Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

Pre-dating both "The Amityville Horror" and "The Shining", "Burnt Offerings" is an incredibly well-written haunted-house horror story, starring the talents of Oliver Reed, who would get fame from his star role in David Cronenberg's "The Brood" three years after this movie. The other star is Karen Black, in ironically one of the few horror roles I think she's done.
Now, while "Burnt Offerings" lasts over a good hour and forty minutes, it's a gripping, brilliant and entertaining movie for several reasons. First off, it draws you in with its settings. The bright-green, comfortable forests of the summer home in California really lures you in and hypnotizes you. Then, we have the characters. Remember what they taught you in horror movie lover's school? If the villain isn't the 300-pound giant with a six-foot chainsaw (think Texas Chainsaw Pt. 2), then the horror is probably internal.
OK, so I'm showing my semi-sarcastic side, but in all honesty, the second part of "Burnt Offerings"'s combo-punch is the characters. The mother, father and son all change and develop over and over, making for some interesting high/low points in the story, and a few really creepy scenes, too!
Finally, characters and setting aside, this movie was really well written. I felt like the climax and escalade to it were really long, but kept me in edge-of-my-bed suspense. All the twists and turns in the plot surprised, and sometimes spooked, me.
And how about the grand finale? Well, the ending makes a lot of sense and resolves the whole storyline, but honestly, left me feeling empty inside.
So while I could drop a star for the gloomy ending, instead, I'll let all five stars stay, as "Burnt Offerings" was a gripping, exciting, atmospheric and visually-hypnotic horror movie. It was, as I repeat, really well-written with some really chilling scenes. If you want a haunted-house story done right, or a thrilling movie that's sure to hold your attention, "Burnt Offerings" will make you its sacrifice! Thanks for the time, and peace.

I had read the book BURNT OFFERINGS by Robert Marasco and loved it. I was thrilled to see it made into a movie. This film is very underrated. It is expertly crafted classic horror. These days most horror films are filled with violence and gore galore. Not this film. The evil in this film is the house and is a character of the movie in itself.

We have a very happy family - mother, father, son with grandmother in tow - who rent a summer house. It's a run down huge mansion style house and amazingly cheap. They are asked to do upkeep and merely feed the owners mother who lives in the attic. The creepiness starts at the very beginning when the parents are being interviewed and the son is playing in the yard. The owner sees him fall and hurt himself through the window and smiles gleefully, saying nothing.

This film plays upon all your innermost fears. The creepy atmosphere never lets up - it ebbs and flows but is always there. The acting is impeccable. Karen Black is superb as the mother who becomes more a mother to the house than her own family. The house seems to change her and possess her. Oliver Reed is excellent as the husband who is trying to figure out what is happening. This film is rare for it is not a mere suspense film. It is a definite horror film but without the blood and gore. The mood that keeps butterflies in your stomach never lets up. The dreams that the father has about the funeral are absolutely terrifying here. Bottom line, we have a house that is not happy and discovering how it gets what it needs is chilling.

We also have the benefit of Bette Davis here who is always great. It is one of her later roles and she is fine with playing second fiddle to Karen Black. Karen rules her. As she become one with the house she becomes a mysterious presence to be reckoned with.

I highly recommend this film. Excellent acting and horror that will stay with you long after viewing it. Remember there is not blood and gore here but something that is actually worse. The is an undertone of creepiness and a growing terror that will stay under your skin. This shows what a great movie it is.