Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
United Artists
House Collection
The Horror Show
They tried to electrocute "Meat Cleaver" Max. It didn't work.
Vowing revenge on the detective who apprehended him, serial killer "Meat Cleaver" Max Jenke returns from beyond the grave to launch a whole new reign of terror.
- Original title
- The Horror Show
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- $1,738,897
Wuchak
Apr 19, 2026 · via TMDB
**_When electrocuted killers come back_** In the late ’80s several movies were made about a violent criminal being executed by electric chair and coming back with a vengeance. “Prison” and “Destroyer” preceded this one by a year and it was followed by “Shocker” six months later and “The First Power” six months after that. I suppose it’s most similar to Wes Craven’s “Shocker,” minus the sense of humor, yet beat it to theaters. Ironically, it heavily borrows from Craven’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street” flicks but isn’t anywhere near as effective. It was originally conceived as the third film in the “House” franchise, however, MGM forced modifications for a fresh beginning with an anticipated new iconic villain; that is, Max Jenke played by Brion James, who hams it up. Hence the name “The Horror Show” for America audiences while it was still called “House III” in other markets. The first half is quite good with Lance Henriksen as the cop protagonist and lovely Dedee Pfeiffer as his daughter. Regrettably, I found myself getting bored in the second half by the perfunctory storytelling. This is augmented by how reality and a character’s visions are intermixed and so you can’t discern what’s real and what’s not. The first two “House” flicks are all-around more entertaining, not to mention amusing. A direct-to-video fourth installment would come out in early 1992. It runs 1h 35m and was shot in Aug-Oct 1988 in Los Angeles, including San Pedro for the power plant sequence. GRADE: B-/C+
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Lance Henriksen
Detective Lucas McCarthy
Brion James
Max Jenke
Rita Taggart
Donna McCarthy
Dedee Pfeiffer
Bonnie McCarthy
Aron Eisenberg
Scott McCarthy
Thom Bray
Peter Campbell
Matt Clark
Dr. Tower
David Oliver
Vinnie
Terry Alexander
Casey
Lewis Arquette
Lt. Miller
Lawrence Tierney
Warden
Alvy Moore
Chili Salesman
Greg Finley
Tom Ippolito
Greg Kean
Delivery Man
Mac Ahlberg
Director of Photography
Greg Nicotero
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Howard Berger
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Robert Kurtzman
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Greg Nicotero
Special Effects
Howard Berger
Special Effects
Robert Kurtzman
Special Effects
Kane Hodder
Stunt Coordinator
Paul E. Short
Stunts
James Isaac
Director
John R. Woodward
First Assistant Director
Sean S. Cunningham
Producer
Harry Manfredini
Original Music Composer
Leslie Bohem
Writer
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Apr 28, 1989
