House on Haunted Hill is a 1959 American supernatural horror film produced and directed by William Castle, written by Robb White and starring Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long, Alan Marshal, Carolyn Craig and Elisha Cook Jr. Price plays an eccentric millionaire, Frederick Loren, who, along with his wife Annabelle, has invited five people to the house for a “haunted house” party. Whoever stays in the house for one night will earn $10,000. As the night progresses, the guests are trapped within the house with an assortment of terrors. This film is perhaps best known for its promotional gimmick Emergo.
The film uses many props used in carnival haunted houses to generate fear and terror. The film is in the public domain.
via Wikipedia
I’ve seen this movie several times now and I very much enjoy it. Vincent Price is a treasure and everyone needs to know this. As this movie is in the public domain it is very easy to find and I highly recommend it just for Vincent Price alone.
The plot is actually pretty good though, it takes a bit of guess work but it is fairly easy to work out. It’s the trope of an eccentric millionaire trapping guests overnight in a haunted house for money. But it’s not that simple, their host offers them handguns as party favors. Yikes.
If you want the movie to be more enjoyable, do not look up who or what Emergo is. It spoils the ending.
My Rating: ★★★★
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