HOUSE (1977)

With special guest Dawn Luebbe

Intro, Debate Society, To Sir With Love (spoiler-free): 00:00-27:40
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 27:41-58:48
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 58:49-1:15:41

Director Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
Screenplay Chiho Katsura, based on a story by Chigumi Ôbayashi
Featuring Kimiko Ikegami, Miki Jinbo, Asei Kobayashi, Ai Matsubara, Yôko Minamida, Masayo Miyako, Kumiko Ôba, Kiyohiko Ozaki, Saho Sasazawa, Mieko Satô, Eriko Tanaka

Released July 30, 1977 (Japan); July 31, 2009 (US)

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

With summer vacation looming, local teen Gorgeous is looking forward to spending time out of town with her dad, a famous movie score composer.  Her crew, which includes best friend Fantasy, has their own excursion planned to a training camp and inn owned by their friend, Mr. Togo.  But when Gorgeous’ dad returns from Italy with a new bride, surprising Gorgeous, and not in a good way, she resolves to spend vacation with her aunt, a woman she hasn’t seen for more than ten years.  And when her friends’ trip with Mr. Togo falls through, Gorgeous invites her friends to come with her.  There’s Fantasy, the daydreamer; Sweet, who’s kind and gentle; Mac, who eats all the time; Prof, who wears glasses and reads; Melody, who loves music; and Kung Fu, who’s good at kung fu.  All soon find themselves in the presence of Gorgeous’ Auntie, a wheelchair-bound senior whose house seems nice, quaint… strange.  Little do the girls know, Auntie, her cat Blanche, and the house itself, have other plans in store.

SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO

Dawn Luebbe is known for her debut feature, Greener Grass, which she wrote and directed with Jocelyn DeBoer. Variety deemed the film, “The most pleasant surprise of this year’s Sundance” following its 2019 world premiere. Their screenplay was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. It was theatrically distributed by IFC and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime and AMC. Dawn and Jocelyn have directed two episodes of TruTV’s “Adam Ruins Everything,” have made four short films that have appeared in over 100 film festivals across the globe, and music videos for artists such as Allison Ponthier. Most recently Dawn directed a documentary short called Dress A Cow which premiered at the SXSW film festival. She has directed dozens of commercials in the US, Mexico, and Europe for brands such as GEICO, Coca-Cola, Wayfair, and Google, as well as environmental campaigns for the organization "Science Moms" and the fossil-free hydrogen company, Vattenfall. Recess snack: Ho-hos.

EPISODE NOTES

To find out where Greener Grass, directed by Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe, is streaming, click here.

Music from House by Asei Kobayashi and Mickie Yoshino.

Why did Professor Louryk choose this film? Find out in our Blog.

TRAILER

SUPERLATIVES

The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene/Moment
Dawn: Mac’s head rises from the well and bites Fantasy on the butt
Eric: The death of Sweet inside the grandfather clock
Bradford: Auntie’s floating eyeball

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
Dawn: Gorgeous’ father’s fiancee
Eric: Kung Fu
Bradford: Mr. Togo

The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
Dawn: Blanche
Eric: Mr. Togo
Bradford: The watermelon farmer

The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
Dawn: The piano devours Melody
Eric: The piano devours Melody
Bradford: The piano devours Melody

The Beatrice Dalle Award for Character Who Could (or Should) Have Been Played by Beatrice Dalle
Dawn: Gorgeous’ father’s fiancee, with her windswept hair
Eric: The watermelon farmer
Bradford: Blanche

FINAL LETTER GRADE

Dawn: A+
Eric: Passing Grade
Bradford: A