Rating: 
Summary: An Interesting B-Movie!
Review: "Don't Look In the Basement!" is one of the funny horror movies that you don't mind watching every once in a while. I remember watching this film for the first time when I was in college and my friends and I decided to go to the video store because we were bored. We happened across this film, rented it, and had a very good time watching it.The film takes place in a mental institution where each patient has his or her own special story. When the director of the institution is killed, his "assistant" must take over. A new nurse is hired and you watch as she has to (quickly) become acclimated to the disturbing and often scary patients. There is a twist at the end, even though the movie hints at this throughout most of the film, it will leave you thinking twice about trusting people at an instituation such as the one in the film. I would suggest this film to someone who is the mood for a good laugh and fun scare!
Rating: 
Summary: Drive in dreck
Review: "Don't Look in the Basement" is a prime example of the sort of god awful dreck that once played regularly at the country's drive in movie establishments. Those were the days, weren't they? Actually, I don't have many first hand memories of those days because I was far too young to see these dreadful gorefests. I was far too young to drive a car, as a matter of fact. I did get a chance to go to the drive in occasionally, but only to see double bills of big budget movies weeks after their opening date. The last drive in around here closed several years ago, long after the powers that be quit making movies like this one solely for the drive in crowd. Thanks to DVD we now get to watch these gems (cough, cough) in the comfort of our homes, but I suspect something very precious fails to make the transition from one medium to another. Part of the allure of these films comes from sitting in a car watching them. While there are plenty of bad, low budget films floating around in video stores, none of the filmmakers hope to receive a theatrical screening let alone a place on the play list at the drive in.
"Don't Look in the Basement" is a sleazy piece of junk that tells the story of a lunatic asylum, its various inmates, and the fate of a young nurse who just happens to accept a job there. Charlotte Beale (Rosie Holotik) takes a position with Dr. Stephens (Michael Harvey) because his radical treatment therapies seem intriguing. What are these therapies? Nothing more than allowing patients to engage in the behavior brought on by their myriad mental problems. For instance, one inmate likes to swing an axe around whenever he gets the chance. Fine, says good old Dr. Stephens, let the man swing a sharp instrument in the backyard every chance he gets. Sadly, when Stephens's attention strays for a second the axe crashes into his chest and drops him like a stone. Perhaps his ideas needed more study first. Anyway, Charlotte turns up at the asylum shortly after this tragedy, with a letter from Stephens clutched in her pretty little fist, and presents herself to the doctor's personal assistant Dr. Masters (Anne MacAdams). For some inexplicable reason, Masters expresses an extreme dislike for the young Charlotte. She tries everything she can think of to get this young lady out of the asylum, but our heroine isn't to about to leave. Good for her!
Well, bad for her. She should have left since this asylum houses all sorts of frightening loonies just itching to cause a heap of trouble. Lobotomy patient Sam (William McGhee) spends most of his time shuffling around the grounds sucking on Popsicles and giggling. Danny (Jessie Kirby) is a red headed waif whose presence simply screams danger. No mental motel would be complete without the military guy gone over the top, and in that position we have Sergeant Jaffe (Hugh Feagin). I shouldn't forget to mention Oliver W. Cameron (Gene Ross), the guy who swung the fateful axe and the one who always blurts out a memorized bit of dialogue that highlights his position as one of the country's preeminent jurists. Too, Allyson King (Betty Chandler) turns up from time to time as the resident suffering from the obligatory problems centering on men. The film devotes a significant amount of screen time to developing these diverse characters, almost too much since nothing much happens until a few murders throw everyone in the building into a tizzy. Who is killing people in the asylum and why? Trying to pin down a suspect in this group is about as easy as trying to open a childproof cap while wearing a pair of mittens.
It's sufficient to say that the whole movie exists for the sake of a plot twist at the end that any viewer with an ounce of intelligence saw coming for over an hour. Sadly, I can't divulge the exact specifics of this plot twist (I don't want to ruin the movie for those intent on seeing it and all), but it's safe to say that the horrific denouement revolves around a character who isn't what he or she appears to be. Big surprise, that. In the meantime most of the inmates have a splendid time tormenting poor Charlotte to the point that she's ready to check in for some treatment herself. The real charm of the movie doesn't come from the hackneyed plot or the poor gore effects, but from the surprisingly effective performances of the low rent cast. Every character is nothing less than totally believable as people with serious mental disorders. Not that I have spent much time examining the mentally unstable, mind you, but it does appear that these people have a lot of problems. Of course, the biggest problem might be appearing in a movie like this one. Nonetheless, it is fun to watch "Don't Look in the Basement" for the histrionic factor. What happens to that poor repairman is worth the price of admission alone.
Expect a small number of extras on the disc. A few film factoids and trailers for "The Night Visitor," "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage," and Bava's "Blood and Black Lace" forms the sum total of supplements. The picture and audio quality are the pits. I imagine the age of the film and the poor quality of the film stock account for most of the transfer problems, but the technicians could have done a better job. Worse, I've heard ominous rumblings that this is a cut version of the film. I don't understand why a company puts out a DVD without providing a full print, but such is life. Hopefully a better edition from one of the bigger horror DVD companies will soon arrive. Until then, "Don't Look in the Basement" still provides a few chuckles.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant atmospheric chiller
Review: "Don't Look In the Basement" is really a classic. It recalls to my mind another brilliant film that I believe was called "Asylum" written by Robert Bloch. This film is set at a beautiful run down looking house out in the country that just happens to be an insane asylum. The acting in this film is really very impressive, particulary by the young nurse, and an African American patient (it has been a little while since I've seen this gem, and I don't have the DVD handy for his name, sorry). There is some gore in this movie but it only adds to the suspense and examination of madness that encompasses this wonderful film.
