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Horror in Black and White: ‘House on Haunted Hill’ (1959)

Published

5 years ago

January 31, 2019

Welcome back to Horror in Black and White! We had so much fun last week with William Castle’s Strait-Jacket, that I decided we just had to move onto the first of two collaborations between the famed director and Vincent Price: House on Haunted Hill!

Released in January, 1959, House on Haunted Hill starred Vincent Price as Frederick Loren, a man with a lot of money and fierce dislike of his (fourth) wife, Annabelle (Carol Ohmart).

The Lorens have rented out “the only really haunted house in the world” for a very special haunted house party with a carefully curated guest list who arrive in funeral cars following a hearse in procession to the House on Haunted Hill.

As the night progresses, the tension mounts and murder enuses…or does it? With a $10,000 prize on the line for staying the night, however, who wouldn’t try?

For those of you wondering, $10,000 in 1959 would be equal to about $86,000 today.

Much better than it ever should have been, the film had a bit of a casting coup when Castle managed to snag Price for his picture.

A story is told, apocryphally, that Castle met up with Price after he had just been passed over for a role. Castle saw his opportunity, explained what he was working on, and Price agreed to do Haunted Hill and The Tingler, which released later that same year.

Ohmart, as it turned out, was the perfect sparring partner for Price on screen. The two had an incredible chemistry, and her whiskey-voiced threats perfectly matched Price’s suave delivery.

Price and Ohmart aren’t the only standouts in this cast, however.

Julie Mitchum, older sister of Robert Mitchum, is fantastic as Ruth Bridgers. Her wry wit shines in every line, and even in tense moments, there’s a twinkle in her eye as though she’s having the time of her life.

Sadly, it was her final appearance on screen. She left the business after the film, though the two events were apparently unrelated.

House on Haunted Hill Julie Mitchum — *House on Haunted Hill* was Julie Mitchum’s final film.

Elisha Cook, Jr. also shines as the neurotic drunk, Watson Pritchard who owns the house, and who had lost more than a few family members to its darkness.

House on Haunted Hill really was one of Castle’s better projects mostly because he takes the time to develop mood and atmosphere in ways that were rare to the king of gimmicks, though he had to throw one or two in for good measure.

Who could ever forget Leona Anderson as the weirdo maid, Mrs. Slydes (get it?!) seemingly floating in and out of scenes, her face frozen in a grotesque mask? Or how about that walking Skeleton, who incidentally was listed in the credits as playing Himself!

Skeleton House on Haunted Hill — This Skeleton got his own credit in *House on Haunted Hill*. I wonder if he got a SAG card for it?

Castle also set his audience up for terror with the opening scream and sound effects. It might not seem like much now, but in 1959, it terrified audiences and primed them for the film he had in store. It also started a craze for spooky sound effects records which people bought for their own haunted parties.

This is one of those films where the score is absolutely on point thanks to composer Von Dexter. From layered strings to wailing theremin, this score had it all, and it perfectly complements the action on screen.

House on Haunted Hill became one of Allied Artists hottest properties upon its release. The combined power of Price and Castle were box office gold, and it remains a cult classic to this day.

Oddly, however, the film fell into the public domain and there it has remained. which has worked for fans of the film. It is available on numerous streaming services for free!

If you’ve never seen this black and white classic, you’re definitely overdue, and if you have, it’s time you saw it again!

Check out the trailer below and join us again next week for another edition of Horror in Black and White!

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

20 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.