House on Haunted Hill

This is a great film with bite and wit. This is a classic tale and Vincent Price makes it all the more spooky with his great acting. I would definatly reccomend this movie to anyone who loves old movies.

The House on Haunted Hill is a masterpiece. Plain and simple. Vincent Price has more talent in his little toe then any of the horror films that were produced from 2000 and on. It's one of my favorite horror movies of all time. Its also a public movie, meaning there is at least five copies of this film floating around. I got it on a horror set and the quality to the film was pretty good. If you love horror/thriller films, not just ones with gore and crappy acting, then check out this movie. The trailer to this film is perfect as well.

I remember when I was too young to see this movie when it was first released and how an older (by 2 yrs.) boy in the neighborhood was telling everyone that this was the scariest movie ever made and how skeletons came out of the movie itself and attacked the audience!!!
I wasn't too sure that I wanted to see HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL just quite then...However, I will always think of this film as being very frightening!
Watching it again the other day I'm amazed at how really well-made it is and how well it still holds up. Price is just priceless and the acting is fine all around. A good fun time at the old haunted house!
The copy I viewed was put out by ALPHA dvd, a hit or miss company on quality transfers. But I will say that their version of HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL is excellent!!! Very clear with no jumpy splices. It was like watching a very expensive dvd. Don't hesitate to purchase this version as it's the best bargain in the lot!

I used to feel that "House of Wax" was Vincent Price's finest moment. After seeing "House on Haunted Hill" though, I feel that award must now go to this outstanding masterpiece of horror. Vincent Price (loaded with millions of dollars) invites 5 very different people (a typist, a doctor, a drunk, an elderly journalist, and a good hearted young woman short of money), to spend one night in his 'haunted mansion.' If they stay the night, he will give them each $10,000. And we have no reason to doubt he will keep his word. As Jet Pilot Lance puts it: "Oh, sure he'll give it to us. $10,000. to him is no more than a nickel is to us." (On a side note, Lance seems to be a forerunner of the Adam West Batman.) One is at least entitled to wonder if this movie was the foundation for Scooby Doo. (Think about it! Scooby Doo episodes and movies usually involve mysteries that APPEAR to be related to ghosts, but turn out to be investigations of some REAL AND HUMAN criminal activity.) We later learn that Vincent Price and his wife have HAD IT with each other. He offers her a tax free $1,000,000. to just go away, but she wants ALL his money. Neither is safe while the other is alive. There are some scenes that make us think that perhaps ghosts are involved, but somehow, we never quite forget that the true horror is that Vincent Price and his wife are having their final war that will have to end in the death of the other. While some of the parties like the young Nora, the Jet Pilot Lance, and the elderly Journalist Ruth are likable and try to remain innocent bystanders, a certain party consents to join Vincent's wife in plotting to kill him. Interestingly, the drunk may APPEAR to be an idiot, but there is usually some ironic truth to what he says. Vincent of course also offers his usual horror laced with scary comedy: "Take the gun darling. You might want to use it on me before the night's out." I could go on and on, but the scenery is phenomenal for its time; the characters are well developed and convincing; the suspense is there; the horror is CERTAINLY there; and the climax DEFINES horror. Throughout the story we are expecting ghosts, and then we realize that it is our own greed and ambitions that are the true horrors in this world. As if I needed another great thing to say about this movie, at the end, the drunk beautifully steps out of the movie and delivers a haunting line to us (the audience). Ever since a friend gave this to me as a gift, I have watched it MANY, MANY times trying to find ONE thing wrong with it. I STILL CAN'T! Thank you Mr. Price for this masterpiece, and enjoy your everlasting peace. Your movie deserves a place right up there with Edgar Allen Poe's "Tell tale Heart" and the writings of John Webster.

My kids liked it. Fair story line and special effects decent for the time period in which the movie was made. Love Vincent Price!