Rating: 
Summary: Transfer not as bad as some say
Review: This classic is one of my favourite movies and that Chauffer kept me awake at night for a week when I first saw this as a young kid. But I almost didn't buy the DVD because of the reviews here stating the transfer was terrible. It isn't fantastic but the VHS copy I bought years ago was far worse. It looks as though the film was shot in very soft focus, almost like a veil was over the lens. There were also scenes, espeially in the beginning in the pantry when Aunt Elizabth says the light isn't working but when Davy goes back in, he turns the light on and it works. On the VHS copy, there is a heavy green tint throughout the scene which, thankfully, is NOT there on the DVD copy. The DVD transfer is improved in this manner. There are still some scenes that the focus is very soft but over all, it's very watchable. It also appears they cleaned some scenes. In the VHS copy, one thing that always annoyed me was when the Chauffer comes for Aunt Elizabth, when he runs the coffin in the room at the bed, you could always see a pair of hands at the bottom of the screen coming up to stop the coffin before it crashed into the camera. Thankfully, that is gone in the DVD version. If you liked this movie, get the DVD. It still has the ability to be quite unsettling. The DVD is a better transfer than the VHS tape was.
Rating:
Summary: Evil Has a New Home
Review: Who's up for a truly creepy haunted house thriller? In 1976, director Dan Curtis, Dark Shadows (1966) and Trilogy of Terror (1975) brought to life a wonderfully scary movie that scarred quite a few younger viewers at the time and still has the power to evoke strong remembrances when mentioned. Burnt Offerings (1976) stars Karen Black, Oliver Reed, Bette Davis, and Burgess Meredith. City dwellers Marian (Black) and Ben (Reed) Rolf find the deal of a lifetime in a fabulous, secluded country estate, and soon settle in, along with their son and old auntie (Davis). A deal too good to be true? Why yes, it is, as strange things start happening, but not so strange as to send up serious warning flags that would cause most any of us to flee. What was so great about this movie was the way the director took his time in ratcheting up the suspense for the viewer. Changes to the various characters were introduced in such as way as to seem subtle, and not highly alarming. Soon some of the characters do catch on, but by then, it's too late. I thought Reed was really great in this movie, a man haunted by a past demon amplified through the house, who manages to keep a fairly level head throughout. Another wonderful character in the movie is the house itself. Dunsmuir Estate is the setting for most of the movie, actually coming to life through skillful directing and some very creepy music. This is an actual home, located in Oakland, California. The movie runs just under two hours, but the time will seem to go by quickly as you will find yourself gorilla glued to the screen, waiting in anticipation as to what happens next. There is a noticeable lack of blood, as the scares are more of the psychological kind. This seems to be a tactic used not so much these days, as visceral sells, but I do enjoy when the violence can be implied, rather than shown. I find my imagination is able to come up with plenty of scary images given the right fuel. The main problem I had with the movie was the picture. The movie on the disc appears in that sort of diffused style common in the 70's, where everything seems to have a slight fuzz on it, a haze throughout the picture. I did get used to it after awhile, but it was a little annoying. I don't seem to recall it being like this when I first saw the movie so long ago, but oh well. Another problem, a minor one, was some of the audio was unclear, as it seemed the audio levels were uneven at times. There are English subtitles, and I made use of them. As far as special features go, there is a commentary track by director Curtis, Karen Black and Co-writer William F. Nolan and an original theatrical trailer which I would avoid watching until after watching the film as it gave too much away, in my opinion. I will tall you this, the end truly a climatic one, and well worth the wait. If you liked Burnt Offerings, I would highly recommend the 1963 Robert Wise film, The Haunting. Cookieman108
Rating: 
Summary: Have You Ever Seen A Hearse Go By...
