During the latter part of the eighties, a cluster of films emerged centered on criminals put to death via electric chair who then returned seeking retribution. This film arrived on the scene before “Shocker” and after “Prison” and “Destroyer,” with “The First Power” following shortly thereafter. It shares similarities with Wes Craven’s “Shocker,” though it lacks that movie's humor, and actually preceded it in release. Interestingly, this picture takes elements from Craven’s "A Nightmare on Elm Street" series but doesn't manage to achieve the same impact. The project initially started as a potential third entry within the “House” film series; however, MGM insisted on changes to launch something new with what they hoped would be a memorable villain—Max Jenke, portrayed by Brion James, who clearly enjoys his role. This resulted in the title "The Horror Show" for American viewers while it retained the name “House III” elsewhere. The initial portion of the movie is quite promising, featuring Lance Henriksen as the lead police officer and Dedee Pfeiffer as his daughter. Unfortunately, I began to feel restless during the second half due to its predictable narrative style. This feeling is worsened by the way reality blends with a character’s visions, making it difficult to tell what's genuine and what isn't. The earlier “House” movies are more enjoyable overall, and also funnier. A fourth film intended for direct-to-video release appeared in early 1992. Its running time is 1 hour and 35 minutes; filming took place from August to October of 1988 in Los Angeles, including San Pedro for the power plant scenes. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB