Watch Dead Dudes in the House

Dead Dudes in the House is a 1989 horror film directed and co-written by James Riffel. The movie follows a group of college kids who decide to spend the weekend at a house that belonged to one of the kids' deceased grandmothers. The students, consisting of five guys and one girl, plan to party and have a good time while also conducting a seance as part of their weekend fun. However, things take a dark turn as they realize they're not alone in the house and that there may be malevolent spirits lurking about.

The film begins with the group of college kids driving to the house in a beat-up old car. They immediately start arguing and bickering with one another which sets the tone for the rest of the film. Once they arrive at the house, strange things begin to happen. They find a Ouija board and decide to use it to contact the dead. Things get ominous when they start feeling an ominous presence in the house which they can’t explain. As things escalate, they discover a creepy old book that appears to be the key to the mystery. Once they start reading it, it reveals more about the evil that seems to be present in the house.

One of the strengths of the movie is the pacing. Riffel does an excellent job of slowly building up tension throughout the film. The movie takes its time setting up the characters and the backstory, which makes the terror all the more effective when it finally hits. The actors do a solid job of portraying their characters, with Sarah Newhouse in particular doing a great job as the lone female of the group. Her character is presented as more than just a scream queen, with her inner fortitude and persistence serving her well as the terror in the house intensifies.

The plot has its roots in classic horror tropes like the haunted house, the college kids-in-peril, and the seance gone wrong plot. However, the filmmakers do an excellent job taking these tired plot devices and crafting something new and interesting out of them. The movie is also aided by some great special effects. The makeup and practical effects work in the movie is top-notch, with some truly impressive gore and practical creature effects present throughout.

While the movie isn't exceptionally scary, it has a great sense of atmosphere and dread that permeates throughout the entire film. There are plenty of jump scares, but the tension and suspense created by Riffel's direction is what really makes this movie work. The movie is also aided by some genuinely creepy moments, such as when the group discovers hidden tunnels and secret passageways in the house.

The soundtrack also deserves mention, as it's an essential component of the movie's suspense. The soundtrack is full of spooky, moody music that adds to the tension and unease of the movie. The sound design is also spot-on, with some great use of sound effects to ratchet up the fear factor.

In terms of flaws, the movie is a bit derivative of some of the horror films that came before it. However, it's still an effective horror movie that deserves its place in the annals of '80s slasher flicks. The acting isn't always the best, but the characters are well-drawn and distinct enough that it's easy to care about what happens to them.

Overall, Dead Dudes in the House is a fun, spooky horror movie that delivers on its promise of chills and thrills. While it's not the scariest horror movie out there, it's still an enjoyable watch that is sure to please fans of the genre. The combination of great special effects, atmosphere, and suspense make for a movie that is well worth watching. If you're a fan of classic horror, or just in the mood for a good scare, then Dead Dudes in the House is definitely worth a watch.

Dead Dudes in the House is a 1991 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.