For the sake of convenience and of course to reach wider audiences, this modest made-for-TV horror flick got released as a second sequel to the hugely popular "Demons"-franchise. Apart from the fact that Lamberto Bava directed them all, there's not the slightest similarity between "the Ogre" and the previous two "Demons" films. "Demons" (as well as its dull sequel) is a gross and outrageous splatter flick whereas "The Ogre" merely is an atmospheric spook-tale with at least some content. The amount of bloodshed and hideous make-up effects in this film is very limited (also because it's a TV-production) and bad-boy Bava even attempts to insert some style & subtleness. The plot isn't very convincing and contains quite a few holes; still the premise is interesting enough to hold your attention for a good 90 minutes. We're introduced to a female horror writer who keeps on having the same nightmare ever since she was a little girl. 22 years later, she and her family are spending a vacation in an ancient Italian mansion and this setting strangely resembles the one in her dream
especially the ominous cellar. Events identical to the ones in her nightmare actually start to come true and it seems like there really is a monster living in the cellar. This creature is an "Ogre", and let me assure you he has nothing in common with Shrek! This film offers a little bit of suspense but it could have used a lot more action! There are too many overlong and pointless scenes in which the heroine just walks though the mansion but, even though the chilling music increases in volume, not a damn thing happens! Bah!! The acting is fairly and Virginia Bryant definitely is a fine looking lady (there's a bath-sequence to confirm this statement). As usual, the absolute worst aspect is something you can't even blame the movie for: awful dubbing. And, in my case, there even is a ridiculous subtitles-problem. How stupid is it when the name of the FEMALE lead character is constantly translated as "Charles", instead of "Cheryl"??
Review of La casa dell'orco
