William Castle's House on Haunted Hill is not a good movie. It relies on two big twists which in turn rely on extremely convoluted plans undertaken by different characters that make no logical sense. And yet I loved every minute of it. House on Haunted Hill, the story of five guests who are invited by an eccentric millionaire played by Vincent Price to stay locked overnight in a reputedly haunted house for a cash prize, is the stuff of exploitation legend. It is most notable for a famous gimmick when first released where the theater owners would rig up a skeleton to fly across the audiences' heads during screenings. But it's worth pointing out that the film sans skeletons does have its positives which make watching it a rewarding experience. Vincent Price is delicious as always. I don't think I've ever seen Vincent Price give a bad performance. He's been in bad movies, of course. But he could somehow breathe life into even the stupidest material. The other thing that House on Haunted Hill has working for it is how methodical it is. Murder weapons, victims, and potentially murderous scenarios (e.g. a vat of acid) are revealed and presented like pieces of evidence in a hard-boiled police procedural. This is a film that has no delusions of artistic grandeur. It knows itself and its audience. We know that the guests are going to die, so the film revels in teasing us about it. And though the film itself might not make sense, there is enough style and macabre panache to satisfy any movie-goer looking for a good time.
7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment