The Legend of Hell House
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Movie Reviews of The Legend of Hell House
Movie Review: The thinking man's horror story.
Summary: 5 Stars
Unfortunately, this movie doesn't begin to touch the truly perverse and horrifying depths as written in the novel of which it is based, Richard Matheson's "Hell House". There are many key elements to the story which were barely mentioned but not explored due to the times when this was released. A more faithful film adaptation would be welcomed, so long as the CGI was kept to a minimum and if competant actors are hired for the project.
Belasco House is the Mount Everest of haunted houses, a private Hell built and orchestrated by its owner, Emeric Belasco. A large number of atrocities, horrors and criminal activity occurred there, and nearly all paranormal investigators called to the house had died in violent circumstances. The only survivor of the previous investigations is Ben Fischer, a physical medium who is called to return to the house along with Florence Tanner, a mental medium, and Dr. Lionel Barrett, a physicist who has brought along his wife Edith despite his protests. They are being paid princely sums of money each by an elderly millionaire to uncover absolute proof of life after death. What happens following their arrival is a series of red herrings woven into the plot consisting of ghostly apparitions, possessions and restless spirits wreaking havoc.
This might be a boring film for those who are accustomed to seeing lots of blood, gore and violence in their horror movies. Indeed, it is rather tame in comparison to the original novel. Still, it boasts a VERY fine cast in Roddy McDowall, Pamela Franklin, Clive Revill and Gayle Hunnicutt, who all give excellent performances. The storyline is worthy of discussion and dissection for devoted fans of both the book and movie, and there is usually something new to find with each viewing of the film. Until its DVD release nearly ten years ago, this film was somewhat hard to find and rarely shown on TV. It was years before I met someone else who'd even seen it before! Today it is still rather elusive, but now much easier to buy a copy for your own film library.
"The Legend of Hell House" is a great classic horror film which makes you think...something that not many other movies in the genre tend to do. It is scary without being gory, and is sure to be a reliable favorite in your household for many years. Buy a copy of it today!
Movie Review: Insane, nasty and beautiful
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Legend of Hell House" is one of those in-the-heat-of-the-moment-sadistic-satanic-70's films that everyone wants to forget about, as though cinema had a decade long fever peopled with sweaty dreams of demons, hauntings, and hapless female vixens with mysterious backgrounds and pronounced C-cup screen presences.
There is a cavernous darkness to this film from the opening scene that doesn't let up, not even with the absurd ending (Roddy McDowall jumping around, beating up a spirit who apparently can't escape the phenomenal world because of really good titanium.)
A bunch of psychics and one really pompous scientist decide to investigate the phenomenon of "Hell House", a foul little mansion once owned by an Aleister Crowley type (only worse) named Belasco. How can the name Belasco not inspire fear? It sounds like a tobacco company owned by Satan himself.
This Belasco wasn't a nice guy. One of the most chilling parts of the film is when the vulnerable (cues from "The Haunting" are wisely heeded) and unbalanced Christian psychic accidentally plays a record of which politely greets the troupe and promises "a memorable stay". Indeed.
Things don't turn out well. At all. Some of the highlights are McDowall's bone chilling monologues about the first exploration of the place which almost killed him and an unwise decision on the part of the female psychic to set free the spirit of Belasco's "son".
The ending could have destroyed whatever dubious scientific pretensions the film has, but by the time it takes place the movie has already cast its ugly and compelling spell. A must see.
Movie Review: The Legend of Hell House
Summary: 5 Stars
Outstanding classic horror film. A must have for all horror film fans.Movie Review: The Legend of Hell House
Summary: 4 Stars
Good old fashion haunted house movie. A little hokey at times, but none the less " A good scary flick"Movie Review: Legend of Hell House
Summary: 4 Stars
Hell House is a very suspenseful classic horror film without any gore. The viewer does not know what comes next. The film is full of sensual texture which futher adds to the mystery and suspense. The texture is the most important part: the Victorian decore, a haunted mansion. The scene where the Doctor/scientist wife descinds dark, thick-wooded stairway bannister is probably the most erotic I've seen in any film, yet there is barely a hint of nudity -- clearly nothing like today's film. The film is not perfect; some of the plot is a little disjointed towards, but that is a minor flaw. I reccomend this movie; it can be enjoyed for more than just a single viewing.