Review of House on Haunted Hill (1959) by Stuart K — 01 Feb 2011

From B-Movie Horror maestro William Castle, this is an enjoyable, cheesy horror film made then for $200,000. It's got what you'd expect from cheesy horror films like this of the period, but it would have a big influence on other filmmakers for years to come, including Hitchcock with Psycho (1960).

It has Vincent Price as eccentric millionaire Fredrick Loren, who with his fourth wife Annabel (Carol Ohmart) are holding a party at their mansion with a difference. The guests at this party include Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig), Lance Schroeder (Richard Long), Watson Pritchard (Elisha Cook), Dr.

David Trent (Alan Marshal) and Ruth Bridgers (Julie Mitchum). Loren makes a bet with his guests, if they can survive the night in this house, they will each win $10,000. Annabel tries to convince the guests that her husband is psychotic, and is trying to kill them, even though Loren providing the guests with guns.

It becomes a series of mind games, with the guests playing off one another, who is in league with who, and the body counts starts. For reference, this is the one with the skeleton that comes to life, but even though this is horror, it's obvious that this is played for laughs, and Price is compelling as always, sinister but always entertaining.