energy, you must simply never get swept up in anything.

Pure madness.

I can quite decide if this was charming or annoying.

Overall Enjoyment: 25/40, Plot/Themes: 5/20, Cinematography/Direction: 10/20, Acting/Writing: 10/20 We knew we were getting into a movie that was supposed to be so bad that it was good, and while it did deliver it didn't deliver quite enough. Too much exposition and while some of the crazy parts at the end were quite fantastic, I couldn't see myself ever needing to watch it again. Worth watching once, preferably while under the influence of your substance of choice.

Not much of a story, characters or even interesting ideas (note: more cheesy than scary), but I suspect most people enjoy the film for the filmmaking. Initially, I loved the playful tone and creative filmmaking in high gear. However, while Obayashi has creative ideas, I'm not sure he has the skill to put these ideas to good use; some restraint might have served the film better. I didn't enjoy the film, but I appreciated the effort (probable score: 72)

AMAZING! Wow.

This is, quite simply, the best film I've seen in my entire life. An utterly deranged ghost story about seven young schoolgirls who go to visit a haunted house owned by an aunt of one of the girls, and... let's just say wackiness ensues. Boy oh boy oh boy, does it ensue. Watch this. Thank me later.

Wow, this is a weird one. I appreciate the originality and camp aspects, but I can't say it's a great movie. You can certainly see where Raimi probably got some inspiration for The Evil Dead series from this movie, but Raimi's films are better.

This film is the oddest of odds, but worth a watch for horror and film buffs. With a gentle soundtrack and effects out of a Terry Gilliam film, House is Japanese cinema at it's all time best.

straight up bizarre in the best kind of way

I liked this, but instead of seeing it as an over-the-top laugh riot, I found it to be profoundly unsettling and scary. Obayashi parodies so many genres, switches mood and styles so often, and uses so many different visual tricks that I was never sure what universe I was in or how I was supposed to feel. Consequently, stuff that would have seemed corny, stupid or outrageous in some other movie shook me into a permanent state of suspended disbelief, leaving much room for anxiety and horror.

Like watching crazy Youtube viral videos for an hour and a half straight. The story isn't really the point but it's equal parts cliche ghost house mixed with pointless subplots that go nowhere. The random nonsense, crazy visuals, and zany antics go overboard to the point of irritation. It's like eating a bowl of candy for dinner. Some of House is interesting but not nearly enough to justify the hype.

I have no idea why this is considered a cult classic. It's like a bad David Lynch film. The special effects are terrible (even for its time), so you'd think they would limit them, but they go overboard with terrible effects. It reminds of The Evil Dead, which I also didn't really like. Maybe I just don't "get" these movies. I did enjoy the score though.

A joyously mad slice of J-horror, mocking the cliches of the genre with relish. The story is pretty basic: schoolgirls visit the home of one of their aunts, who may not be what she seems; before long, the house itself begins to influence events. Great use of color and music, delightfully absurd special effects, and an abundance of imagination. The acting is entirely in the spirit of things; Miki Jinbo's Kung Fu is especially fun. Obayashi's wit and invention are a constant joy to behold.

Both beautiful and insane. There are moments which are actually scary, and of course those that are absurdly funny. Love the scene with the noodle bar (the Loey Armstrong-like music in the background and the bear were particulary good).

"Extremely campy Japanese take on the haunted house theme filmed almost as a bouncy children's story with bright colors, cheery schoolgirls, Beetlejuice-like crazy hauntings and insane editing. Seven schoolgirls, each with a special talent... visit grandmother in a spooky house filled with flying objects, biting decapitated heads, hungry grand pianos, malignant light fixtures, and a few dozen other hyperkinetic bizarre special effects colored into the film's negative."

Probably would've been more enjoyable if I was under the influence of at least half the hallucinogens it took to create this visual lobotomy. If Benny Hill filmed "Thirteen Ghosts" this would be it.

I think my brain just exploded

It's hard to know where to put this movie. It's like a film made by people that have no idea what film is of how it works, but this is also a good thing because every inch of this movie is chocked full of creativity and things that you just don't do in film. The plot is weak and silly but who cares? This film is a joy to watch even if after it's over you're not sure what just happened.

In the hands of a less talented director or a cast who weren't quite sure of what they had signed on for, a film like Hausu could be a mind-blowing mess. Fortunately, the director has enough creativity, whimsy, and reckless abandon to turn what is on the surface a fairly standard horror plot into a strange mish-mash of genres that predates such modern psychedelic fare as Miike's Happiness of the Katakuris. Thankfully the cast appear to be in on it as well, as the performances never disappoint.

Well... I'm not sure it's possible to fully comprehend everything that happens in this film with only one viewing, but it's pretty much the most entertaining thing I've ever seen and so inventive, clever and self-aware. I guess I'll have to watch it again soon to try and make a little more sense of it (won't be drinking next time!)

"Batshit Crazy" was invented to describe this film :)

this movie is insane. hyperactive, psychedelic editing, weird retro sci-fi effects, people being eaten by household objects, frequent breaking of the fourth wall... and it's kinda really good. excellent cinematography, funny writing, cool sets... i've never seen anything quite like it. it almost reminds me of late-80s stephen chow, but with even more cheap, stylized effects. excellent camp.

A dizzying maze of goofy music, overripe psychedelia, fantastic sets, and more giggling Japanese schoolgirls than I ever thought I'd want to see. This movie is absolutely the most fucking insane, off-the-wall horror film I have ever seen in my life whose title doesn't begin with "E" and end in "-raserhead".

I won't be able to take the Criterion Collection seriously until they add this film. EDIT: It's going to be put in the Criterion Collection! They must have read my review and agreed with me, so they're stepping up their game! Or not. But I like to think that.

Gorgeous cinematography, over-the-top scares, goofy campy humor, great set design, funny music, kung-fu, nude Japanese schoolgirls...this movie has everything.

Moribunny likes this so that's my alibi.

I don't think you could classifying this film as anything other than complete fucking insanity. It's absurd and ridiculous, but it''s also creative and funny and beautiful. The cinematography is out of this world (in several senses of the phrase). As some have said, this is definitely not a good movie. Yeah, true, it's a great movie.

The opening features some of the most ridiculously over-the-top syrupy scenes you'll ever see for some time, and from there Hausu gets even more and more insane as it progresses. My favourite thing about it is how it doesn't just emphasise the nutty horror scenes, with gore and blood galore - it's also happy to include a bizarre jazzy dance sequence, and more silly delights.

Well this sure is interesting!

I'm not going to pretend this is a good movie. It's not. It actually has to remind you at the beginning, "A Movie! House!" in case you get confused. But what it is is audiovisual insanity of the highest order: the absolute contempt for genre and script (horror/Toei Pink) creates an onslaught of editing and directorial experimentation not seen since the days Nikkatsu kicked Suzuki out on his ass for doing something new. Not a film; an experience.

I am hard pressed to finds words that adequitely describe this utterly fucked up piece of cinema. Genrewise it can be pegged as a coming-of-age/musical/comedy/horror film. Try to imagine The Happiness of the Katakuris. On weed. You'll either love it or have an epileptic fit.

Campy arthouse insanity. It's about as much a comedy, drama, children's, kung-fu, musical, animation, softcore porn, action, experimental avant-garde movie as it is horror. It isn't "good" in any sort of conventional way. It will crack you up with its ridiculous creativity and creative ridiculousness (design and editing for instance are just meticulously warped). Reminded me of Czech New Wave movies, particularly Valerie's Week of Wonders and The Cassandra Cat, but this is better.