Boardinghouse (1982)

Synopsis

The movie Boardinghouse (1982) is a horror film directed by John Wintergate. The story revolves around a boarding house owned by a man named James, who has a dark and sinister secret. The house becomes a haven for supernatural and paranormal activities, as the residents are tormented by malevolent forces.

The movie Boardinghouse (1982) begins with the death of Dr. Hoffman and his wife, who specialized in the study of telekinesis and the occult. Their deaths were witnessed by their daughter, Debbie, who was institutionalized due to a nervous breakdown. The house is sold to a couple who also die gruesome deaths, followed by the next buyer, Herman Royce. In 1982, Jim Royce, Herman’s nephew, reopens the residence as a boarding house. Jim, who is obsessed with the occult and telekinesis, places an ad in the newspaper, inviting young, single women to move in. Various young aspiring actresses and models respond and move into the home. After they settle in, an English woman named Debbie arrives, pleading to move in. Meanwhile, Detective Richard Grant is casing the home for unknown reasons. He sends a private investigator to the house, but he is electrocuted in a bathtub before being buried in the backyard by an unseen assailant. Jim exhibits his own telekinetic powers to Victoria, an aspiring singer. She is fascinated by his abilities. That night, she suffers a vivid nightmare of being dragged into the grave of Dr. Hoffman. Richard eventually arrives at the house to visit Cindy, who is revealed to be his ex-girlfriend. Richard chastises Cindy for her new living arrangement and for having fled upon his marriage proposal.

Inspired by Jim and jealous of the other women in the house, Victoria begins attempting to hone her own supernatural powers. She soon discovers she too has the ability to harness telekinesis. Cindy mysteriously vanishes on the beach while having a rendezvous with Jim. A note left behind indicates she has reunited with Richard. The next day, Jim and the women prepare for a housewarming party they are holding that night. While cleaning the house, Victoria suffers another terrifying vision in which a looming, monstrous entity chases her through the house. Later, she finds her pet cat, Pumpkin, dead.

At the housewarming party, Jim’s college friend, a police officer, arrives to tell him that Cindy’s body was recovered from the beach. He also informs him that it is the tenth anniversary of the Hoffman deaths. Outside, the officer is overcome by a supernatural force which makes him shoot a partygoer before killing himself. Meanwhile, Pam gets into an argument with Debbie, and upon returning inside, is overcome by the supernatural force, which causes her to claw her own eyeballs out. Shortly after, the house’s gardener is found stabbed to death by the pool. Debbie soon reveals herself to Jim as Deborah Hoffman, the daughter of Dr. Hoffman, returning to claim her home. It is also revealed she had an incestuous relationship with her father and was responsible for the deaths of him and her mother. Using her supernatural powers, she has been killing the boardinghouse tenants one by one, deeming them trespassers. Jim and Victoria bond together and engage in a psychic battle with Debbie, and ultimately are able to defeat her.

A postscript reveals that the Hoffman residence burned to the ground the night of the party, and that Jim is now working professionally as a programmer, while Victoria is a successful singer. Debbie Hoffman’s body is yet to be found.

Cast

John Wintergate as James
Kalassu as Kalassu
Lindsay Freeman as Lindsay
Joel Riordan as Joel
Janet L. Wade as Janet
Virginia Settle as Virginia
Richard W. Hawkins as Richard

Trivia

The movie Boardinghouse (1982) was shot on video and later transferred to film, giving it a unique and low-budget aesthetic.
It is known for its experimental and unconventional filmmaking techniques, including the use of video effects and surreal imagery.
Boardinghouse gained a cult following due to its campy and over-the-top performances, as well as its bizarre and unpredictable plot.
The film features a mix of horror, comedy, and erotic elements, creating a unique and unconventional viewing experience.