The House in the Woods (1957)
A couple decide enough's enough when their neighbours in the appartment oposite seem to hold a perpetual party so they decide to look for somewhere more secluded. By chance they find a lovely cottage out in the wilds owned by a widowed artist who wishes to sell the place. Upon meeting the artist the three get on so well he invites them to stay whilst the sale goes through telling them he'll be gone in a few days anyway. Shortly after moving in the couple discover all is not quite as it seems.
More a melodrama than out and out thriller, The House in the Woods is a charming little B-picture that's short and rather sweet. Running at a mere 59 minutes, the film, clearly designed as an opener for a main picture when it hit cinemas has potential to be a decent episode of 70's ITV series Thriller. It's principal cast of Michael Gough, Patricia Roc and Ronald Howard as the artist, do well with a script that's short on action but remains quite gripping once Gough and Roc decide Howard is up to no good.
As for the house of the title. Well it's not really what you might think. Instead of a dark brooding mansion of madness we have a lovely quaint English cottage, and the woods? Well there are some and they hide a macabre secret but the film isn't the Gothic extravaganza you might be hoping for.
All in all The House in the Woods is an edgy, slightly sinister film and i'm pleased to have such an obscurity in my collection of British films.
The Network dvd has print damage on occasions despite it being a new master. The print itself is fine but the cigarette burns do seem quite extreme and the sound is also poor at times. However Network do warn you of these problems on all the publicity for the film.
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