At the house on haunted hill, the electricity is busted, the windows are barred, the doors are impenetrable, and not to mention there are murderous ghosts. Plus, if you want to earn ten thousand dollars, you have the stay the entire night. You can collect your prize if you’re alive in the morning.
The delightfully creepy Vincent Price plays Frederick Loren, a millionaire who has invited five people to the house who are desperately in need of money. He tells them that it was his wife’s idea for the gathering, but why does Mrs. Loren refuse to come down to the “party”?
The house has been the site of seven murders, including the owner’s brother and sister-in-law. His brother’s wife went mad and dismembered her husband and sister. All the body parts were found except for the heads. Loren rented the house from him for the night and poor Watson whole-heartily believes that the ghosts in the house will kill them all before the night is over.
Nonetheless, Watson gives the guests a tour of the house, showing them a large blood stain on the ceiling that never goes away. Down in the wine cellar there is a vat of acid that man shoved his wife into, leaving only the skeleton. After seeing these horrors, one guest Nora wants out. Unfortunately for her, the caretakers of the house leave early trapping everyone inside.
Now the seven in the house must survive the malignant spirits and especially each other. The ghosts aren’t the only ones plotting death in the night. Perhaps giving pistols as party favors was not such a good idea.
The movie was produced by William Castle, a filmmaker who loved to have gimmicks during the theatrical releases of his films. The gimmick that was used in House on Haunted Hill was pretty ridiculous, and to explain would be a spoiler for the ending.
The acting of Vincent Price is what has made this movie a classic and his voice alone makes you feel like it’s Halloween. One thing that makes the film more eerie is that the characters break the fourth wall. Not a lot, but just enough to create an unsettling sensation.
House On Haunted Hill has aged as well as it can. It manages to be spine-tingling while it builds suspense, but some of the special effects look as homemade as your neighbor’s Halloween decorations. I giggled at the wire propping the floating skeleton up. However, the rest of horrors are creepy enough to get me to jump and panic at my roommates, or maybe I am just a big chicken.
I have a soft spot for films shot in black and white, and the filming technique added to atmosphere of a haunted house. I do recommend House on Haunted Hill to people who can appreciate a good B-movie and can be forgiving of its plot holes. Don’t worry, they’re not big ones, but they are noticeable after a post-watching contemplation.
Would you care to stay at the House on Haunted Hill?
