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The Legend of Hell House [1973]
![The Legend of Hell House [1973]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412VJG2ETFL._SL160_.jpg)
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A bit patchy, but still worth watching
Review date: 2008-10-11 Rating: 6 out of 10
I agree with much of what the last reviewer wrote, but I don't dislike this movie at all. It is a bit lacking technically, but I certainly didn't think of turning it off. Screenplay just not quite lucid enough to make this a much better movie but it certainly has its moments. There is a fear factor there, and the voice projection scenes give it a bit of bite, or menace. I also liked the scientific spiele used by Revill, the sceptic physicist, who I thought was excellent. I'd guess that the makers of 'Ghostbusters' drew heavily on this film for their supernatural research terms and techniques. And yes there are real psychic and supernatural phenomena invetigators out there who actually use the kind of equipment Revill was using here, though I expect they are a little more compact than the 1973 models shown here. Did you see the size of that electro-magnetic field detector? How did he get it in the room? 3.5 stars, but I'm quite mean with my marks. Worth a watch for sure.
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Reviews
Botch job at Hell House....
Review date: 2008-02-17 Rating: 6 out of 10
I was really looking forward to this film, being a long time fan of supernatural tales, haunted house mysterious and Richard Matheson's previous excellent output (Twilight Zone, Poe adaptations, novels etc), I thought - how could I go wrong? This film can't fail.... regrettably, for me, it did - and I thought i'd write a little review (something I don't normally do!) explaining why, as every other review here gives this film four (and mostly) five stars!
The film is a direct descendent from Shirley Jackson's amazing novel The Haunting of Hill House, Matheson probably thought he was paying tribute with the title of this movie (and it's 'borrowed' tropes and themes) but for this reviewer it stepped pretty close to plaigarism. The film also bears the mark of the superb Robert Wise adaptation of Jackson's novel 'The Haunting' which is easily the daddy of all supernatural haunted house flicks and I would recommend Wise's immensely chilling film wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoyed this film.
The two problems as I see it are script and direction, am sure all the actors would have acquitted themselves in a tighter, leaner production, with better atmosphere, subtler effects, more rounded characters, but Matheson's script is messy,and felt a little half baked.
We get hardly any expository scenes at the start detailing the house, the rich patron that initiates the experiment (there's the odd line about wanting to know about life after death and that's about it), any background detail on ANY of the characters, except that they're all 'experts' in their fields. Mcdowell's character who went into Hell House when he was 15 and was the last surviving member of a previous team is NEVER questioned about his experiences or memories throughout the entire movie which seemed incredible to me! The relationship between Revill's investigator and wife is pretty threadbare, we know nothing of their history, what makes them tick. It's only due to the cast being pros that this film doesn't collapse under its own flimsiness.
The plot itself is, pretty much, an outright steal from Jackson, with a malevolent spirit choosing to pick on and channel one of the group for its own malevolent reasons. Pamela Franklin is fantastic though and that's why this film gets three stars from me, she's worth the price of admission alone! Mcdowell gives a nicely controlled/borderline creepy performance until the very end - where he flies into full on ham mode, it's a little embarassing to watch.
The shocks and scares of this movie are pretty weak to, from cutlery bouncing up and down, ectoplasm coming out of Franklin's fingers and some bed sheets being pulled around, the climactic reveal of a stuffed Ian Mckellan was the rather absurd icing on the cake. It should have taken pointers from some of the cream of the genre, far better to scare an audience with what you can't see, what you dread, than spell it out. If anyone unfamiliar with some of the classics of this genre I would recommend Wise's The Haunting, The Innocents (a superb retelling of the Turn of the Screw), The Signalman (an adaptation of Dicken's chilling ghost story), any of the tales of M. R. James, and - contrary to one of the other revewers here, The Others, which I thought was a remarkably astute re imagining of the classic english ghost story.
