'Tales from the Crypt' Retro Recap: 'House of Horror'

​Written by Scott Edwards

Trying to prove yourself to someone may seem overrated at times, but it is a way of life. No matter the situation, your actions always speak louder than words and having to show that you are better than the opposition is one thing that will never go away. When trying to prove yourself however, you need to be smart in your actions, as you may be put into a situation where you may not want to be and forced to do something out to the ordinary that could lead to repercussions. Just remember that since actions speak volumes about who you can be, words will always be what defines you in the end.

Pledge leader Les Wilton is having the time of his life by tormenting pledges in his frat house for over six years. With his new batch, Henderson, Waters and Arling, he has a long road ahead to make them into fraternity men that the house deserves. While tormenting the young pledges, the doorbell rings with a new face that nobody has seen around campus, Mona; who is looking for a fraternity house to pair with hers.  Being on probation, the house leader Tex is a little bit weary of the offer and Les is willing to take it to the next level. While being invited to Mona’s house for a party, the boy frat is holding their final initiation night and although the girls cannot be involved, they can join the party.

Heading to the Cougher house, the pledges are blindfolded and forced to walk the final stint while reciting the history of the house. As it has gotten its name from an old man that never stopped coughing, the scary part of the history is that his family was cut to pieces by an axe. As the boys arrive at their ‘haunted’ location, they are given their directions on what to do when entering the house. Needing to make their way to the second floor and then the attic seems like an easy task, but Les and his buddy Sparks have the house wired up with gags all over the place. While Henderson is the first to enter the house, the scares are not too great for him, but he does not indicate that he has made it to the attic. 

While watching and listening outside, Les is happy with the overall effects, but the chainsaw sound effect is not doing it for him and he demands that Sparks leave it off of the playlist. Waters enters the house next and seeing some of tricks that are being presented finds an arm lying in the hallway and throws it down at Les. As Arling is watching the house, he knows that there is someone else in there and he matches the description of the old cougher, but has to prove to himself and everyone else that he is not afraid, especially Mona who is encouraging him from the sidelines. Being attacked by who he thinks is the Cougher, the rest of the frat runs in to see what is happening to him. Coming clean about the house’s actual history, Les is forced to find the other pledges, but with all of the gags being turned off, he quickly finds that there is someone else in the house that is looking to get even with him.

I am a firm believer that haunted houses should never get retrofitted with anything to enhance the experience. I am sure that Les would not hesitate to agree with me on that after he finds what is waiting for him in the attic. It is great watching as the new pledges try to band together to take Les down and Les after he is forced to go into the unknown…alone. Being good at his job, he has created many enemies and is afraid that some of them might be looking to take him out.  Starring Kevin Dillon as Les, Michael DeLuise as Sparks, Brian Krause as Tex, Courtney Gains as a Frat Boy, Keith Coogan as Waters, Jason London as Henderson, Wil Wheaton as Arling and Meredith Salenger as Mona. A great little haunted house story that goes to prove that you never know who might be out to get you. Until next time, Stay Scared.

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