House II: The Second Story
Encyclopedia
House II: The Second Story is the 1987 sequel to the 1986 film, House. While it is a sequel, this film ignores the storyline and characters from the first film, in favor of a new supernatural comedy
. Also, the film's tone was much lighter than the original film and the other following sequels. It is also the only House movie to receive a PG-13 rating.
In Italy, the film is known as La Casa 6, making it an unofficial sequel to The Evil Dead
.
) and his girlfriend Kate (Lar Park Lincoln
), move into an old mansion that has been in Jesse's family for generations. They are soon joined by Jesse's goofy friend Charlie (Jonathan Stark
), who brought along his diva girlfriend Lana (Amy Yasbeck
), in the hopes of being discovered by Kate, who works for a record company. Jesse has returned to this old family mansion after his parents were murdered when he was a baby, and he quickly locates a mysterious skull.
Jesse and Charlie decide to dig up Jesse's great-great-grandfather (Royal Dano
), who is a friendly cowboy zombie that likes to party and talk about how he found the skull with his partner, Slim. Its promise of eternal life and time travel prompted the two cowboys to become eternal villains, with Slim responsible for the death of Jesse's parents. Jesse, Gramps and Charlie must try to keep Slim from getting hold of the skull, while dealing with the fact that the skull has transformed the mansion so that each of its rooms act as a hidden doorway across space and time. While battling various time-traveling thugs that want the skull, including Slim, the trio pick up a baby pterodactyl, a caterpillar-dog, and an ancient Mexican woman about to be sacrificed.
Eventually, Jesse must face off with Slim in the Wild West, and while he is victorious, Gramps has been mortally wounded and passes away with a final warning about the power of the skull. The film ends with the suggestion that the heroes have decided to use the skull to time travel.
.
released a comic book
adaptation of House II. It was written by Ralph Macchio
, with artwork by Alan Kupperberg
(pencils) and Kupperberg, Hilary Barta
, Danny Bulanadi, Jose Marzan Jr.
, and Pat Redding (inks). Its cover price was $2.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
. Also, the film's tone was much lighter than the original film and the other following sequels. It is also the only House movie to receive a PG-13 rating.
In Italy, the film is known as La Casa 6, making it an unofficial sequel to The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead is a 1981 horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The film is a story of five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area...
.
Plot
Young urban professionals Jesse (Arye GrossArye Gross
-Biography:Gross was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Sheri and Joseph Gross, who was an aerospace engineer and later worked in business....
) and his girlfriend Kate (Lar Park Lincoln
Lar Park Lincoln
Lar Park Lincoln is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the 1987 film House II: The Second Story as Kate, and in the 1988 horror film Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood as Tina Shepard.-Biography:...
), move into an old mansion that has been in Jesse's family for generations. They are soon joined by Jesse's goofy friend Charlie (Jonathan Stark
Jonathan Stark (actor)
Gordon Johnston “Jonathan” Stark is an American television producer, screenwriter, and actor. He created - along with his writing partner, Tracy Newman - the sitcom According to Jim and won an Emmy for his co-writing on "The Puppy Episode" in which Ellen DeGeneres's character Ellen Morgan came out...
), who brought along his diva girlfriend Lana (Amy Yasbeck
Amy Yasbeck
Amy Marie Yasbeck is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her role as Casey Chapel Davenport on the sitcom Wings from 1994-1997.-Early life:...
), in the hopes of being discovered by Kate, who works for a record company. Jesse has returned to this old family mansion after his parents were murdered when he was a baby, and he quickly locates a mysterious skull.
Jesse and Charlie decide to dig up Jesse's great-great-grandfather (Royal Dano
Royal Dano
Royal Edward Dano was an American film and television character actor.-Early life:Dano was born in New York City to Mary Josephine , an Irish immigrant, and Caleb Edward Dano, a printer for newspapers. He reportedly left home at the age of twelve and at various intervals, lived in Florida, Texas...
