College sophomore Samantha needs money for her new apartment. She finds an ad for a babysitting job posted near her old dorm. Her friend gives her a ride out to a large, isolated house, where they're greeted by Mr. Ulman (played by Tom Noonan, looking semi-Phantasm-ish) and eventually his wife (the legendary Mary Woronov). Despite being lied to (they really need someone to watch over their aging mother), Sam takes the job anyway ("$400 for 4 hours work!") and all hell breaks loose during her first night on the job (which also happens to take place during a lunar eclipse).
Set in the 1980s, THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL not only looks and feels like an unreleased late 70s/early 80s horror film (right down to the font and style of the opening credits), but plays out like one, too. While not much happens for the first 45 minutes, the second half builds some solid chills. Picture a cross between HORROR HOTEL, THE DEVIL'S RAIN and ROSEMARY'S BABY and you basically know what you're in for. Star Jocelin Donahue looks UNCANNILY like Jessica Harper in SUSPIRIA (especially one long shot of her looking out the window) and there's a cameo by THE HOWLING's Dee Wallace. Despite a lot of continuity problems and some unbelievable situations (especially a tied-up Samantha getting loose as her captors look on and do nothing), fans of occult horror will dig this---just give it some time to get started and check half your brain at the door.
