The House That Screamed (1969)

- La residencia
A true masterpiece, 4 January 2009

I'm kicking myself – Why in the world did I wait so long to watch this movie? The House That Screamed (or La Residencia which I think I prefer) is a film right up my alley. The movie tells the story of a boarding school owned by Mme. Fourneau. She runs the place with an iron fist. A new student, Theresa, has had enough of the rules and the humiliation and desires to escape. But does anyone really escape from this place? Not if Mme. Foureneau can help it. And not if an unknown killer with a penchant for slashing young girls' necks gets hold of you.

I admit that I went in expecting typical Euro-trash, but instead, I was treated to one of the best Gothic horror films that I've ever seen. La Residencia plays a bit like a cross between the early giallo Naked You Die and Dario Argento's masterpiece Suspiria with a touch of a WIP thrown in for good measure. The whole movie has a sense of dread about it that I found appealing. And I love a movie with atmosphere and, fortunately, La Residencia's got it to burn. The large, rambling, darkly lit school with its many secret rooms and passageways; Waldo da los Rios' mood-enhancing score; and the magnificently creepy lighting and cinematography all add to atmosphere that all but beats you over the head with its effectiveness. Of course a major factor in the film's success is the masterful direction of Narciso Ibáñez Serrador. He's more than capable of handling the more suspenseful moments and wringing every last drop of tension out of even seemingly mundane scenes. And switching the film's focus from Theresa to Irene about 2/3 of the way through the film is genius. Well done! The acting is also wonderful. I expected a good performance from Christina Galbo and she didn't disappoint. Lilli Palmer is new to me, but her Mme. Fourneau is one of those characters I'll never forget. But most impressive is the job turned in by Mary Maude as Irene. The fact that she's able to transform her character from the loathsome tormentor of Galbo's Theresa to the film's heroine in the final act is nothing short of a miracle. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention the film's final twist. I won't give anything away, but I will say that it's amazingly well handled. Bravo!

In the end, La Residencia is a real undiscovered gem that should have a wider audience even among Euro-horror fans. It will most likely go down as one of the best "new" movies I see in 2009. Something else it deserves is a good, legitimate R1 release. It certainly deserves better than the Elvira treatment. Nothing against Elvira – I loved her show and miss seeing a lot of the cheesy horror she brought the screen. La Residencia, however, doesn't fit that description.

9/10