The first of Roger Corman's low-budget adaptations of Edgar Allen Poe's Gothic tales of horror sets a convincing template to which the producer/director would return time and again.
Created with an eye for period detail and utilising the charisma of Vincent Price to intrigue and occasionally scare the viewer, the story moves slowly but surely, like a descent to madness, to its fiery conclusion. With only four players and, not unnaturally, given the prominent part the house itself plays in the narrative, the movie is very set-bound, with eerie music turned up whenever a scary scene looms, the claustrophobic stifling atmosphere is in keeping with the conclusion of the story.
Price is excellent, as the doomed, ghoulish brother Usher of his pretty but sheltered sister, the aptly-named Madeline. There's also a faithful butler on tow, to help move the action along and reveal key background facts, but I can exclusively reveal that he didn't do it. Mark Damon swoons and raves as Maddy's ardent but thwarted lover to compete the cast.
Shot in lurid colour, with highly atmospheric background music, it would be easy to mock the heightened acting which occasionally borders on the wrong side of camp, but Price's presence and Corman's skill with cinematography and story-telling deliver a fitting tribute to Poe's work.
Created with an eye for period detail and utilising the charisma of Vincent Price to intrigue and occasionally scare the viewer, the story moves slowly but surely, like a descent to madness, to its fiery conclusion. With only four players and, not unnaturally, given the prominent part the house itself plays in the narrative, the movie is very set-bound, with eerie music turned up whenever a scary scene looms, the claustrophobic stifling atmosphere is in keeping with the conclusion of the story.
Price is excellent, as the doomed, ghoulish brother Usher of his pretty but sheltered sister, the aptly-named Madeline. There's also a faithful butler on tow, to help move the action along and reveal key background facts, but I can exclusively reveal that he didn't do it. Mark Damon swoons and raves as Maddy's ardent but thwarted lover to compete the cast.
Shot in lurid colour, with highly atmospheric background music, it would be easy to mock the heightened acting which occasionally borders on the wrong side of camp, but Price's presence and Corman's skill with cinematography and story-telling deliver a fitting tribute to Poe's work.