[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Cubbyhouse (2001)

Following a messy divorce, a woman and her three children move back to Australia and purchase a new property. It's not long before her two youngest children become obsessed with an old cubbyhouse out the back as gruesome past events start to relive themselves.

This Australian horror from 2001 harks back to the days of the FX laden late 80's with an approach somewhat like the Evil Dead - all tangling vines which come alive, orifices being entered, blood flowing down the steps and glowing pentagrams on the wall. It also reminds me a little of Lucio Fulci's creature fascination as a kid is enveloped in cockroaches. It's the reminders of bygone times that makes Cubbyhouse a diverting little watch and something of a curio, it also seems quite dated because of this, even with that charming quaintness.

Unfortunately once we get into the story it all becomes a tad routine and indeed ridiculous, - an outhouse possessed by Satan... i mean really! This isn't MTDS's country retreat.

Lacking in gore and any real threat, Cubbyhouse's occasional interesting parts really don't add up to an awful lot.