House on Haunted Hill (1959) | 100 Movies Bucket List

 

I'd heard of this film in passing but didn't know much about it - and even then it was probably the remake that I was hearing about, so this version wasn't really on my radar.

I liked this film.

One of the first things that stands out is how good the writing is. The dialogue works so well with the individual characters, and you're invested almost immediately.

This is the second film on the bucket list starring Vincent Price, who is clearly a horror icon, and it's not hard to see why. He was the best thing about 'The Masque of the Red Death' and 10 minutes in, he's already one of the best parts of this movie too. I really want to check out more of his movies.

The characters are really fun. The film makes a point of saying that the host picked people specifically for their differences, and while we don't explore all of the characters as much as we'd like to, it's great to have the mix of personality and mentalities, particularly when it comes to ghosts.

I loved the scares. Not only does it fully lean into what would be considered today as more traditional horror, ghosts and things we can actually see, but there are genuinely moments that make you jump, which is rare for me with older movies.

It's really interesting to explore relationship dynamics in the midst of the horror. Not only does it add to the atmosphere, but it really fleshes out the characters.

The film is so short that things happen really quickly. The film is a great example of how to use a limited runtime, and why more films could stand to be shorter. We get exactly what we need here.

I think one of the best things about the film is that it's using ghosts to disguise the true themes. This was never a ghost story, but rather an exploration into relationships and the meaning and effects of fear.

Things escalate in a great way, changing sub-genres from ghosts/haunted house to murder mystery, which is so much fun.

But ultimately, what the film rests on is your interest in the characters, and I found them really interesting, so I enjoyed it a lot.

And the way everything comes together is just the icing on the cake - it was done really well, the reveal was unexpected and it really made sense. The ending was so great!

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this movie. It's perfect if you love horror and don't have a lot of time on your hands. The story is great and the actors are fantastic.