), who is a friendly cowboy zombie that likes to party and talk about how he found the skull with his partner, Slim. Its promise of eternal life and time travel prompted the two cowboys to become eternal villains, with Slim responsible for the death of Jesse's parents. Jesse, Gramps and Charlie must try to keep Slim from getting hold of the skull, while dealing with the fact that the skull has transformed the mansion so that each of its rooms act as a hidden doorway across space and time. While battling various time-traveling thugs that want the skull, including Slim, the trio pick up a baby pterodactyl, a caterpillar-dog, and an ancient Mexican woman about to be sacrificed.
Eventually, Jesse must face off with Slim in the Wild West, and while he is victorious, Gramps has been mortally wounded and passes away with a final warning about the power of the skull. The film ends with the suggestion that the heroes have decided to use the skull to time travel.
Cast
- Arye GrossArye Gross-Biography:Gross was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Sheri and Joseph Gross, who was an aerospace engineer and later worked in business....
as Jesse - Jonathan StarkJonathan Stark (actor)Gordon Johnston “Jonathan” Stark is an American television producer, screenwriter, and actor. He created - along with his writing partner, Tracy Newman - the sitcom According to Jim and won an Emmy for his co-writing on "The Puppy Episode" in which Ellen DeGeneres's character Ellen Morgan came out...
as Charlie - Royal DanoRoyal DanoRoyal Edward Dano was an American film and television character actor.-Early life:Dano was born in New York City to Mary Josephine , an Irish immigrant, and Caleb Edward Dano, a printer for newspapers. He reportedly left home at the age of twelve and at various intervals, lived in Florida, Texas...
as Gramps - Bill MaherBill MaherWilliam "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
as John - John RatzenbergerJohn RatzenbergerJohn Deszo Ratzenberger is an American actor, voice actor, and entrepreneur. He is best known for his role as Cliff Clavin in Cheers.-Early life:...
as Bill - Lar Park LincolnLar Park LincolnLar Park Lincoln is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the 1987 film House II: The Second Story as Kate, and in the 1988 horror film Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood as Tina Shepard.-Biography:...
as Kate - Amy YasbeckAmy YasbeckAmy Marie Yasbeck is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her role as Casey Chapel Davenport on the sitcom Wings from 1994-1997.-Early life:...
as Lana - Dwier BrownDwier BrownDwier Brown , is an American film and television actor. He is appeared in a few horror films, of which House and The Guardian realised by The Exorcists director William Friedkin, and appeared for several T.V., films and series.- Films and TV :* Locked Down : ...
as Clarence - Gregory WalcottGregory WalcottGregory Walcott is an American television and film actor. He is perhaps best known for having appeared in the 1959 Ed Wood film, the cult classic Plan 9 from Outer Space.-Early life and career:...
as Sheriff - Jayne ModeanJayne ModeanJayne Modean is an American model and actress who got her break as a fashion model in the late 1970s, appearing on three Seventeen covers in 1977. She was the featured cover model on the February 1981 Inside Sports annual swimsuit issue...
as Rochelle - Lenora May as Judith
Reception
House II: The Second Story received almost universally negative reviews; it currently holds a 0% rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Comic adaptation
In October 1987, Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
released a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
adaptation of House II. It was written by Ralph Macchio
Ralph Macchio (comics)
Ralph Macchio is an American comic book editor and writer, who has held many positions at Marvel Comics, including executive editor. Macchio is commonly associated with Daredevil, the Spider-Man line of comics and the popular Ultimate Marvel line...
, with artwork by Alan Kupperberg
Alan Kupperberg
Alan Kupperberg is an American comic artist known for working in both comic books and newspaper strips.-Career:Kupperberg began writing and drawing for Marvel Comics in 1974, mostly doing fill-ins and one-shots...
(pencils) and Kupperberg, Hilary Barta
Hilary Barta
Hilary Barta is an American comic book writer and artist.-Biography:Barta was born on June 17, 1957. His first comics work came in June 1982, when he helped legendary Marvel inkers Al Milgrom, Joe Sinnott and Sal Trapani provide inks for the pencils of Don Perlin on The Defenders #108...
, Danny Bulanadi, Jose Marzan Jr.
Jose Marzan Jr.
José Marzán, Jr. is an American comic book writer and artist. Over his career he has worked on many titles including Action Comics, Final Night, Marvel Comics Presents, Nightwing and Y: The Last Man....
, and Pat Redding (inks). Its cover price was $2.