[ironjade]

Richard Matheson adapted his 1971 novel "Hell House" for the screen but then said he didn't really like the resulting movie. I think he was being a bit hard on himself and the producers. The background and emotional baggage of the book's central characters is simplified and the sex is toned down but there was still enough left to warm things up a bit.
It may seem a bit tame by today's standards: no CGI, no gore or body parts flying out of the screen but it still delivers a shock or two.
An elderly miillionaire pays four paranormal researchers to furnish him with proof of life after death by investigating the house of the late Emeric Belasco, a wealthy, reclusive, Olympic standard perv (based on Aleister Crowley) whose former home is said to be the Mt. Everest of haunted houses. Previous attempts did not end well, to say the least.
A great performance from Roddy McDowall as the only intact survivor of the last investigation, is just one of the treats in store for anyone revisiting this rather neglected movie.

"If it had ended, we wouldn't be here".

[zx50]

Some might think this isn't a very good horror film compared to the intensity of suspense we've got these days in horror films, but this had me entranced when first seeing it on video. As far as I'm concerned, this film's very haunting to watch.

[Mark A]

One of my all time favourite films. Easily in my top ten.

Regards

Mark

[Ginger Nut]

Is that the one where the spirit is banging on the doors like crazy in one (or several scenes)? Makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end I can tell you.

[ironjade]

Originally Posted by Ginger Nut

Is that the one where the spirit is banging on the doors like crazy in one (or several scenes)? Makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end I can tell you.

That's "The Haunting" made 10 years earlier. I've never dared to watch it more than once because it scared me so badly.

[Ginger Nut]

Originally Posted by ironjade

That's "The Haunting" made 10 years earlier. I've never dared to watch it more than once because it scared me so badly.

Oh, of course.

I had a feeling it was something else. My recollection was it was in b&w and that would pre-date 1973 probably. I thought James McArthur(Danno from Hawaii 5-0) was in it but couldn't find that on IMDB.

I can see that Russ Tamblyn was in The Haunting. I'd mixed the two up. They looked quite similar.

[ironjade]

Originally Posted by Ginger Nut

Oh, of course.

I had a feeling it was something else. My recollection was it was in b&w and that would pre-date 1973 probably. I thought James McArthur(Danno from Hawaii 5-0) was in it but couldn't find that on IMDB.

I can see that Russ Tamblyn was in The Haunting. I'd mixed the two up. They looked quite similar.

I was amazed how lame the 1999 remake of "THe Haunting" was: about as scary as a trip to the launderette. Probably just as well.

[Eddie Badger]

Originally Posted by ironjade

That's "The Haunting" made 10 years earlier. I've never dared to watch it more than once because it scared me so badly.

Some modern horror movie directors could learn a lot from that movie. Genuinely scary without gore or special effects - just clever use of sound and the viewer's imagination.

[zx50]

Originally Posted by ironjade

That's "The Haunting" made 10 years earlier. I've never dared to watch it more than once because it scared me so badly.

Oh, I don't think it was that scary when watching it in the daytime. I think anyone who gets nightmares easily, they're best off watching horror films through the day.

[zx50]

Originally Posted by ironjade

I was amazed how lame the 1999 remake of "THe Haunting" was: about as scary as a trip to the launderette. Probably just as well.

The remake of The Haunting was about as scary as watching a Catherine Cookson adaptation. They failed miserably with it.

[ironjade]

Originally Posted by zx50

Oh, I don't think it was that scary when watching it in the daytime. I think anyone who gets nightmares easily, they're best off watching horror films through the day.

I was watching it on tv late at night (with my Mum!) when I was quite young and it completely rattled me in a way no amount of subsequent movie gore, death or mutilation ever has.

[ironjade]

Originally Posted by Eddie Badger

Some modern horror movie directors could learn a lot from that movie. Genuinely scary without gore or special effects - just clever use of sound and the viewer's imagination.

Also a rubber door.

[Creamtea]

I've got it on DVD. Its a great film. Full of atmosphere.

[Goaty]

Originally Posted by Eddie Badger

Some modern horror movie directors could learn a lot from that movie. Genuinely scary without gore or special effects - just clever use of sound and the viewer's imagination.

The Woman In Black?

[ironjade]

Originally Posted by Goaty

The Woman In Black?

There were some scary scenes in "The Woman in Black" but the story itselfwas a bit paint-by-numbers. Daniel Radcliffe did ok but many of the supporting cast were useless.

[Eddie Badger]

Originally Posted by Goaty

The Woman In Black?

The Haunting