Review: Ben (Oliver Reed), Marian (Karen Black) , and their son have just rented a house for the summer. What a deal! nine hundred bucks for mansion and grounds! For TWO months! After meeting with the owners (including a very bizarre Burgess Merideth), they discover there is one catch. They must take care of an 85 yo woman who lives on the third floor. They move in, accompanied by Ben's aunt Elizabeth (Bette Davis). Strange things start happening, as nothing is what it seems. The house is actually a trap for our unwary family, set to lure them into a situation from which there is no escape. Marian becomes increasingly obsessed with the place and it's history, to the point of madness. Ben is haunted by dreams of his mother's funeral and the ultra-creepy hearse driver with a permanent, evil smile. His dreams cross over to reality, when he begins seeing the hearse in the daytime! Ben even tries to drown his son in the pool after lapsing into a trance-like state. Things really get going when the grinning hearse driver shows up with a rolling coffin, finishing off aunt Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Marian slips further into her new role as matriarch of the house. Ben is in a vegetative state, until the pool tries to drown his son by creating it's own mini-hurricane. You see, the house isn't just haunted, it's alive! It can even toss off it's old roof tiles and siding, to reveal brand new ones beneath! Is there really an old woman upstairs at all? Can our besieged family survive? Watch and see for yourself. Highly recommended...
Rating:
Summary: I was so Scuuuuuurrrred! Must be 30 and up to appreciate
Review: Man that chaufer or limo driver what ever he was still scares the bajeezums outta me!!
I first saw this movie as a 7 year old kid when it aired on channel 11 back in the days before cable or VHS was popular.
I think what made this movie really scarey was the look and sound of it.
It had that misty soft picture and the horror music (especially the music they played when that chauffer of the hearst rolled up on that dirt road near the bushes and Oliver Reed starts sweating bricks thinking he's hallucinating...I don't think he was)
Then what made me and my moms scream out (and I don't scream if not ever at horror movies) was when you start hearing the hearst sputtering and chugging along until you see it and the chauffer rolled up near the front of the house...rattles the door knob having Oliver Reed and Bette Davis SHOOK (literally)and he rolls the coffin in the room on them!!
MAN!! Gave Bette Davis's character the heart attack to kick the bucket! It actually took me 20 something years to get the total story premise to the movie being that it hasn't aired anywhere in that space of time. I purchased the VHS version last year and finally watched it as an adult and figured out the story. I guess the movie was scarier back in the day because today's standards are different, I won't fault a movie because it is dated, it was great for that time in the 70s. This is one of those flicks that you would see on "the outer limits" series or "Twilight Zone".
Concerning the movie itself, it is definitely suspensful, Classic Alfred Hitchcock style...There was no "Mrs. Allerdice" because "Mrs. Allerdice" was really the house. The food Karen Black's character was leaving at the door for "Mrs. Allerdice" to eat was always being eaten by herself and the house was slowly maddening her and possessed her into thinking she was "Mrs. Allerdice". Sure it moves along slow at points but it never lost my interest.
When the house gets tired of you and your family it starts to change...and it's time for you to go...by means of some "freak" accident of some sort. Then the "picture trophies" of the past couple of families who never made it out alive start being displayed on the dresser.
Great movie! Recommended for people 30 and up.
Rating:
Summary: Great to see this movie again....
Review: I hadn't seen this movie since it came out in the theaters back in the middle
70's and not many movies are made like this anymore.
It isn't perfect by any stretch, but it has to its credit a
great cast and especially director Dan Curtis(Dark Shadows),
a really creepy house, a slow pace and some strange goings on.
I wouldn't call this all that scarey for todays standards but what
makes it worth a watch is the way its filmed,in a haze, the darkness gives
it a nice spooky edge, like "The Changeling", was filmed in so
much darkness, your immagination takes over. I really enjoyed
Bette Davis's performance the most. Karen Black is perfect for
this type of movie also. I'm sure you can pick this apart for sound, but all in all not a bad mysterious little gem.
Rating: 
Summary: Having trouble sleeping?
