David Thompson (James Haughton) is the new Reverand at a small town church in
California. Under pressure from the local council to do something about the derilict old house on Church property, he decides to renovate it,
hoping to rent it out and bring in some additional cash to their coffers.
Of course, the crazy old lady that lives nearby (who obviously knows more than she's letting on), warns them against this, claiming that many families have lived there before, and tragedy has befallen all of them. But they decide to ignore her (never a wise move in a horror film), and despite one of the workmen disappearing, and one of the older clergymen from the church (played by Stacy Keach Sr) getting killed in a hilariously bloody scene involving a circular saw, they get the place fixed up and a family, who are friends of the church, move in soon after.
Of course, no sooner do they settle in, ghostly goings on quickly ensue. As more people go missing and other bodies turn up horribly mangled. The police suspect the mute son of the local crazy lady, but could it be that supernatural forces are at work and could they be connected to the old legend of a witch being drowned in the nearby pond in the 1600s (I guess we all know the answer to that one)?
Owing more than a passing nod to "The Amityville Horror" (1979), and working in some elements of "Friday the 13th" (1980), I'd say this is a half decent supernatural-slasher film, with some nice gory killings and is definitely worth a watch. There are a number of plot holes that didn't really make sense, but aside from that I'd say it's worth a punt, if you like early 80s horrors.
