House II: The Second Story

House II: The Second Story (also released as La Casa Di Helen or, informally, as La Casa 6)[2] is a 1987 American comedy horror film. While it is officially a sequel to the 1986 film House, House II does not involve the storyline and characters from the first film, and is a new supernatural comedy, with a tone even lighter than the original film's.

"House 2" redirects here. For other uses, see House-2.

House II: The Second Story
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEthan Wiley
Produced bySean S. Cunningham
Screenplay byEthan Wiley
Story byFred Dekker
Starring
Music byHarry Manfredini
CinematographyMac Ahlberg
Edited byMartin Nicholson
Production
company
Release date
August 28, 1987
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million
Box office$10 million[1]

House II: The Second Story was released on August 28, 1987, grossing $10 million worldwide against a $3 million budget and received negative reviews from critics.

Plot

Young urban professionals Jesse (Arye Gross) and his girlfriend Kate (Lar Park Lincoln) move into an old mansion that has been in Jesse's family for generations. They are soon joined by Jesse's goofy friend Charlie (Jonathan Stark), who brought along his diva girlfriend Lana (Amy Yasbeck), in the hopes of being discovered by Kate, who works for a record company.

Jesse has returned to the old family mansion after his parents were murdered when he was a baby. While going through old things in the basement, Jesse finds a picture of his great-great-grandfather (and namesake) in front of an Aztec temple holding a crystal skull with sapphires in the eyes. In the background is a man Jesse learns is Slim Reeser, a former partner of his great-great-grandfather turned bitter enemy after a disagreement over who would get to keep the skull.

Reasoning that the skull must be buried with him, Jesse and Charlie decide to dig up Jesse's great-great-grandfather in the hopes of procuring the skull. They unearth the casket only to be attacked by the corpse (Royal Dano), who then shows himself to be friendly when Jesse reveals his identity as the senior Jesse's great-great-grandson. Jesse and Charlie take the cowboy zombie, nicknamed "Gramps", back to the house, where he is horrified to learn that the skull has not rejuvenated his body as he had hoped.

Gramps and Charlie go out drinking and driving, and later the boys listen for hours to Gramps' stories of the Old West and his outlaw life. Gramps explains that the house was built using stones from the Aztec temple, and that its rooms act as a hidden doorway across space and time, with the skull acting as a key. He charges Charlie and Jesse with defending the skull against the forces of evil, who are drawn to possess the skull.

During an impromptu Halloween party thrown by Charlie, Gramps makes an appearance (though he is overlooked as it is a costume party), Kate leaves Jesse (taking Lana with her) after he is seen with an old girlfriend by her smarmy boss (Bill Maher), and Jesse and Charlie pick up two new pets in the Jurassic era, a baby pterodactyl and a caterpillar-dog that's dubbed a Cater-Puppy, after a barbarian/caveman arrives at the party and steals the skull.

Bill (John Ratzenberger), an electrician and "part-time adventurer", arrives to inspect the house's old wiring. While seemingly a buffoon, he pulls a short-sword from his tool case and leads the boys through "one of those time-portal things...you see these all the time in these old houses." In the mystic past, the three rescue an Aztec virgin who was about to be sacrificed, who seems to like Jesse but throws things at Charlie.

Eventually, a zombified Slim Reeser makes his appearance. Still after the skull, Slim shoots Gramps, who then gives Jesse his guns and reveals that it was Slim who shot and killed Jesse's parents when he was a baby. Jesse jumps through a window into the Old West, and eventually succeeds in killing Slim by blasting off his head with a rifle. Gramps, who has been mortally wounded, begins to pass away. Gramps says goodbye to Jesse and tells hims he is so happy to have met his great-great-grandson. Gramps then gives a final warning about the power of the skull, encouraging Jesse to get what he wants from the enchanted object and then get rid of it. As Gramps passes, Jesse embraces him.

The film ends with the revelation that Jesse used the skull to travel back into the Old West, where he, Charlie and the rest of their friends drive off in a wagon, leaving the crystal skull behind, marking Gramps' new grave.

Cast

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 9% based on reviews from 11 critics.[3]

Ryan Pollard at Starburst wrote: "House II doesn't quite have anything similar to the strong performance of the original's Bill Katt anchoring the picture, but it still has plenty to make it a worthwhile follow-up that's definitely worth watching."[4]

Comic adaptation

In October 1987, Marvel Comics released a comic book adaptation of House II. It was written by Ralph Macchio, with artwork by Alan Kupperberg on pencils and Kupperberg, Hilary Barta, Danny Bulanadi, Jose Marzan Jr. and Pat Redding on inks. Its cover price was $2.[5]

gollark: ++remind 3d-2h <@319753218592866315> make macron <@!330678593904443393>
gollark: As a new mRNA strand is generated by the action of the RNA polymerase II machinery on a stretch of DNA, it gets a “cap” attached to the end that’s coming out from the DNA (the “5-prime” end), a special nucleotide (7-methylguanosine) that’s used just for that purpose. But don’t get the idea that the new mRNA strand is just waving in the nucleoplasmic breeze – at all points, the developing mRNA is associated with a whole mound of specialized RNA-binding proteins that keep it from balling up on itself like a long strand of packing tape, which is what it would certainly end up doing otherwise.
gollark: You ARE to produce macron.
gollark: ++magic py import utilutil.config["LyricLy"] = "bad"
gollark: LyricLy cannot, in fact, complete anything ever.

See also

References
  1. "House II: The Second Story (1987) - Box office / business". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  2. J.C. Maçek III (April 26, 2013). "Books of the Dead: The Followers and Clones of 'The Evil Dead'". PopMatters.
  3. "House II: The Second Story". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  4. "HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY". STARBURST Magazine.
  5. "Comic Book DB - The Comic Book Database". comicbookdb.com. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
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