Stranger in Our House (1979)

Interesting facts

• Filmed in: Los Angeles

Stranger in Our House, also known as Summer of Fear, is a 1978 American supernatural horror film directed by Wes Craven and starring Linda Blair, Lee Purcell, Carol Lawrence, Jeremy Slate, Jeff McCracken, and Jeff East. Based on the 1976 novel Summer of Fear by Lois Duncan, it follows a teenage girl who suspects her orphaned cousin who has come to live with her family is a witch. This film is also notable for having Fran Drescher in an early supporting role.

Production

Stranger in Our House marked Craven's first film project upon his relocation from New York City to Los Angeles. "I had come out to California to do some minor stuff and got invited in to do that," Craven recalled. "I think that was the first time working with a Hollywood star of sorts, Linda Blair. First time working in thirty-five millimeter, first time using a crane, a dolly, so it was a great education for me. And it was a good shoot."

The film marked actress Linda Blair's third leading role in a horror film, following her Oscar-nominated performance in The Exorcist (1973) and its sequel Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977). In his DVD commentary, director Wes Craven recalled that Blair had recently "gotten into some trouble" prior to filming; also that he was plainly inspired by Roman Polanski's work, and tried to carefully build a sense of paranoia and suspense in the film's narra…

While the source novel by Lois Duncan features Rachel losing a pet dog, Blair suggested to Craven that it be a horse, as Blair, an equestrian at the time, had a close bond to the animal. Filming took place in Hidden Hills, California.

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