The House On Haunted Hill

Killer Bees · December 09, 2007, 10:05:29 PM

Has anyone seen this movie? Famke Janssen, Geoffrey Rush et al.

I started watching it on telly last night, but when I realised it was after midnight I took my little self to bed. I only got up to the part where a few of them went into the basement to see if they could start the machine back up up that closed all the steel shutters.

What did you think of it? From what I saw, it looked okay.

Andrew · December 09, 2007, 10:22:43 PM

I disliked it, but cannot entirely reveal why without providing spoilers (and you said you had not finished the film). Part of my problem is that they do a lot of setup, even execute some good atmosphere, and then completely dork up.

We have at least one older thread (again, probably spoilers for you) about it, I just cannot find the darn thing right now. It's probably a few years back.

Killer Bees · December 09, 2007, 10:29:54 PM

Thanks, Andrew.

Although I don't mind spoilers when it's something I'm ambivalent about, like this movie.

Feel free to explain why you didn't like it, spoilers and all

Oldskool138 · December 09, 2007, 11:14:29 PM

If you have an HD DVD player, pick up the sequel. You get to choose how the story unfolds by using the remote. It's a lot of fun to play with a group of people.

But I didn't like the remake of House on Haunted Hill because I'm a big Vincent Price fan.

dean · December 10, 2007, 03:17:44 AM

I actually didn't mind this movie. Sure it wasn't great and Rush really hammed it up, but that opening scene of the 'video camera' footage, and a few of the effects were fairly inspired. The rest, sure was fairly inspired trash, but I judge a movie on what I took from it, and I have to say, I took quite a bit [technically at least] from this one.

Jim H · December 11, 2007, 05:04:57 PM

Not great, but I LOVED Rush's character so much it made up for the other failings of the movie. Worth a watch, or even a purchase as you can find the DVD in the $5 bin at large department stores.

DistantJ · January 04, 2008, 10:07:43 AM

We're talking about the 1999 film here, yes?

I really like it, but I don't care for the end so much. It'd have been much cooler if it had been more like the original version's "it was all clever illusions" ending, especially with all the stuff the Vincent Price guy showed off at the beginning.

I find Thirteen Ghosts to be the better Dark Castle film.

damnote · January 05, 2008, 03:48:26 PM

I refused to watch the remake of this classic to this day simply cause the time it was released it was featured as much more than a film. It got the audience envolved and such, like The Tingler. Granted I wasn't even born then but when I watch movies like this I tend to put my frame of mind as if it was just released. Makes it more fun. I don't care to see it in colour either...

DistantJ · January 06, 2008, 07:11:15 AM

That's because it was a William Castle flick. They just can't afford to do that these days, what with every cinema in the world and all. Dark Castle productions specialise in movies based on William Castle's films.

AndyC · January 06, 2008, 07:41:27 AM

I liked House on Haunted Hill, but I have to agree that the ending was a letdown. Also a big fan of the original, but the remake was entertaining in its own way.

I didn't mind the remake of Thirteen Ghosts, but had some of the same problems with a very cool setup not turning out very satisfying in the end. I think I've mentioned before that the guy who played the Jackal (super-violent ghost with a cage on his head) was a guy from my hometown who went to the same high school. I interviewed him two or three years ago, when he'd moved back and launched some acting projects of his own. We discussed his past work, and this came up. Quite a surprise. I also had to go back and take another look at Shanghai Noon, where he was recognizable as one of the poker players in the saloon early on.

Allhallowsday · January 07, 2008, 11:41:14 PM

I'm an admirer of GEOFFREY RUSH, but I think the remake is overproduced crap. The original is dopey and implausible, but does have its fun moments, just check your brain at the door...

Pilgermann · January 08, 2008, 01:07:26 PM

I've only seen parts of it, but I remember thinking that the early scene where the woman's eye gets put out by the piano wire was hilarious for some reason.

ER · January 15, 2008, 03:34:56 PM

I haven't seen the re-make but when I was little the original where the skeleton walks out of the water scared the heck out of me.

threnody · January 15, 2008, 07:36:01 PM

Quote from: damnote on January 05, 2008, 03:48:26 PM
I refused to watch the remake of this classic to this day simply cause the time it was released it was featured as much more than a film. It got the audience envolved and such, like The Tingler. Granted I wasn't even born then but when I watch movies like this I tend to put my frame of mind as if it was just released. Makes it more fun. I don't care to see it in colour either...

I'm not going to watch the newer version either. The version with Vincent Price was amazing.