Castle's most mature effort remains gimmicky and silly in spots. Overall, though, it is a neatly accomplished effort to resurrect the 'old dark house' murder mystery of the 30s and 40s, a genre that pretty much came to an end after the Second World War. The house itself is something of a disappointment - the house in Castle's "13 Ghosts" seems more complicated and stranger than the art-deco job we've got here, and the interiors are pretty banal. But the characters are rather interesting, and for the most part believable given their biographies - and well acted throughout, especially by Cook Jr. and Vincent Price at his most sophisticated. Remembering that this is really a murder mystery, not a horror film, don't expect big shocks - pay attention to the puzzles. Admittedly a bit slow, but surprisingly entertaining.
Review of House on Haunted Hill
