FORGOTTEN FILM: A HOUSE IN THE HILLS (1993)

Direct to Video films in the 90’s, while giving many actors steady paychecks, seemed to play a large part in hurting the careers of the overall participants. Those who signed on, hoping the film would see some theatrical release, and then being relegated to the New Release wall at Blockbuster, couldn’t have been too happy. Consequently, the fact that stars appeared in multiple direct to video films made them seem as unemployable for A list studio projects.

1993’s A HOUSE IN THE HILLS was such a film.

Star Helen Slater, less than a decade after SUPERGIRL, stars as Alex, a struggling actress / waitress. Wanting to find a quiet getaway to rehearse for a role, she takes a job housesitting the title property.

All isn’t well at the house as a murder has just taken place next door. Plus, the owners are kind of creepy. The man seems more interested in his roses than his wife, although he does manage to make a pass at Slater.

Still, it is a quiet house, so she stays.

An exterminator (Michael Madsen) comes to the door. Alex lets him in and, well, I’ll just say he isn’t who he says he is. I think everyone watching the film knows that too, so why did she let him in?

Jeffrey Tambor plays a neighbor who stops by. Like always, he is quite entertaining, in a different sort of role.

Without going into specifics, the ending is a complete mess.

You get the feeling the writers came up with every possible resolution to the story, wrote them all down, put them in a blender, and pasted the result together. There are two or three great possibilities for an ending, yet they don’t go with either. They go with all in such a confused way, it is head spinning. Parts of the last ten minutes achieve high camp, like you can’t believe what they are doing. It is a mess.

Not that it is without merits. Michael Madsen is very good. And it should be a must for Helen Slater fans, if only for the scene where she admires herself topless in a mirror. Kind of surprising, as this is SUPERGIRL after all.

Shot in Luxembourg (Why? It is essentially a stage play that could have been shot in Tambor’s living room), the film was co-written and directed by Ken Weiderhorn who previously directed the ANIMAL HOUSE rip off KING FRAT, EYES OF A STRANGER (which star Jennifer Jason Leigh even hates), MEATBALLS PART 2 (ouch), and RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 2. To say this was the highlight of the career is probably easy.

Since it was released to video by the defunct LIVE, I would assume the film is owned by Lions Gate now. It is a watchable enough film. Just not a good one.