The Hearse (1980)

The Hearse is an example of a horror movie subgenre: the demon-possessed vehicle. When Jane Hardy inherits her late aunt's home, she faces just such a vehicle in the form of a vintage hearse. Tormented by the car and harassed by mysterious townsfolk, Jane has to unlock her aunt's hidden secrets or perish. Part of the suspense comes from wondering if Jane is being tormented by the supernatural, her fragile emotional state, or someone just trying to scare Jane off her property.

Possessed-car suspensers can be surprisingly effective and frightening. Unfortunately, this movie is a fairly low-budget effort, offering up many standard suspense techniques that were pretty shopworn even in 1980. The end result is a film that is predictable, and has few if any real chills. Notable only as one of Joseph Cotten's last films. --Mark Savary Amazon.com

Entertaining suspense movie

Atmosphere & cast are very good, as is the plot of a widow living alone in a house in the country that is haunted. Creepy & fun, with the emphasis on mystery & suspense, not blood & gore. One of the best of the genre. Highly recommended. April 29, 2008

Little Gore, Low Budget, Still Spooky! ?

The Film: The Hearse
Year made: 1980

I bought this film a few weeks back because I collect horror films and I had not seen this what I now consider to be a "gem" of a film in horror. So picture this, it's about 3AM in the morning and it's raining outside my window. What better time then to pop in a movie like The Hearse. Yes I'm a nightowl and yes I love horror films. MAHAHAHAH :)

The Package: 2 stars. There is nothing extra in regards to liner notes on the film. A basic cardboard holder that opens up to hold one plain looking disc. I love to see something a bit more special to each film that I can feast my eyes on, but the graphics still look cool with the hearse on the cover even though it's very basic.

Spook Meter: 3 Stars. As a seasoned horror film buff it takes a lot to spook me however this film is very well done and in good taste with a lot of spook as well. The camera angles, lighting, and shadows really give it a creepy feel to the overall movie and on a rainy night ones imagination can run wild for sure. :) You will get a bit of a "chill" from this film and walk away at the end of it happy and wishing it did not end. Creapy sounds like the piano that plays throughout the film will raise the hairs on your neck a few times for sure.

Gore/Violence Meter: 1 Star This film this one star on the gore meter. I was amazed as I watched this gem of a film just how great a movie can be with almost no gore, blood what so ever in the whole movie. I kept wondering when some bloody thing was going to happen, but in the end it was great camera work, shadows, lighting, eerie sounds that carried the film through and made the total lack of gore not matter what so ever in this case.

Profanity Meter: 2 Strikes. Very little profanity throughout the whole film except of course like most films, film makers always have to toss Gods name in vain in a few times and this one has that twice toward the end of it. I always find this dissapointing, wither it's Gods name used or any other profanity I just don't see a need for it in films at all.

Final thoughts: There are many a great horror films out there and one may wonder why I would give 5 stars overall to a film like this compaired to many other greats. When I review a film I like to do so on a individual basis and I do not compair to other films but rather I look at this one and rate it based on just how much I enjoyed it. I hope you will enjoy this one too.

Micah. June 28, 2007

When creepy was less complicated

What a great flick to pop in on a Friday night and let the storm winds and rain outside your window take you back to a time when that chill down your spine was brought on more by your spooked imagination and less by big budget blood,gore and computer run of the mill.

Popcorn,please.Large.Easy on the butter.Large Diet Coke. May 22, 2007

Good Movie

If you love the typical 1970's-early 1980's horror movies, you will enjoy this one. There is a slight plot, but some eerie things are effective. The driver freaked me out for a couple days afterword...!
As usual, Van Devere is annunciating every syllable of every word she says...Enjoy! March 22, 2007

Hearse Review

I remember watching this movie back in the 80's with my sister. It will put a little scare in you especially if you live alone. Even today, there are still parts of this movie that we still remember and talk about. I was going to give it 3 stars but I figured if we can still remember certain scenes and still talk about the movie, it's worth the 4 stars. This movie will spook you. October 24, 2006

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