Directed by:
Dan CurtisCinematography:
Jacques R. MarquetteComposer:
Bob CobertCast:
Karen Black, Oliver Reed, Lee Montgomery, Bette Davis, Burgess Meredith, Eileen Heckart, Dub Taylor, Anthony James, Patsy SmartVOD (1)
Plots(1)
Marian (Black) and Ben (Reed) find it hard to believe that for only $900 they've rented a sprawling old country mansion for the entire summer. But as they settle into their isolated estate with their son and Ben's aunt (Davis), they find themselves surrounded by a living presencean evil, hypnotic, occult forcethat feeds on torture, fear and murder. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
Burnt Offerings is a decent horror film on the theme of family vs. mysterious house, with the main characters gradually sinking into psychological despair. It is sometimes terrifyingly severe (the drowning of the son in the pool at the hands of his father) and sometimes enticingly mysterious (the old lady in the upstairs room), but it is also often needlessly drawn out and half-baked, leading to unfulfilled potential and a lack of viewer satisfaction (for example, the whole motif involving the driver from the funeral of the main character’s mother). However, the exterior of the house is delightful and the actors are first-rate. The Omen from the same year, 1976 (20th Century Fox), is more deserving of a fourth star, as it completely outshined this competing project from United Artists.
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The very good and terrifying atmosphere didn’t get fully cooked until the last 10 minutes or so, which turned the three normal stars into three strong ones.
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