The House That Dripped Blood
by Peter Duffell
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Christopher Lee, John Bennett, John Bryans, Nyree Dawn Porter, Peter CushingDirector: Peter Duffell
Brand: LIONS GATE HOME ENT.
Cinematographer: Ray Parslow
Producer: Gordon Wescourt
Producer: Max Rosenberg
Producer: Milton Subotsky
Producer: Paul Ellisworth
Writer: Robert Bloch
Writer: Russ Jones
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-10-28
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
Movie Reviews of The House That Dripped Blood
Movie Review: Creepy Amicus Horror Anthology Laden With Atmosphere
Summary: 5 Stars
"The House That Dripped Blood", has always been my absolute favourite of the rich output of horror anthologies that Amicus Productions turned out in the 1960's and early 1970's. Often mistaken for Hammer Studios productions because of the frequent crossover of casts and story themes, Amicus' speciality was these multi story horror tales tied together by an overlapping framing story. Here the story revolves around a suitably creepy old house in the countryside just outside London that seems to have a strange effect on its succession of occupants. The framing story of this piece concerns the mysterious disappearance of the latest tenant, famed horror movie actor Paul Henderson (Jon Pertwee)who was renting the house while shooting his latest horror epic "Curse of the Bloodsuckers", and it revolves around the police investigation carried out by Scotland Yard's Det. Insp. Holloway (John Bennett). Along the way the inspector is introduced to the eerie history of the house and the strange fate of each of its occupants. Four excellent stories are told in flashback and each is highly entertaining in it's own unique way with great atmosphere, first rate casts and with themes including deranged stranglers, haunted wax museums, witchcraft and vampires. In short it is a horror fans smorgasbord sure to entertain.
Story One is "Method for Murder", and revolves around famed murder mystery writer Charles Hillyer (Denholm Elliot), who during a period of acute writers block takes up residence in the house with his wife Alice. Charles creates a sinister main character in his new novel called Dominic who is a deranged strangler who laughs as he murders his victims. For inspiration Charles even creates a drawing of his killer and shows it to Alice. As the novel progresses however Charles begins to question his sanity as he actually begins seeing Dominic in the house or just outside the window. When he attempts to point him out to Alice she cannot see him and after one frightening episode where Charles sees Dominic trying to strangle Alice she cries out that it was Charles himself who attacked her. When a doctor he visits to talk about this problem is strangled Charles really begins to wonder if Dominic is actually alive or is it some other sinister reason why his fictional character seems so real?
Story Two is "Waxworks", and stars the great Peter Cushing as retired Stockbroker Philip Grayson who takes out a lease on the house to get away from the fast life and many painful memories in London. While visiting the local village he comes across an old wax museum and to his horror finds one of the wax exhibits depicting Salome is an exact likeness of his old lost love. Visited by old friend Neville (Joss Ackland), Philip reluctantly takes him inside the museum where Neville who loved the same woman immediately is also taken by the resemblance. The museums strange proprietor (Woolfe Morris) relates the eerie story of the model being his murdered wife and the wax figure seems to create a strange hold over any man who gazes on her. Neville becomes besotted with the figure and cannot resist going back to the museum and when Philip goes searching for him at the museum he learns to his own detriment the deadly secret of the waxworks.
Story Three is "Sweets to the Sweet, which finds widower John Reid (Christopher Lee) and his seemingly angelic young daughter Jane (Chloe Franks) moving into the house. John has an unexplained fear of his daughter and is intent on keeping her isolated from other children of her age. He hires a nanny/teacher Anne Norton (Nyree Dawn Porter),to tutor Jane at home. Anne is repulsed by John's harsh treatment of Jane that includes destroying any toys that Anne buys for her. However first appearances in this case can be very deceptive as Anne's initial dislike of John's methods provides a logical reason only when it is too late after he starts suffering from terrifying stabbing pains in the chest and arms. Only when warned by John about his daughter does Anne discover the real story of Jane's mother and what this supposedly innocent child is capable of.
Story Four is "The Cloak", and finds the latest residence of this cursed house to be the famous horror actor Paul Henderson who to his own detriment finds himself attracted to the Gothic nature of the dwelling. He is currently starring in a dire horror effort titled "Curse of the Blood Suckers", and fed up with appearing in "Z" grade efforts goes in search of his own authentic costume. Mysteriously a business card appears on his makeup mirror which leads him to an old antique shop where he purchases a scarlet lined cloak from a seemingly decrepit old man (Geoffrey Bayldon) who in actual fact is a vampire. Before long Paul begins to discover the sinister power of this cloak as when he puts it on he has no reflection in his mirror and begins to take on the characteristics of a vampire like floating in the air and actually growing fangs and biting his leading lady the buxon Carla Lynde (Ingrid Pitt) during a love scene in the movie. Carla however is not as innocent as she first seems and eventually she reveals her true identity and real purpose to a terrified Paul who pays dearly for his quest for better quality and "authenticity" in his acting roles.
I personally love everything about this horror effort from its great title, to superbly spooky haunted house set to great cast all ideally cast in often surprisingly non typical roles. All four segments take a different approach in their storytelling and are of equal interest. Obviously with themes such as vampirism, witchcraft, voodoo and characters out of a book coming to life the proceedings are a splendid showcase for the talents involved. The British cast are all given wonderful showcases for their talents in both the large and smaller roles and Christopher Lee has the distinction of suffering probably the most horrible death of any of the characters in the stories. Story four has strong elements of humour in it which surprisingly works well within it's vampire subject matter. Remembered mainly as television's Dr. Who, Jon Pertwee is perfectly cast as the bombastic actor Paul Henderson who's disappearance sparks off the investigation around this house that literally seems to drip blood on all who live there.
Amicus Productions were expert in creating these horror anthologies and excelled in their other big effort the next year in "Tales From The Crypt", however this effort rightly takes it's place in the haunted house hall of fame and is essential viewing for all horror buffs like myself that enjoy these multi story horror tales set in creepy mist shrouded old mansions hidden away from the outside world. Make sure you visit "The House That Dripped Blood", soon but remember your stay may be a short one so enjoy it while it lasts!
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