Death Screams

1982

1h 28m

IMDb RATING

4.4/10

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6 Videos

13 Images

Horror

Late one night, a young couple are brutally murdered at a make-out spot by an unseen assailant, their bodies tossed into the nearby river. As the lifeless lovers drift slowly downstream, the residents of the town excitedly prepare themselves for their annual carnival, unaware that a machete-wielding maniac with a twisted grudge is lurking in their midst. When a group of teen revellers plan a late-night after party down in the local cemetery, they unwittingly set the stage for a bloodbath.

Directors

David Nelson

Writers

Paul C. Elliott(screenplay by)

Stars

Susan Kiger

Martin Tucker

William T. Hicks

See production, box office & company info

Videos6

Photos13

Top cast

Lily Carpenter

Coach Neil Marshall

Sheriff Avery

Ramona

Sandy

Kathy (as Andria Savio)

Helene Tryon

Edna Sharpe

Hanns Manship

Casey

Larry Sprinkle

Ted

Directors

David Nelson

Writers

Paul C. Elliott(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews2

Review

Featured review

6/10

**_Obscure slasher set in the heart of the South_** Several 20-somethings and 30-somethings try to enjoy life in a North Carolina town, going to a carnival, partying at a river and hanging out at a creepy graveyard, but their festivities are interrupted by a killer with a machete. "Death Screams" (1982), aka “House of Death,” is a slasher that includes bits from “Friday the 13th” (1980), “The Funhouse” (1981) and “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things” (1972). While it’s not as good as the first two, it’s at least on par with “Children” and superior in some ways. I like the warmth and likability of the characters. There’s a sense of Southern hospitality similar to “Squirm” (1976). The flick scores well on the female front with Susan Kiger winsome as protagonist Lily and Jennifer Chase stunning as Ramona; the latter has a full head of thick brunette hair reminiscent of Lynda Carter, albeit shorter. Tall blonde Jody Kay is notable in the carnival scenes as Sandy. Monica Boston, who plays Sheila, decided that acting wasn’t for her and went on to become Miss North Carolina, as well as a finalist in the Miss USA pageant. There’s some ambiguity concerning the killer’s motivations but, if you pay attention, you can put the pieces together. Explanatory scenes were probably cut. While relatively unknown, “Death Screams” is worth checking out for aficionados of the genre. The first two acts are rather mundane, but things liven up in the last act; so stick around. The movie runs 1 hour, 27 minutes, and was shot in Shelby in southwestern North Carolina, as well as Lake Lure, which is a 45-minute drive to the northwest on the way to Ashville. GRADE: B-

Wuchak03 Nov, 2023