Review: ...then slip this into your dvd player. Absolutely two hours of nothing! No plot, other than a family who rents a country mansion
for the summer. The place is supposed to be haunted. The first
hour is filler time (I must admit I liked the station wagon and
the chaufeur with the vintage car, the latter of which seemed to have no explanation, maybe Oliver Reed was hallucinating) Good stars such as Bette Davis and Burgess Merideth in an otherwise awful stinker!
Rating:
Summary: Painfully Bad
Review: Move along, nothing to see here. If I were to review this film in two words, those words would be "don't bother". There's nothing worth seeing in this film. As others have noted the quality of the DVD transfer is lousy, but even a high quality image couldn't improve this dog. Oliver Reed is admittedly a talented actor, but the rest of the performances were horrid. There was only one aspect of the entire movie that was vaguely interesting (the house renewing itself), but the film only gave it passing attention. If Tom Servo were to watch this movie, he would undoubtedly remark "This is just like The Shining except it's not good at all." When one pops a scary movie into their DVD player, turns down the lights, and sits down with a bowl of popcorn, one expects to be entertained. If one is a forgiving viewer, like myself, one can still enjoy a really bad film as long as it is entertaining. To me therefore, it doesn't matter if I am shivering or laughing, as long as the film elicits interest. There is nothing entertaining in this movie. The acting is bad, the premise is bad, and the plot is boring and predictable. The only thing it elicits is repetetive glances at one's wristwatch and the occasional "Is this thing over yet?" Spend your money on a copy of The Shining (original). It's basically just like Burnt Offerings, except it's really good.
Rating:
Summary: old scary movie
Review: i had seen this movie many years ago,and saw it yesterday on dvd for the first time. it was real good. the picture was crystal clear. it's a real scary storyline. the only thing is that it drags a little bit in certain scenes. all the actors are really good. it's great seeing bette davis and burgess meredith in this film. oliver reed and karen black play real good roles also. the house in which the movie is filmed is real beautiful and the pool scenes are exceptional. i would watch this movie again in the dark. also,i definitely want to read the book now,since it might be more descriptive. great ending that leaves you thinking....
Rating: 
Summary: Its not that good, folks....
Review: When I watch a movie about haunted places, I want to be held in suspence, jump in a few spots, and feel like I want to close my eyes. Not once did 'Burnt Offerings' hold up to any of that. Oliver Reed, as usual, can do no wrong. He more than makes up for Karen Black's sometimes laughable performance. Someone should have told her she was in a film with close-ups, rather than thinking she's on stage. Also, I realize child actors are difficult to find - but they couldn't find anyone better than who they got here ??? What a dud..... I really tried to tell myself this came before "The Shining" - but it just didn't hold a candle to the creepyness of the father & son relationship like Stephen King's story did. Karen Black's character is written (besides acted) very unevenly. The night scene at the pool is laughable and silly. I'm surprised Oliver Reed even wanted to play out a scene like that. Its just plain stupid - and holds little or no purpose to the plot. The brightest spot is a kookie old man, played perfectly by Burgess Meredith. If he found a way into the subplot of this picture, I would have enjoyed it more than I did. Its not scary, nor gripping, and NOT well acted by half the characters, or well written. Try 'The Changeling' or 'Woman In Black' for haunted house films.
Rating:
Summary: Greatest haunted house movie ever
Review: This is an incredible film, very underappreciated & I'm glad to hear that it's being made available on DVD. I've never seen it in widescreen, so a DVD release is great news. The plot is dense, the music eerie & ominous, & the performances are unforgettable. The mansion where it was filmed was still standing as of 1997 & probably is still there.
Incidentally, this was not Bette Davis's last movie. She did several more before she died, including the 1978 Disney sequel, "Return From Witch Mountain", which also featured Anthony James (the "Burnt Offerings" chauffeur). I can't think of anything else Anthony James has been in, but he's left an indelible mark on film history with his "Burnt Offerings" appearances.
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