Actors: Vincent Price
Director: William Castle
Formats: VHS, DVD
Price: £2.99 ($6)
Or watch for free at the bottom of this post! :-D
Mini Review
I reccomend buying the DVD as you will want this in your collection in decent quality. There's many editions, various cheap options, the re-mastered versions and very excitingly a re-mastered coloured version! It's a little "Pricey" but the re-mastered colour edition is worth the money.
I have all three but for this review I'm watching the re-mastered black and white edition as it's perhaps how the majority of viewers will see this for the first time. I first saw this one as a young boy back in the '80s and have had a lasting love of Vincent Price's work and haunted house movies ever since.
Vincent Price plays the role of a rich businessman who will financially reward his five guests ($10,000) provided that they can survive a night in the House on Haunted Hill. Price and his wife Annabelle hold a dinner party with a difference. Guests are given "Party Favours" in the form of hand guns (only in America). The guests themselves are a collection of locals, there's a pilot, a secretary, a psychiatrist, a writer and the house owner. All of which have a reason for wanting the cash reward more than most. Can they survive the many ghosts that are said to haunt the house?
The plot plays out with a creepy mystery/who dun'it/haunted house vibe. As the film is so story driven I don't want to give anything away here. There are jumps and scares along the way. It all hangs together very pleasingly as Vincent Price camps it up but at the same time seeming utterly convincing in the role. There are moments when you want to shout out "Don't separate in to groups you fools!" but it's all part of the nature of the film.
Verdict
Pros: It's well written, has solid pacing and above all it is story driven. The lack of special effects and the setting of a creepy looking house are what gives this film a delightful classic feel that is as watchable today as it was back when it was released.
Cons: I'm really struggling. There is one small nag I have regarding an event with a rope that looks/behaves supernatural yet isn't really explained how this happened. Overall though I'm literally picking at the most minor of film quirks.
The Haunted Cinema Rating: 9 disembodied heads out of 10. An absolute must for any haunted house fan.
If you liked this try: The Haunting, House on Haunted Hill (1999),
Should our review not be enough for you try these links.
IMDB: House On Haunted Hill
Wikipedia: House On Haunted Hill
"The House On Haunted Hill" Full Movie.
Happy hauntings, Jiblet.
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