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Cast

Kimiko Ikegami
as Oshare

Kumiko Ohba
as Fanta

Kumiko Oba
as Fantasy

Mitsutoshi Ishigami
as Photographer

Miki Jinbo
as Kunfuu

Reiko Sato

Asei Kobayashi
as Farmer

Mieko Sato
as Mac

Ai Matsubara
as Gari

Masayo Miyako
as Suuitto

Yôko Minamida
as Gorgeous's Aunt

Kiyohiko Ozaki
as Keisuke Tougou-sensei

Saho Sasazawa
as Oshare's Father

Mieko Satoh
as Matsuku

Eriko Tanaka
as Merodii

Haruko Wanibuchi
as Ryouko Ema

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Critic Reviews for House (Hausu)

Audience Reviews for House (Hausu)

• Apr 01, 2017

  Oh my goodness, what at trippy, crazy, cheesy little movie this is. I don't think it has a single scene in it which doesn't have some type of campy, surreal special effect. Early on it seems like part Wes Anderson, part after-school special, part J-pop, part ... I don't know, just 'out there', and certainly unique. It gets weirder and weirder as it goes. If you love the bizarre and the downright silly, movies which don't take themselves too seriously and are out to throw wild images at you, you'll probably love this film. Director Nobuhiko Obayashi has a real flair, and he's not out to make things look super-realistic, he's out to entertain. If you're looking for a ghost story, real drama, or horror, well, this isn't it. You never feel real tension, even as the cute little girls are attacked by mattresses, devoured by a piano, etc etc. For me I suppose I fell more in the latter camp, wishing the film had some balance in creating a film about the supernatural, but you can easily see why it has a bit of a cult attraction to it, and your mileage may vary.
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• Nov 22, 2016

  A bizarre, experimental kitschy feast for the eyes. The problem is that there's very little going on beneath the surface.
  Marcus W Super Reviewer
• Feb 13, 2015

  Highly original and more than a little kitschy. Japanese horror, 70's style. Group of school girls go to visit auntie of one of the girls and stay in her house. Cue freaky happenings and creepy cat. Really is silly, but does it with flair.
  Nicki M Super Reviewer
• Jul 16, 2013

  Horror films in general play things straightforward no matter how many times a premise has be done. None of these as much as the haunted house premise usually involving some kind of supernatural being killing off the victims in different ways, the heroes learning about the supernatural being or haunted house history, and trying to combat it. That is exactly how it occurs in the Japanese comedy/horror flick Hausu (House in English), but what makes it a venture worth taking is the execution of it. Its outlandish imagery with an a offbeat atmosphere makes the most of it cliche premise for a optimistic viewing. Hausu (House) follows Oshare when she finds out that her Father's girlfriend is joining them on their summer trip, she and her friends decide to go to her aunt's farmhouse instead. From the moment they arrive, strange things begin to happen and the girls slowly begin to realize Oshare's Aunt may not have their best interest in mind. The plot is nothing original by any stretch. It has stereotypical characters one would expect even down to their names. We have Prof who's the smart one, Mac the fat one, Kung Fu (though her technique is Karate) the tough one, and three more whose characteristic you could tell by their name. Despite being cliche (although the archetypes are meant to satirize) the plot provides a whole of fun. It has a very cheery feel to it. The characters while stereotype are all very likable each with their own quirks to standout. Usually slasher films would devolved their heroes to the point we would like for the them to suffer, but not the case here. It's because of the way these archetypes are written to be innocent that makes us want to stick with them and even sadden when one of them departs. The backstories adds mystery to the haunted house and even some character development that will garner laughs. It's more so a comedy than a horror flick which might upset horror fans, but horror fans should give it a chance if wanting something vastly different from the tired format. Nobuhiko Obayashi direction is what gives the film its own identity. In it's execution, this is more style over topping substance. The imagery is something a weed addict would imagine if watching a horror film. The multicolored lighting creates both a sense of disorientation, hallucination but also just gives the film feel like a manga/anime or even come to life as well as a 70's style vibe. This is helped through some of the cinematography and editing, some shots looking like comic panels. In some places there is frenetic camera movement that makes it feel like the house is spinning out of control. The visual and practical effects are very good in creating a house of disorientation and disorder. It's the only horror film where you could see a girl eaten by a lamp, getting beaten by pillows, and my personal favorite one getting eaten by a piano. The music is also great reinforcing the 70's vibe of the film from some of the beats. Most of the cast consist of actresses who are all convincing in their and very lovely. You'll sure to find one that you'll end up liking allot. Hausu while playing more on the comedy side than horror succeeds for doing so. It never becomes a downer to watch instead opting to put a smile on the viewer face in a fresh way to a premise they have seen a thousand time before. It might sport the look of a B-Movie, but it's a triple A entertainment.
  Caesar M Super Reviewer

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