I know the three films, The Gates of Hell, The Beyond, and House by the Cemetery are not officially connected, but if they had to be, what order would they go in?
I'd say "House" would be first. It's sort of an 'intro' to the whole concept of the gates of Hell being opened.
Then of course, "Gates" would show the theme on a bigger scale, building up into the epic, world encompassing BEYOND; the finale.
Thoughts?
I would say that is a fair chronology if you were looking at a strictly story driven arc but these movies weren't about the story or chronology.
although the release order was:
City
Beyond
House
I just wish Fulci was still alive so we could ask him.
"Did that blow your mind? That just happened!"
I love Fulci, but if he were still here, I'd take him over my knee for the steaming pile called House. Seriously?!! I "get" the Beyond, Zombi, Gates, etc.,
but really now, WTF was that and why on earth was it ever released?
That and the New York Ripper seem to be the only ones of his that just irk me to no end.
If those 2 are the only ones that "irk" you, then you must not have seen many films of his outside of his early 80's output. First, the House by The Cemetery cannot really be compared to his other work of the period, instead of creating an all-out splatter fest, he was created something much more atmospheric and haunting.
Seriously, I would put House... as top tier Fulci along with the Beyond, Beatrice Cenci, Perversion Story, Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Don't Torture the Duckling, Zombi, Cat in the Brain, and Gates of Hell.
You want some Fulci stinkers start with Ghosts of Sodom, Demonia, and Manhattan Baby.