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Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long, Alan Marshal, Carolyn Craig ... see more see more... , Elisha Cook Jr. , Julie Mitchum , Leona Anderson , Howard Hoffman

A perennial favorite of the "Shock Theatre" TV circuit, House on Haunted Hill stars Vincent Price as sinister gent (you're surprised?) Frederick Loren, who resides in a sinister mansion on a sinister ... read more read more...hill, where seven murders have occurred. He makes a proposal to several strangers, offtering $10,000 to anyone who can last the entire night. Loren festively gives each of his guests a tiny coffin containing a loaded handgun, designed to protect them from the spooks that emerge in the house over the course of the night. The picture hinges on its surprise ending, which packs in several by-now-familiar twists. When originally released to theaters, House on Haunted Hill was accompanied by one of those gimmicks so beloved of producer/director William Castle: the gimmick was "Emergo," and it involved a prop skeleton that "emerged" from the side of the screen at a crucial moment to frighten the audience. Like most of Castle's best films, House didn't really need the gimmick, but its presence added to the fun -- especially when second- and third-time viewers responded to "Emergo" by bombarding the skeleton with popcorn and empty soda bottles. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

20,833 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

20 critics

PG, 1 hr. 14 min.

Directed by: William Castle, William Malone

Release Date: February 17, 1959

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DVD Release Date: October 26, 1999

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Stats: 1,284 reviews

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Watson Pritchard gives a tour of the Old House Watson Pritchard Nora Manning Dr. David Trent Ruth Bridges Frederick Lauren One of the caretakers House On Haunted Hill Lance Shroeder House On Haunted Hill House On Haunted Hill House On Haunted Hill House On Haunted Hill Vincent Price and Carol Ohmart House On Haunted Hill House on Haunted Hill Poster House On Haunted Hill House on Haunted Hill
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Flixster Reviews (1,284)

  • fb100002384654145
    May 26, 2012
    fb100002384654145
    The film gets way too convoluted for it's own good at the end, but it remains a rather timeless campy horror flick. The cast gives generally serviceable performances but Vincent Price inevitably steals the show.
  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    A perfect piece of midnight movie madness. This campy horror flick lead by a sinister Vincent Price won't fail to entertain.
  • fb729949618
    October 2, 2011
    fb729949618
    To this day, this film still has what it takes to keep you on edge. Classic.
  • blkbomb
    August 4, 2011
    blkbomb
    Watson Pritchard: There's been a murder almost everyplace in this house! 

    "See it with somebody with warm hands"

    If I remember correctly, House on Haunted Hill was the first "horror" movie I ever saw when I was probably six. Even then this movie didn't scare me. The movie is hi... read morelarious in that it was once considered scary. Despite not being scary, it's still a really cool movie. It has a very simple premise. A rich man invites strangers to a haunted house with the promise of $10,000 if they make it through the night. 

    What really makes this movie is Vincent Price. Him and Carol Ohmart were in fact the only ones to give good performances in the film. Everyone else was laughable. But the exchanges between Vincent and Carol are awesome. They play an unhappy married couple who in fact hate each other. They both want the other dead, in fact.

    The movie has a crazy amount of gimmicks that were popular among the horror films of the time. None of them really stand out anymore as crazy or "shocking." 

    When it comes down to it this and the original are pretty much the same, in that, they are only worth watching for a cool lead performance. In the remake, Geoffrey Rush gives a very Vincent Price performance. He even sports the mustache. I will say that House on Haunted Hill does boast an extremely cool beginning and a pretty cool ending. The middle gets a little slow, but the runtime helps a lot.
  • ajv2688
    November 17, 2010
    ajv2688
    Castle sure knows how to make super cheesy horror movies, and this is one of them. The movie has some good actors like Price, who just look like they're having fun with the movie, and the movie is fun, but the ending is disappointing. Overall, pretty good, though.
  • LitelBluHli
    July 6, 2009
    LitelBluHli
    Years ago I bought a collection of old horror dvd's for a couple of dollars from Best Buy. I've watch only one or two out of 50, but the other night I decided to watch House on Haunted Hill. Of course I've seen the more recent version, but surprisingly, this one frightened me muc... read moreh more. It was quite entertaining and although the special effects weren't as good, it had a different kind of scary. Definitely worth a watch if you're into horror movies like me.
  • FilmFanatik
    September 25, 2008
    FilmFanatik
    A very dated movie, but still fun and scary.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    January 24, 2008
    YosemiteSamFan
    An impressive-looking and casted late-50's horror flick. It's got a great murder mystery and is filled with devious atmosphere. Some of the characters are over-the-top, but Vincent Price is superb as the wicked haunted house host. There are some nice pay-offs, but it seems to end... read more too quickly. See the richly detailed colorized version if you can get your hands on it.
  • Deano78
    July 23, 2007
    Deano78
    I caught this on TV a few years ago. Unfortunately the "scares" in this are more likely to make you laugh. Vincent Price does give a great performance though.
  • hypathio7
    November 23, 2010
    hypathio7
    The audience is kept on edge early on with Vincent Price and Carol Ohmart as Frederick and Annabelle Loren both acting suspiciously. Pretty ridiculous the way people go wandering around the "haunted" house alone when they agree that is not smart. Strange that this house has a v... read moreat of acid in the floor of the basement as well. I liked the effect of Annabelle's ghost appearing to the other young woman at her window. And the effect of the skeleton walking around was enjoyable. The convoluted plot left me unimpressed overall and wondering about the point of it all.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

There is some good humor in the dialog which not only pays off well against the ghostly elements, but provides a release for laughter so it does not explode in the suspense sequences. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
September 24, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

If one had to pick the best of the campy horror films that made [Castle's] reputation, this 1958 feature would probably be it. Full Review

Howard Thompson
March 25, 2006
Howard Thompson, New York Times

A stale spook concoction from the William Castle-Robb White production team. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
February 13, 2010
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

A meticulous homage to Clovis Trouille Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
September 26, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

William Castle was better known for his gimmicks than for his films, but this haunted house chiller is actually very good. Full Review

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
February 2, 2008
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

Vincent Price with a great performance

September 24, 2007
Film4

The film has a genuinely creepy atmosphere and boasts at least one leap-outa-your-seat shock moment. Full Review

September 24, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Silly, but good fun. Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.
July 16, 2007
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat

Still a classic after the wretched remake, Price's horror film is still fun, even during the cheesy climax.

Dennis Schwartz
March 14, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

As campy fun, this one is timeless, expertly executed and still delivers its fey thrills and worldly laughs. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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House On Haunted Hill Trivia

  • Which one, of the following, is NOT a movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock?  Answer »
  • In which movie does Bridgette Wilson-Sampras play a former television reporter who dies while recording ghosts on her camera?  Answer »
  • Which of the following movies was NOT based on a Stephen King novel?  Answer »
  • You're looking at a man who exclaims, 'I lied. The house is alive. We're all gonna die.' Unfortunately, you've stumbled into this movie that recounts a birthday party gone horribly wrong.  Answer »
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