Don’t Go in the House (1979): Cast & Plot
Don’t Go in the House is a 1979 horror film directed by Joseph Ellison, starring Dan Grimaldi as Donald 'Donny' Kohler, Ruth Dardick and Johanna Brushay. It runs 1 hour 22 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 22m (82 min)
- Director
- Joseph Ellison
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Turbine Films Inc.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Don’t Go in the House About?
The premise of Don’t Go in the House without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A steel‑floored chamber becomes a macabre altar of vengeance, where victims are bound and burned. Tormented in childhood by a mother who punished him with fire, Donald grows into a deranged pyromaniac. He stalks women in nightclubs, lures them to his lair, and kills them with a flamethrower.
Don’t Go in the House Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- cocaine
- female full frontal nudity
- blonde
- child abuse
- cigarette smoking
- emotionally disturbed person
- red dress
- trauma
- deeply disturbed person
- female victim
- loss of control
- tied up
+38 more Show fewer
- flashback
- female frontal nudity
- childhood trauma
- abusive mother
- grindhouse film
- murder of a nude woman
- serial murder
- beer
- video nasty
- psychotronic film
- serial killer
- masked killer
- hi fi
- shocksploitation film
- exploitation film
- flamethrower
- brunette
- hanging
- disco
- steel plated room
- incinerator
- burning
- woman burned to death
- living room
- old house
- clothing store
- pyromania
- abduction
- pubic hair
- psychotic
- kettle
- discotheque
- maniac
- candle
- female topless nudity
- female rear nudity
- psycho
- dead mother
Don’t Go in the House Cast & Characters
Dan Grimaldi leads the cast as Donald 'Donny' Kohler, with Ruth Dardick as Mrs. Kohler and Johanna Brushay as Kathy Jordan. Directed by Joseph Ellison; 11 actors are credited in all.
- Director Joseph Ellison
- Dan Grimaldi as Donald 'Donny' Kohler
- Ruth Dardick as Mrs. Kohler
- Johanna Brushay as Kathy Jordan
- Robert Carnegie as Bobby Tuttle
Also Starring in Don’t Go in the House
· 7 more- Ralph D. Bowman Father Gerritty
- Darcy Shean Girl in Car
- Charles Bonet Ben
- Susan Smith Girl in Market
- Ken Kelsch
- Mary Ann Chinn Woman in Street
- Bill Ricci Vito
Don’t Go in the House Plot Summary
What happens in Don’t Go in the House from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Donny Kohler Dan Grimaldi is a withdrawn man in his thirties who is obsessed with fire—a fixation rooted in a cruel childhood, when his sadistic mother, Mrs. Kohler Ruth Dardick, would burn him on the gas stove to “burn the evil out of him.” After returning from his factory job to the dilapidated Victorian home he shares with his now-elderly mother, Donny discovers she has died in her upstairs bedroom, a moment that floods him with relief and fear as he begins to hear a disembodied voice that seems to be hers.
Full summary
The whole story of Don’t Go in the House, scene by scene
Don’t Go in the House Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 5 trailers, 2 clips and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Trailer Don't Go in the House (1979) - Trailer (HQ)
- Trailer DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE (1979) | Official Trailer | HD
- Trailer Don't Go in the House TV Spot (1980)
- Trailer Don't Go in the House Original Trailer (Joseph Ellison, 1979)
How Well Do You Know Don’t Go in the House?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the main character who becomes obsessed with fire?
Cars in Don’t Go in the House
6 cars on screen, including the 1964 Chevrolet C-10 and the 1968 Chrysler Newport Town & Country.
-
1964 Chevrolet C-10 Important role -
1968 Chrysler Newport Town & Country Minor role -
1974 Ford Mustang II Minor role -
GMC TDH Minor role
Don’t Go in the House Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “The Burning” and “Pyromaniac”.
- Also known as
-
- The Burning
- Pyromaniac
- Не заходи в дом
- Das haus der lebenden leichen
- 恐怖の火あぶり
- La casa del terror
- As Chamas do Inferno
- A Casa do Terror
- 不要进屋
- 돈 고 인 더 하우스
- Nie chodź do tego domu
- Poslední oběť
Seen Don’t Go in the House?
Movies Like Don’t Go in the House
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Don’t Look in the Basement, The Fun House and The House of the Dead.
Don’t Go in the House FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Don’t Go in the House, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Don’t Go in the House?
Don’t Go in the House runs 1 hour 22 minutes (82 minutes).
When was Don’t Go in the House released?
Don’t Go in the House was released on November 1, 1979.
Who directed Don’t Go in the House?
Don’t Go in the House was directed by Joseph Ellison.
More films by Joseph Ellison Who is in the cast of Don’t Go in the House?
Don’t Go in the House stars Dan Grimaldi as Donald 'Donny' Kohler, Ruth Dardick as Mrs. Kohler and Johanna Brushay as Kathy Jordan, among 11 credited actors.
Does Don’t Go in the House have a post-credit scene?
No. Don’t Go in the House has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
