Hider in the House (1989) - September 17, 2007

[Splatterpunk]

Though completed in 1989, Matthew Patrick’s HIDER IN THE HOUSE did not receive a theatrical release in the US, purportedly due to distributor Vestron Pictures experiencing some financial difficulties. It did play on the festival circuit and enjoyed a very brief release in Europe. It was eventually released on home video in 1991. To this day, its only release on disc is the 2007 region 2 DVD from the UK. Star Gary Busey’s notorious motorcycle accident that left him brain damaged occurred five days after filming was completed.

Busey gets top billing as the mentally unstable Tom Sykes. A brief title sequence montage conveys Tom’s sad childhood. See, his parents abused him horribly, beating him mercilessly and putting out cigarettes on his arms. As a teen, Tom finally snapped and burned down the family home while his parents were trapped inside, killing them. After spending a number of years in a psychiatric institution, Tom is released at age 33. After a confrontation with a sleazy skid row hotel manager, we understand that Tom’s rage is not totally under control. Fantasizing about leading an idyllic normal life, Tom stumbles upon a house in the final stages of construction in an upper class neighborhood. He sneaks into the expansive home at night and builds a hidden enclosure in the attic. It’s not long before a family moves in while Tom remains concealed in his hovel. Mimi Rogers gets second billing as matriarch Julie Dwyer. Michael McKean plays her businessman husband, Phil. Though he’s a dutiful father, the workaholic Phil is carrying on an affair. Tom discovers this and manufactures an event that leads to Julie discovering Phil’s infidelity. With Phil out of the picture, Tom schemes to insert himself into Julie and her kids’ lives, pretending to be a helpful neighbor. However, to maintain the fragile façade, Tom is forced to resort to murder. Ex Bond baddie and father to noted weirdo, Crispin, Bruce Glover plays a creepy neighbor. Busey’s son Jake and legendary singer/songwriter Carole King provide voice work in the film’s prolog.

Playing a mentally deranged, barely kept together oddball is, of course, right within Busey’s wheelhouse and he’s a joy to watch here. It’s a broad performance, for sure, but he gifts the piece much of its fun. Rogers is solid, if unremarkable. McKean does his best with a character that’s maybe a little underwritten. Glover is great in limited action as a slime ball. The child actors are mostly fine, but Patrick lets Kurt Christopher Kinder go over the top in a few emotional scenes. I’m not complaining, though, as they elicited some laughs. There are more than a few moments of unintentional hilarity, as Lem Dobbs’ script stretches the limits of credulity. Dobbs would go on to provide solid work as the writer of DARK CITY and THE LIMEY, but this is not his finest hour. The resolution to the Dwyer’s marital troubles is particularly ludicrous. Still, Patrick is able to conjure some atmosphere out of the piece and combined with Busey’s adeptness at playing mentally deteriorating psychos, there’s plenty to like here.

Sets are nicely done, with the Dwyer house providing believable domesticity. Though they’re only brief detours, I really enjoyed the mental hospital and scuzzy hotel scenes. Jeffrey Jur’s photography is more than adequate, providing clear storytelling. There are a few brief fight scenes and I really liked the sturdy stunt work. Christopher Young, perhaps best known for his work on HELLRAISER, delivers a nicely moody and low-key score.

Look, Matthew Patrick’s HIDER IN THE HOUSE will never be mistaken for must see cinema. However, for 108 minutes, it provides a few thrills, some great old school Gary Busey action, and some charming unintended comedy. I wasn’t expecting much and I actually had a lot of fun. Recommended for fans of the original THE STEPFATHER, FATAL ATTRACTION, and THE RESIDENT.

[clamcakes]

That's a good write-up. Just watched this one for the first time, although I do remember catching snippets of it on tv back in the day. Gotta love that vhs box art. Just the sheer amount of absurdity in this film makes it all worth it.