Though Vincent Price had a long and varied career, most horror film fans will know him by a trio of movies from the late 1950's - "The Bat" (1959), "The Fly" (1958), and this one - "House on Haunted Hill". When I first saw this film shortly after it's original release, it gave me the heebie jeebies for a week, especially having seen it alone in the dark. Today it doesn't affect the same response, but still, it's got a lot going for it and is a well written, creepy and atmospheric drama in which Price and a host of characters are given a chance to shine.
The opening set up is quite classy - Elisha Cook's character Watson Pritchard is the owner of the house, and he snares the viewer with an immediate hook; seven violent murders have taken place in the house including his own brother. Price is Frederick Loren, the current resident, an eccentric millionaire who offers five people seemingly chosen at random, ten thousand dollars each if they can survive a night in the house. Pritchard, an alcoholic, doesn't let up throughout the film, he insists that dire consequences will occur - "Only the ghosts in this house are glad we're here."
The film's first real fright catches you off guard, as Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig) examines an empty room, she suddenly turns into the haggardly face of the home's female caretaker, though we don't know that yet at this point. It's the kind of face you would make if you were trying to scare your little sister coming downstairs in the dark - funny but effective. There are other subtle events that keep you guessing, all done with an effective purpose and not just for shock value, a rarity in today's films. One of the better ones makes use of a thick rope that crawls it's way toward lead screamer Nora, but this time she's speechless, fixated on the ghostly image of Loren's wife Annabelle floating outside a window.
The relationship between Loren and his wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart) makes up a key plot element in the story. It's no secret that they share a tense relationship, Loren the jealous husband, and she the one willing to stick it out for a huge inheritance once he's met his demise. As the grim party of five come to believe that Loren is out to kill her or one of them, they all agree to remain in their rooms till morning to stay safe. Yeah, right! Now wouldn't it have made more sense for all of them just to stay in one room all together? But then, no murder, mystery or mayhem.
The movie is peppered with some great lines, and Price's character gets his share. Commenting on his marriage, he offers - "What husband hasn't at one time wanted to kill his wife?" But my personal favorite, and you'll have to see the film for it's proper context, is "Do you really think there WAS a head in her suitcase?"
Other clever elements are inserted as well, the coffin party favors with a handgun for each guest is a neat touch. Then there's the basement, a veritable fun house replete with a floor vat filled with poison acid. It's a real treat to see how Vincent Price literally "pulls the strings" of this murder mystery whodonit in the film's finale.
Observation: freeze frame a close up of Carol Ohmart in her role as Mrs. Loren - doesn't she resemble what a mature Paris Hilton might look like?
"House on Haunted Hill" remains on my yearly must see list, I'm sure you'll have fun with it too. Your thoughts will echo that of Elisha Cook's closing words - "They're coming for me now, and then they'll come for you."
The opening set up is quite classy - Elisha Cook's character Watson Pritchard is the owner of the house, and he snares the viewer with an immediate hook; seven violent murders have taken place in the house including his own brother. Price is Frederick Loren, the current resident, an eccentric millionaire who offers five people seemingly chosen at random, ten thousand dollars each if they can survive a night in the house. Pritchard, an alcoholic, doesn't let up throughout the film, he insists that dire consequences will occur - "Only the ghosts in this house are glad we're here."
The film's first real fright catches you off guard, as Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig) examines an empty room, she suddenly turns into the haggardly face of the home's female caretaker, though we don't know that yet at this point. It's the kind of face you would make if you were trying to scare your little sister coming downstairs in the dark - funny but effective. There are other subtle events that keep you guessing, all done with an effective purpose and not just for shock value, a rarity in today's films. One of the better ones makes use of a thick rope that crawls it's way toward lead screamer Nora, but this time she's speechless, fixated on the ghostly image of Loren's wife Annabelle floating outside a window.
The relationship between Loren and his wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart) makes up a key plot element in the story. It's no secret that they share a tense relationship, Loren the jealous husband, and she the one willing to stick it out for a huge inheritance once he's met his demise. As the grim party of five come to believe that Loren is out to kill her or one of them, they all agree to remain in their rooms till morning to stay safe. Yeah, right! Now wouldn't it have made more sense for all of them just to stay in one room all together? But then, no murder, mystery or mayhem.
The movie is peppered with some great lines, and Price's character gets his share. Commenting on his marriage, he offers - "What husband hasn't at one time wanted to kill his wife?" But my personal favorite, and you'll have to see the film for it's proper context, is "Do you really think there WAS a head in her suitcase?"
Other clever elements are inserted as well, the coffin party favors with a handgun for each guest is a neat touch. Then there's the basement, a veritable fun house replete with a floor vat filled with poison acid. It's a real treat to see how Vincent Price literally "pulls the strings" of this murder mystery whodonit in the film's finale.
Observation: freeze frame a close up of Carol Ohmart in her role as Mrs. Loren - doesn't she resemble what a mature Paris Hilton might look like?
"House on Haunted Hill" remains on my yearly must see list, I'm sure you'll have fun with it too. Your thoughts will echo that of Elisha Cook's closing words - "They're coming for me now, and then they'll come for you."