William Castle's Spooky Fun House Galore
Added 10/31/2009
William Castle's fun, somewhat silly, and innocent spooky classic "House on Haunted Hill" holds up as an enjoyable chiller fifty years after it first dangled a skeleton on a string over the heads of screaming and laughing audience members in theaters. For me, the film still has a creepy fun & Halloween charm that can be enjoyed during the season or whenever you wish to view it.
The movie opens with plenty of moaning and screaming, followed by disembodied heads floating in to introduce the House and its history. The main plot concerns Vincent Price (at his villainous best with some great lines) as millionaire Frederick Loren setting up a haunted Birthday party for his wife at one of the most notoriously dangerous haunted houses around. The house has supposedly claimed several victims. So, Price has invited several guests to a Birthday party for his wife. There's a catch but also a prize; the guests will win a $10,000 dollars for spending the night in the House, a House that has claimed victims...if they survive the night. All arrive to the party in hearses and receive complimentary guns in little black coffins.
From there, after midnight, the doors lock leaving the guests trapped...the mayhem begins. We're witness to crashing chandeliers, and pianos playing as if on their own. Maniacal looking wild haired strangers emerge from pitch darkness and pass by to disappear again. Decapitated heads appear and then vanish, and a ghost from a suicide passes by to spook and taunt the living. It may not be Henry James' "Turn of the Screw" but it's a lot of ghoulish fun. Castle was an 'architect' in making fun houses out of movies.
Amidst the so called mysterious ghostliness, there is also intrigue and suspicion amongst the guests and if Price's character can be trusted, and who could be up to something possibly murderous. And, it's all linked together playing on fears of the unknown. So, settle in this Halloween or really, whenever you like, for tonight, the dead are restless and moving...
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We Miss You, Vinnie ;-).
Added 10/31/2009
A lovely, old film. It's neat to watch these period pics, if only to see how much films have evolved over the decades :-). Vinnie, the shriekers, the traditionally-trained theatrical actress/ghost...all wonderful when in the right mood. I'd never seen the original. I'd bought the remake listed below, years ago. After seeing the original. I now think they did a funky job remaking it for modern audiences. Light weight fare, granted, but entertaining. [...]
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house on haunted hill(colar+b&w)
Added 10/25/2009
i thought for a classic that it was very good and suspensful and that they should make some of the old classics like this and holiday inn in colar without changing any thig but color.
~redneck beauty~
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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An influential and essential horror movie, spend a night at this house!
Added 10/10/2009
Starring the unforgettable Vincent Price, "House on Haunted Hill" is a classic haunted-house story, and at only 75 minutes, is short but sweet. The fact that this was also in black and white makes it even better for the atmosphere of the movie, which itself is already well-done here. Also, I'd like to mention that "House on Haunted Hill" seems to play a pretty huge influence on the slasher films that were to follow. Let's take a look at it:
In "House on Haunted Hill":
-There are a fairly large group of people, that....
-Are in a certain amount of space together...
-Are being picked off one by one...
-It's at night...I know that sounds irrelevant and pointless to throw it, but I figured it fits the cliches of most slasher films.
Having both described some of the aspects of the film and showing it's importance in horror movie history, the review is almost done. However, I would like to add that on the DVD I got as a present, there were many extras such as trailers and a DVD play-a-long game. I'm not sure if all versions of the DVD include these bonuses, but if not, look for the DVD with the cover that's painted and features one of the ladies staring at you.
Well, that about wraps up this review. In short, "House on Haunted Hill" is a highly fun and entertaining haunted-house movie that features some great shocking moments, and should be a fun way to spend your rainy night. Here's to the month of Halloween! Thanks for the time, and peace.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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One of my all time favorites
Added 8/29/2009
This is one movie that has stood the test of time. I've watched it so many times I almost have every detail memorized. Yes, it does seem hokey by todays standards but for me, there is an certain charm about it that takes me back to a more innocent time. Sadly, out of all the excellent original cast, only Carol Ohmart is still living. Two castmembers died tragically young, Carolyn Craig at age 36 of a gunshot and Richard Long at age 47 of a heart attack. I recently noticed that the Ennis-Brown house is now up for sale, I hope someone buys it and preseves this great, old landmark. This movie is such a classic it's hard to imagine any video collection with out it.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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William Castle's Spooky Fun House Galore
Added 10/31/2009
William Castle's fun, somewhat silly, and innocent spooky classic "House on Haunted Hill" holds up as an enjoyable chiller fifty years after it first dangled a skeleton on a string over the heads of screaming and laughing audience members in theaters. For me, the film still has a creepy fun & Halloween charm that can be enjoyed during the season or whenever you wish to view it.
The movie opens with plenty of moaning and screaming, followed by disembodied heads floating in to introduce the House and its history. The main plot concerns Vincent Price (at his villainous best with some great lines) as millionaire Frederick Loren setting up a haunted Birthday party for his wife at one of the most notoriously dangerous haunted houses around. The house has supposedly claimed several victims. So, Price has invited several guests to a Birthday party for his wife. There's a catch but also a prize; the guests will win a $10,000 dollars for spending the night in the House, a House that has claimed victims...if they survive the night. All arrive to the party in hearses and receive complimentary guns in little black coffins.
From there, after midnight, the doors lock leaving the guests trapped...the mayhem begins. We're witness to crashing chandeliers, and pianos playing as if on their own. Maniacal looking wild haired strangers emerge from pitch darkness and pass by to disappear again. Decapitated heads appear and then vanish, and a ghost from a suicide passes by to spook and taunt the living. It may not be Henry James' "Turn of the Screw" but it's a lot of ghoulish fun. Castle was an 'architect' in making fun houses out of movies.
Amidst the so called mysterious ghostliness, there is also intrigue and suspicion amongst the guests and if Price's character can be trusted, and who could be up to something possibly murderous. And, it's all linked together playing on fears of the unknown. So, settle in this Halloween or really, whenever you like, for tonight, the dead are restless and moving...
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
We Miss You, Vinnie ;-).
Added 10/31/2009
A lovely, old film. It's neat to watch these period pics, if only to see how much films have evolved over the decades :-). Vinnie, the shriekers, the traditionally-trained theatrical actress/ghost...all wonderful when in the right mood. I'd never seen the original. I'd bought the remake listed below, years ago. After seeing the original. I now think they did a funky job remaking it for modern audiences. Light weight fare, granted, but entertaining. [...]
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
house on haunted hill(colar+b&w)
Added 10/25/2009
i thought for a classic that it was very good and suspensful and that they should make some of the old classics like this and holiday inn in colar without changing any thig but color.
~redneck beauty~
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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