Delusion (1981)

**_People mysteriously dying at a mansion in SoCal_**

When production began in 1979 the working title was “Trauma,” but after shooting completed in 1980 it was released in some places as “The House Where Evil Lives” which is superior to its most well-known title, “Delusion” (you’ll know why after seeing the film).

It’s a slow grind psychological thriller and murder mystery that could also be considered a prototype slasher in the tradition of “Psycho,” but not “Halloween” or “Friday the 13th.” The milieu is a wealthy old man’s estate in the Los Angeles area reminiscent of the typical Columbo movie, yet the snooping detective element is small, similar to “Psycho.”

Patricia Pearcy plays the delicate redhead protagonist, who’s mostly known for “Squirm” from several years earlier. Meanwhile Joseph Cotten appears as the rich old man at the age of 74 during shooting; it was his penultimate film (although he had a gig on TV’s The Love Boat at the time as well).

The 16 years-old grandson is played by John Dukakis, who happens to be the stepson of the 1988 Dem presidential candidate and was 21 years-old during shooting (although he passes for 16). He resembles the singer of Krokus, Marc Storace, albeit seven years younger. David Hayward is also notable as the somewhat arrogant family lawyer.

It runs 1h 30m and was shot in Altadena, which is located northeast of Hollywood at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, just north of Pasadena. You can see the mountains in the background of one scene.

GRADE: B