House IV

{{Short description|1992 direct-to-video comedy horror film by Lewis Abernathy}}

{{Infobox film

| name = House IV

| alt =

| image = House4cover.jpg

| caption = Promotional poster

| director = Lewis Abernathy

| producer = {{plainlist|

Sean S. Cunningham
Debbie Hayn-Cass

}}

| screenplay = {{plainlist|

Geof Miller
Deirdre Higgins

}}

| story = {{plainlist|

Geof Miller
Deirdre Higgins
Jim Wynorski
R.J. Robertson

}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

Terri Treas
William Katt
Scott Burkholder
Denny Dillon
Melissa Clayton
Dabbs Greer
Ned Romero
Ned Bellamy

}}

| cinematography = James Mathers

| editing = Seth Gaven

| music = Harry Manfredini

| studio = {{plainlist|

}}

| distributor = {{plainlist|

}}

| released = {{Film date|1992|01|29}}

| runtime = 94 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $1,600,000 (estimated){{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

}}

House IV is a 1992 direct-to-video comedy horror film directed by Lewis Abernathy, from a script co-written by Geoff Miller and Deidre Higgins. Produced by Sean S. Cunningham and Debbie Hayn-Cass, it serves as the fourth and final installment in the House film series. Starring Terri Treas, Melissa Clayton, and Scott Burkholder, the film also featured William Katt reprising his role as Roger Cobb from the first movie. While it has connections to the original, it is a mostly-standalone sequel, with a plot centered around another home that encounters a haunting.

Synopsis

Roger Cobb (William Katt) is now married to Kelly (Terri Treas), and has a daughter, Laurel (Melissa Clayton). He often visits the old Cobb family house after his father's death. It is located on a deserted and desolate shoreline. Roger's cynical step-brother Burke (Scott Burkholder) has been pestering him to sell the family mansion, edging Roger to break his oath with their father.

Roger is soon killed in a bad car accident that leaves Laurel requiring a wheelchair, leaving the house over to Kelly. Burke is still unable to convince Kelly to sell the house. Unknown to Kelly, Burke wants to sell the house so that a seedy Mafia group can use the property to dump illegal waste. The head of the Mafia has dwarfism and suffers intense phlegm, but proves to be very powerful and influential.

Various supernatural events start occurring in the house, and after Kelly consults with a Native American spiritual guide, she learns that it is the spirits of Roger and some Native Americans, trying to warn Kelly about the danger she is in.

Cast

Terri Treas as Kelly Cobb
Scott Burkholder as Burke
Denny Dillon as Verna Klump
Melissa Clayton as Laurel Cobb
Dabbs Greer as Dad
Ned Romero as Ezara
Ned Bellamy as Lee
John Santucci as Charles
Mark Gash as Mr. Gross
Paul Keith as Plumber
William Katt as Roger Cobb

Reception

Andrew Pollard at Starburst called it a "a fitting way to bring the House franchise to a conclusion".{{Cite web|url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/house-iv-possession|title = House Iv: The Possession}} AllMovie wrote, "this installment marks a slightly more effective return to the horror comedy formula that made the original a surprise hit".{{cite web |url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/house-iv-home-deadly-home-v23326 |title=House IV: Home Deadly Home (1991) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie |last=Binion |first=Cavett |work=AllMovie |accessdate=August 4, 2012}}