I watched Horror Hotel (1960) the other night. I had never seen it before but I really liked it.
A naive young college student arrives, alone, in a small New England town. She's researching a paper on local witchcraft. The town is isolated, dark, and claustrophobic. The inhabitants seem sinister. She disappears.
That's the set up for this movie. The girl's boyfriend, brother and another woman team up to track her down and find themselves up against a town full of old school Salem-style witches. Whuh-Oh!
This movie is a lot of fun. It's not overtly scary but it is creepy and moody and atmospheric. The protagonists are sympathetic and realistically stout-hearted while the villains are suitably evil without being over the top. They're not invulnerable masked slashers or demons from another dimension; they're just normal, hard-working, every day devil-worshippers. That's one of the reasons I like this movie. It takes advantage of its low budget by presenting a more realistic menace and tighter, more economical storyline. Thanks to the talent and imagination of the cast and crew the lack of financing for this picture became more of an asset than a liability. The creators couldn't afford sloppiness.
This is a good horror movie and good film-making. Low budget film-makers of today should look to it for inspiration. I think I'm developing a taste for under-stated horror.
I've got that under the title "The City of the Dead". I enjoy it too, good plot and creepy atmosphere. Love the fog - you'd have a tough time tying your shoelaces in that town, as you really can't see down there :teddyr:
I have not seen that one, but for some reason it reminded me of Night Creatures (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056277/). That's a fun film, too, with excellent mood and visual fx (considering time period and budget).
I love this movie too! I'm kinda reminded of PSYCHO (made the same year) as the heroine gets (SPOILERS!!!!) killed in the first quarter of the film!
Trivia time:-Valentine Dyall-who played Elizabeth Selwyn's lover/henchman/warlock appeared as Dudley the Caretaker in the classic ghost movie the HAUNTING.
HORROR HOTEL (USA title) scared the wasser out of me as a kid watching on something like Creature Feature... that last shot of Elizabeth Selwyn is cool. Creepy movie!! I love the unexpected twists, the efficient knife-throwing witch, and the fiery finale!! :wink: :twirl: No spoilers there!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzlnrLrXorw
Quote from: Allhallowsday on March 01, 2011, 08:15:15 PM
HORROR HOTEL (USA title) scared the wasser out of me as a kid watching on something like Creature Feature... that last shot of Elizabeth Selwyn is cool. Creepy movie!! I love the unexpected twists, the efficient knife-throwing witch, and the fiery finale!! :wink: :twirl: No spoilers there!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzlnrLrXorw
You mean WNEW 5 New York's
Creature Features? If so, I too remmeber this movie (and many others) very well, with many fond memories of The Creep hosting live-action wraparounds.
I remember CF coming on sometimes at noon on Saturday, and then again at 8PM.
I have HH under the title
City Of The Dead just like Jack, and probably many others too. Great movie and highly underrated. Great ending too!
I love these creepy small town movies, and this is one of the best.