So I guess I'll be the one to go against the grain on this page and NOT recommend this film unless you're a genre completist or a huge Pamela Franklin fan. It's poorly structured, the characters are thinly drawn and some of the dialogue is downwright awful! Something I never thought i'd say about the otherwise excellent Matheson output (see I Am Legend, Stir of Echoes, Incredible Shrinking Man, Duel and many other wonders of cinema and literature). The direction is incredibly mundane, compare it to Wise's outstanding use of his set in the Haunting and you'll see what I mean.
Wrapping this up I would also like to point out this is only MY opinion, so have a read of the other comments too, and hey, maybe watch the movie yourself and make up your own mind! But if you haven't seen/read the above recommendations i'd urge everyone to track them down, superb examples of this neglected genre..... :o)
The ultimate haunted house film!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review date: 2006-03-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
Three occult experts are hired by an aging millionaire to get proof that balasco house is haunted. The three are a physical medium, a psychic medium and a paranormal scientist. The house setting is eerie and ominus from the moment the experts arrive. No expensive special effects in this film, just genuine frights and some uncomfortable moments. (daniels ghost in the bedroom anyone?) I disagree with the last reviewers opinion on roddy mcdowell taking on the "roaring giant" I thought his performance was brilliant. All in all you get value for money with this dvd unlike some recent expensive dvds. Try session 9 as well for another cheap dvd gem.
Avenging Hell House!
Review date: 2005-09-20 Rating: 8 out of 10
This is a great film, with a real 'avengers' feel to some of the production as Both John Hough (Director), Albert Fennel (Producer) and Robert Jones (Art Director) all have avengers links.
The film is an enjoyable haunted house story with low key performances from Clive Revill (always great), Gayle Hunnicut and Pamela Franklin and a barnstorming performance from Roddy McDowell.
The are are elements of over direction in the film, but then again this is part of the appeal, the wealth of wide angle lenses adding to the fun.
Only let down by a somewhat silly ending, which Roddy Mcdowell managers to bluster through.
Still great film and definately worth a watch.
An Early Haunted House Movie!
Review date: 2005-08-07 Rating: 8 out of 10
The whole 'haunted house' theme for horror movies has been done many times, probably more than any other type of horror movie, and while this older one from the early 1970's does not have CGI special effects in every scene nor is there loads of blood and gore, it is still very scary, relying on timing and atmosphere to make it pretty creepy and eerie indeed.
An old man who has just bought an isolated mansion known to most people as Hell House, gathers a small group of three people; a scientist, a psychic medium and a man who was the only survivor of a previous experiment in the same house, and pays them to spend a couple of days inside the former mental asylum to try to discover what is going on there. Of course strange things begin to happen immediately and soon finding ou the truth is the last thing on everyone's mind - staying alive is the first prioity!
The small but well picked cast all give good performances, with Clive Revill as the rather sceptic scientist Mr Barrett and Gayle Hunnicutt as his wife, Ann Barrett who comes along for the trip. Pamela Franklin plays the psychic Florence Tanner who is used by the spirits in the house as a medium and who is also attacked by a killer cat. And Roddy McDowall plays the only survivor of the last visit to the house, Benjamin Franklin Fischer who is positively spooky himself at times.
Overall, while 'The Legend Of Hell House' may seem a little dated when you watch it now, especially in the world of CGI special effects that exists today, however it still manages to be pretty scary, creating tension and suspence through atmosphere and timing. If you are a fan of horror films then i would recommend that you give this film ago. Unfortunately though there are no extras to speak of on the DVD, other than a theatrical trailer so if you do buy it then you will only be buying it for the film. However don't let this put you off.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Gayle Hunnicutt
Clive Revill
Roland Culver
Roddy McDowall
Pamela Franklin
Creators:
Roddy McDowall (Primary Contributor)
Gayle Hunnicutt (Primary Contributor)
Alan Hume (Cinematographer)
Geoffrey Foot (Editor)
Albert Fennell (Producer)
James H. Nicholson (Producer)
Norman T. Herman (Producer)
Susan Hart (Producer)
Richard Matheson (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036009713
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2003-06-30
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1973-06-15
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Dubbed)