Something Burning?

It’s all Amazon’s fault, really.Several years ago—I can’t recall how many—they were running a horror movie DVD sale (that’s how long ago!).I hadn’t yet watched enough movies to write a book on the subject, and most of the movies on offer I hadn’t heard of.One of them was called Burnt Offerings.Well, burnt offerings, by definition, come from religious settings.The DVD was very inexpensive, and so, well.The movie wasn’t that scary, but it was moody, which is often what I’m really after.I did wonder, however, at the title.In one sense it fit the plot, but in other ways it was almost as if something were missing.A vital clue.For one thing, the movie was completely secular, nothing I could include in Holy Horror.

I’ve watched the movie a few times over the years.There’s something compelling about the story, even though missing something.A little research revealed that the movie was based on a novel by the same title by Robert Marasco.Now, when I learn a novel was written in the 1970s, my thoughts turn to used bookstores.Although the days of getting books there for less than a dollar seems long gone, the fun of browsing makes up for it. I don’t know how many years I looked for it in shops throughout the tri-state area.Now with the virus, I finally broke down and ordered it from Bookfinder.

My main reason for wanting to read the novel was to find what I’d been missing.The movie, it turns out, follows the original story very closely, for the most part.The ending is different, however, and that makes all the difference.(If you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, there will be spoilers here.)The Rolfe family decides to move to an estate for the summer to get away from the noise of New York City.There’s something odd in the house they’re renting, which they sensed even before moving in.Marian Rolfe, the mother of the family, clearly becomes possessed by the house.In a diabolical sense.As her family dies off the house renews itself.In a scene not in the movie, the regular caretaker stops in for a visit and tells Marian that she has to give her all to keep the house.Finally, resigned to the death of her loved ones, she asks to have any remaining doubt burned out of her.Her family will be the burnt offering.So at last, it makes sense.And yes, there’s a more religious theme in the book than there is in the movie.