House II: The Second Story

House II: The Second Story is a quirky 1987 horror-comedy directed by Ethan Wiley, who wrote the screenplay for the first House movie. It is a standalone sequel and does not follow the plotline of the first movie but retains the atmospheric blend of horror and humor that distinguished the original film.

The film stars Arye Gross as Jesse, a young man who inherits a mansion from birth parents he never knew. Raised by adoptive parents, Jesse's curiosity about his origins leads him and his friend Charlie, portrayed by Jonathan Stark, to move into the peculiar mansion that appears to be more than it seems. Royal Dano adds to the eccentric and intriguing cast as Gramps, a unique ally they meet during their adventures in the mansion.

Just like the first House movie, House II: The Second Story revives the haunted house trope but veers away from traditional predictability. This house, imbued with ancestral secrets and bizarre phenomena, is a mystical maze where past, present, and alternate realities intersect. Fascinated but eerie, Jesse begins to investigate and unravels the peculiar history of his family—a story entwined with unique artifacts and unusual characters.

On their journey into the house’s history, Jesse and Charlie unearth an old photograph of Jesse's great-great-grandfather, a notorious cowboy, holding a crystal skull with magical properties. They decide to dig up their ancestor, surprisingly still alive with a youthful spirit in his decayed form. Royal Dano's character, Gramps, is revealed to be Jesse's great-great-grandfather, who then moves into the mansion with the young pair, offering guidance and comic relief.

As they step deeper into the unknown, the movie steadily morphs from being just a haunted house film into an eccentric canvas of genres with elements of horror, comedy, and adventure, intertwined with time travel and the unexpected. The film introduces a collection of unusual characters including a baby pterodactyl, a friendly caterpillar-dog hybrid, and various spectral figures from different eras, sweeping the protagonists into surreal and thrilling escapades and offering the audience an imaginative romp outside the boundaries of traditional horror.

Jonathan Stark brings an excellent portrayal of Charlie, Jesse’s friend and comic sidekick, whose reactions to the house's odd happenings further infuse comedic levity into the film's eerie atmosphere. The chemistry between Arye Gross and Jonathan Stark adds to the unconventional and pleasing storyline, making the audience root for them as they venture through bizarre incidents, face terrifying antagonists, and unearth hidden secrets, all while attempting to manage their own friendship and personal lives.

Moreover, House II: The Second Story showcases a unique blend of different epochs within one setting. The house seems to casually defy the laws of time and space, bringing prehistoric, ancient, and wild west eras under its haunted roof. The exceptionally intriguing production design of the mansion ensures that the backdrop is no less of a character in the movie than the actors themselves.

The movie maintains a well-balanced tone, effortlessly flowing between adventure, horror, and comedy without overdoing any of them. However, the heart of the film lies in its exploration of timeless themes such as friendship, family secrets, and metaphysical queries, all wrapped in a distinctively 80s vibe.

Despite its horror badge, House II: The Second Story is not intended as a scare-your-pants-off kind of film. Yet it sustains interest through its eccentricities, colorful characters, well-paced creative storyline, and solid performances, especially by Arye Gross, Jonathan Stark, and Royal Dano. Ethan Wiley’s direction combined with Fred Dekker’s script delightfully deconstructs the horror genre by infusing humor and inviting audiences into a charmingly strange world.

Whether you're a fan of the genre or just looking for a fun and unexpected movie experience, House II: The Second Story is a movie that secures a special place with its unique take on the haunted house concept, breaking conventions with a quirky blend of horror and comedy.