Ethan Wiley, who injected the humor into the original House script, returns to direct the sequel, which comes from a story by Fred Dekker that Wiley adapted. If you disliked the comedy in the original film, well, get ready. This one has no interest in being serious.

Prologue: a young couple gives up their child before an undead gunman murders them in their mansion. That baby grows up to be Jesse (Arye Gross, who was the original voice of Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years before Daniel Stern took over),who decides to move back into that house with his girlfriend Kate (Lar Park Lincoln, Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood). They're soon joined by goofball friend Charlie (Jonathan Stark, Fright Night) and his wannabe rock star girlfriend Lana (Amy Yasbeck, who met husband John Ritter on the set of Problem Child).

Jesse has insomnia, which leads to him digging through the basement. He discovers a photo of his great-great-grandfather (Royal Dano, who starred in plenty of cowboy films) standing in front of an Aztec temple with a crystal skull in his hand. In the background is Slim Reeser, his one-time partner turned enemy over the ownership of the skull.

At this point, anyone would be happy to discover this photo and move on with their life. But that's normal life. Here, Jesse and Charlie decide to dig up his ancestor's grave to find the skull. Imagine their surprise when Gramps is still alive inside his coffin. Compound that with the fact that he wants to bond with his grandson.

It turns out that the house was built with stones from an Aztec temple and that it contains gateways into other time periods with the skull acting as the remote control, if you will. The forces of evil are drawn to the skull, though, so the boys better be ready to defend it.

Meanwhile, a Halloween party ends up with the boys losing their girls and an appearance by Bill Maher as a record exec. A caveman also attacks the party guests looking for a skull and a baby pterodactyl and a caterpillar-dog come along for the ride.

To compound the film's weirdness, Bill (John Ratzenberger, who like George Wendt in House was a star on TV's Cheers) comes to inspect the wiring, but he's really an adventurer with a sword in his toolbox. He leads the guys through a portal - he's incredibly nonchalant about the proceedings - and helps them save a virgin who is about to be sacrificed.

During a meal where Jesse embraces his new family - yes, a family that includes a dinosaur and a dog-headed caterpillar - Slim makes his return, rising out of a serving dish. He shoots Gramps, who reveals that this is the man who killed Jesse's parents. Jesse defeats the evil gunfighter, but can't save Gramps, who tells him that its time to say goodbye.

The cops come to the house, alerted by all the gunfire, and prepare to fire on Jesse. He uses the skull to go back in time to the Old West, taking his friends and pets with him. The film ends with him burying Gramps and using the crystal skull to make his grave, as he follows the old man's dying advice and doesn't become addicted to the skull's magic.

House 2 is something else. It's never sure what kind of movie it wants to be, but it gets so strange that you just feel like you have to go along for the ride. The scenes with Bill are great fun and the ending drama always makes me tear up. And you have to love the caterpuppy.

If you're confused by the fact that this movie has nothing to do with the original House, the way the movie was released in Italy is going to blow your mind.

This is one of the great movies of the 80s in MY collection that I think about all the time.

Spoiler Warning

Sequels sometimes doesn`t match their prequels but this one sure does.Of course it really doesn`t follow the first one but that doesn`t matter to ME.The beginning is so creepy when first see Tex. Jesse jr. moves in his deceased parents` house and his friend stays with him.They see in a old book that there is an old aztec crystal skull in his Grandfather`s grave in the cemetary near by.They go and dig it up and we find out he isn`t dead yet.He says to them they can call him Gramps.He moves in the house and puts the skull on top of the fire place.Gramps warns Jesse and and his friend that they must protect it from the forces of evil.They get to know each other become and family and Gramps tells that he fought Tex long ago and that he has been in the before.Through out the film we see acient aztec warriors,dinosaurs,the old west and among other time periods. Its really a good movie.Its one of MY favorites.

This has 2 more sequels and a prequel but the first two is MY favorite ones.

If you like a movie about haunted houses that have lot of time travelling then is for you!

Jesse (Arye Gross) and his girlfriend Kate move into his family mansion. They are joined by his annoying friend Charlie (Jonathan Stark) and Lana. Jesse uncovers an old story of his great great grandfather and his creepy partner Slim Reeser discovering an ancient Mayan crystal skull. They dig up a grave to find the skull only to encounter the dead corpse of Gramps.

The original House is one of those lesser known horrors that I actually bought into. House isn't anything original. It's a simple haunt house movie. I like the character and find his battle compelling. This sequel is less than that and more of a bore. There is nothing scary or compelling. Gross is a functional lead but not too engaging. The best friend is annoying but the other characters are somewhat more problematic. The girls suddenly leave early in the movie for no good reason. Characters keep coming in and leaving. In addition, I would assume the original house would return. Instead of a house in the suburbs, this is a mansion without a neighborhood. Sure, there was a fire at the end of the original movie but the house was still standing. If there is one thing that should be maintained in this franchise, it ought to be the house.