Only the kiddies could possibly find anything really scary or original about this obvious and contrived fright film on a cheapie William Castle budget, THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL. Despite the fact that it features VINCENT PRICE as an eccentric millionaire who challenges a flock of guests to spend the night in his haunted mansion (and survive), it's got all the flavor of amateur night with performances ranging from bad to really bad.
Of course, the title alone is enough to encourage some viewers to think they'll get some real scares--but it's a title that never lives up to the promise of something really haunting. Instead, we have chandeliers crashing, heads turning up in boxes, and some foaming vat of acid bubbling in the cellar while the guests lurk around in such stupid fashion that they seem to deserve their grisly fates.
Unworthy of Vincent Price, an actor who did do a number of good horror films. This is not one of them. Strictly third-rate stuff, even for Halloween.
Of course, the title alone is enough to encourage some viewers to think they'll get some real scares--but it's a title that never lives up to the promise of something really haunting. Instead, we have chandeliers crashing, heads turning up in boxes, and some foaming vat of acid bubbling in the cellar while the guests lurk around in such stupid fashion that they seem to deserve their grisly fates.
Unworthy of Vincent Price, an actor who did do a number of good horror films. This is not one of them. Strictly third-rate stuff, even for Halloween.