A House in the Hills (1993)

Film Title: A House in the Hills
Released: October 1, 1993 (video premiere)
Directed by: Ken Wiederhorn
Written by: Miguel Tejada-Flores & Ken Wiederhorn
Starring: Michael Madsen, Helen Slater & Jeffrey Tambor

Plot: A housesitter gets taken hostage in the home of a wealthy couple who have gone away for the weekend.

IMDb: 5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: No score
My Score: 2.5/5

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

A House in the Hills wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. Not that its particularly good, mind you, it just isn't terrible, which is quite the compliment for a Ken Wiederhorn film. Its certainly his best since his freshman effort, Shock Waves. There are some story problems but also enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Helen Slater is a struggling actress who takes a weekend job as a housesitter for a wealthy couple for a little extra money. Michael Madsen gains entry by impersonating an exterminator then takes her hostage, awaiting the return of the owners. As the weekend progresses, the dynamic of the relationship changes several times, leading to them becoming romantically involved. Madsen and Slater have pretty good chemistry even if there is no reason for them to have sex other than the script says they should. Added into the mix is Jeffrey Tambor, a new neighbor and unhinged killer who attacks Slater, thinking that she is the adulterous lady of the house. Mistaken identity, double crosses and the fact that no one is free of guilt by the end all give a nice film noir feel to the movie, which certainly helped me get more enjoyment from it. Co-starring James Laurenson and Elyssa Davalos as the couple who own the house. Watch the trailer below or the full film here.