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting B-Movie!
Review: "Don't Look In the Basement!" is one of the funny horror movies that you don't mind watching every once in a while. I remember watching this film for the first time when I was in college and my friends and I decided to go to the video store because we were bored. We happened across this film, rented it, and had a very good time watching it. The film takes place in a mental institution where each patient has his or her own special story. When the director of the institution is killed, his "assistant" must take over. A new nurse is hired and you watch as she has to (quickly) become acclimated to the disturbing and often scary patients. There is a twist at the end, even though the movie hints at this throughout most of the film, it will leave you thinking twice about trusting people at an instituation such as the one in the film. I would suggest this film to someone who is the mood for a good laugh and fun scare!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant atmospheric chiller
Review: "Don't Look In the Basement" is really a classic. It recalls to my mind another brilliant film that I believe was called "Asylum" written by Robert Bloch. This film is set at a beautiful run down looking house out in the country that just happens to be an insane asylum. The acting in this film is really very impressive, particulary by the young nurse, and an African American patient (it has been a little while since I've seen this gem, and I don't have the DVD handy for his name, sorry). There is some gore in this movie but it only adds to the suspense and examination of madness that encompasses this wonderful film.
Rating: 
Summary: ...
Review: ...This is a movie that is 95 minutes of unrelenting boredom! Mind you that out of the 95 minutes of dreadful film making, only 5 minutes (the most) contain any violence or "horror." Perhaps if there were some good suspense found during the film I would have been sufficed with the minimal action on the screen. But this movie, which can induce the strongest of minds into a state of catatonic, is so pointless and dull that the only suspense found is seeing if you will be able to resist yourself from jumping out of a window. Scene after scene we are greeted to horrible "music"--lets face it, this has to be one of the worst soundtracks in the history of film--and horrible acting. But the hell with bad acting and low production value. The point is that there is nothing good to be found here. In fact, if there was only one good thing about this movie was the little hottie who spent most of her time trying to seduce men into falling in love with her. I think on two occasions she exposed her wonderful breast (no one in the movie fell in love with her, but I know I did). If you take Lover Girl out of the movie, you will find yourself with a suitable tool for suicide. Please, if you are thinking about watching this movie, remember this: Don't look in the Basement, should be titled "Don't look at this Movie!"
I am not allowed to give this movie less than a star, that's why I gave it a star. It should be 1 Black Whole, cause that is where your sanity will go after you watch this thing
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!!!!
Review: A classic movie about an insane asylum. A new nurse comes to work at the asylum, but moments before she arrives, a tragic event happens. The 'judge' chops up the only doctor with an ax! Another patient, an older female, who was allowed to act and dress up like a doctor welcomes the new nurse. What a range of characters we have here. There's 'Sergeant' who is a Vietnam shell-shock victim who stands firewatch every night and watches for 'incoming' outside his window. Ben, a giant black man who has the mentality of an 8 year old after a botched lobotomy. Another chick who treats a doll like a real baby. A tormenting and ugly red-haired white dude with a huge fro. His only lines are shrieking and laughing. The 'Judge' who has clearly lost his mind and is in tune with nothing but the court he runs within his mind. A disturbed young girl who falls in love with any man who pays (or doesn't pay) her the slightest attention. The hot nurse who is a bit skinny but looks a lot like Cheryl Ladd. The most disturbing scenes are the mass murder of the patients by Ben, and the nympho in bed with the murdered telephone repairman. Not a movie to watch steadily on a heavy rotation, but fun every now and then.
Rating:
Summary: It's bad, but I like it!
Review: An incredibly cheap single set movie with a pretty good story. The acting is atrocious and the direction is worse, but so what? If you can just follow the story and not worry about the extreme and obvious low budget it was made on, you will enjoy this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Do This or That
Review: Another film in the long line of "don't" do this or don't do that. This particular film, however, is a finely crafted example of early 70s horror. It is a twisted, macabre foray into the world of psychiatric institutions, where one is unable to make a distiction between sanity and insanity. The film is very crude in its depiction, but maintains the roots of exploitation horror. Do not expect quality acting, effects or sets, and you will enjoy the twisted storytelling. The DVD is adequate with few flaws other than a scratchy source print. For a film of this caliber, it is presentd in the best condition available. I recommend this film to fans of early 70s institutionalized horror. If you liked "Don't Open The Window" or "Alone In The Dark", you will enjoy this.
Rating:
Summary: A classic Drive-In horror flick!
Review: At long last, Brownrigg's masterstroke 'Don't Look in the Basement' is available. This is the one set in the mental hospital, where all the inmates go (even more) nuts, and start killing everything that moves. This is a nice uncut transfer, with plenty of detail, and few weak spots (considering the old 1973 prints available previously). The whole package looks fantastic due to some arresting cover art, and the disc has a very nice interactive menu screen, through which you can access the usual stuff. No trailer is included, but we get to chance to savour some other trailers for horror films forthcoming from VCI. See their website for more info on these. So, at the end of the day, should you buy this? Well, if you're a fan of this film, or indeed any stupid B-movie, then this is definitely for you. It's good to see that VCI have released the uncut version. As I said, it's a crisp, clean print, nice sound and as much gore as you would expect.
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