Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

The Shunned House (2003) Directed by Ivan Zuccon, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft.    

The only word I know in French is "merde"!-Rita  

Sadly, that is my one word French Language review of this film.  There are many things to like about the film. First, it is ambitious.  It attempts to weave together three of Lovecraft's stories, The Shunned House, The Music of Eric Zann, and Dreams in the Witch House.  And the weave job is well done, by a director with definite ideas, and the chops to pursue them. Particularly, the shifts between eras are handled adroitly.  Second, the actors, Italians speaking English, as near as I can tell, are at worst adequate, and one or two rise to the level of real talent.  Third, the scenery and set, an ancient villa in the Italian country side, are quite lovely.   The three tales are woven together in three time frames.  Alex and Rita are modern day, and are exploring the house that frightened Alex as a child, with the eye towards writing a book.  The villa has been the scene of many tragic deaths, suicides, and murders, and has gained an evil reputation.  As they explore and research, they begin to see things, Rita more clearly and more often than Alex.  

The other two stories are handled as flashbacks to previous history in the house.  Dreams in the Witch House is detailed in the saga of Luigi, who sleep walks.  He is frequently found in the broom cupboard, the bathroom, or some other odd nook of the house.  He is liked by Nora, one of the housekeepers, until he starts showing up from his nocturnal perambulations covered in blood.   The second major theme is Marco Del Vespro and his fascination with one of the other tenants, a mute woman named Carlotta Zann.  She is a violinist, who spends hours every night playing wild, strange music with an almost desperate intensity.  The serenades help Marco immeasurably in his writing, but as he gets to know Carlotta, he realizes she plays not out of passion, but out of terror.  This story is of course adapted from The Music of Eric Zann.  

Of course, everyone meets a rather grisly end, and for low budget movie making, some of the special effects are really quite good.   Now, with all the praise I have heaped on this production, why then is the word I would use to describe it "Merde?"   There are a multitude of reasons; one, the director tries very hard to build a mood, like Lovecraft did.  But the extensive use of candlelight gives it a mood more suited to a period romance than abject horror.  Further, he tries very hard to build the mood; it seems forced and plastic.  And he only has a few tricks in his repertoire, but he uses them over, and over, and over.   And while the segues between times are well handled, the scenes within each time period are frequently jumpy and choppy.  Add in the fact you may suddenly find yourself in another story without warning, it makes for a muddled and confusing storyline. 

But the unforgivable sin?  It isn't scary.  Oh, it has the elements.  Grisly death.  Dripping blood, uneasy ghosts, self inflicted wounds, gore.  But they don't add up to that delicious shiver up the spine, more of a disquiet in the stomach.   Take my advice.  Shun this movie.  

The Lodgers Ledger:  

Giuseppe Lorusso  ...  Alex   Federica Quaglieri  ...  Rita   Emanuele Cerman  ...  Luigi Montella   Silvia Ferreri  ...  Nora / Estelle Roulet   Michael Segal  ...  Marco Del Vespro   Cristiana Vaccaro  ...  Carlotta Zann   Nicolò Viganelli  ...  Young Alex   Nicoletta Verri  ...  Innkeeper - The 40's   Claudio Viganelli  ...  Mr. Viganelli - Innkeeper, The 20's 

The Master of the Macabre: H. P. Lovecraft

The Whisperer In Darkness
The Dark Worlds of H.P. Lovecraft (A Kindle Audible Book)
The Shunned House
The Last Lovecraft: Relic of C'Thulhu
Pickman's Muse
C'thulhu (2000, the bad one.)
Colour from the Dark
Beyond the Wall of Sleep
Dark Adventure Radio Theatre: The Dunwich Horror.
Dark Adventure Radio Theatre: The Shadow Over Innsmouth
Dark Adventure Radio Theatre: At the Mountains of Madness
H.P. Lovecraft Collection III: Out of Mind
H.P. Lovecraft Collection I: Cool Air
Dagon
Die Monster Die!
The Dunwich Horror
From Beyond
C'thulhu
H.P. Lovecraft's Haunt of Horror
The Call of C'Thulhu  (A Masterpiece!)
Dreams in the Witch House

Inspired by the Master's Hand:

The Courtyard by Alan Moore
Hellboy
The Mist
In the Mouth of Madness
Cloverfield

Recommended: No

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age