Tuesday, December 18, 2007

FILM CLUB: HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL

With all of the usual "hey, can you fit in one more assignment before the holidays" stuff going on this week, I almost forgot to post this month's Film Club movie. With everything so hectic, I thought I would choose something light hearted this time around. (Not like last time was anything heavy or anything.) I haven't watched this in a long time, but it's an old favorite and very fun. I hope everyone feels inspired to drop a few comments to include in the review, but even if you don't, you're sure to enjoy...

HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959) "A perennial favorite of the "Shock Theatre" TV circuit, House on Haunted Hill stars Vincent Price as sinister gent (you're surprised?) Frederick Loren, who owns a sinister mansion on a sinister hill, where seven murders have occurred. He makes a proposal to several strangers, offering $10,000 to anyone who can last the entire night. Loren festively gives each of his guests a tiny coffin containing a loaded handgun, designed to protect them from the spooks that emerge in the house over the course of the night."

The guidelines for participating are simple:

1. Watch the movie (at least as much of it as you can take). The entire film can be viewed in it's entirety at Google Video which has a full screen option. The movie can also be downloaded for free from The Internet Archive in a number of formats. (Don't worry, it's in the public domain, so Thou Shalt Not Steal doesn't come into play.) If at all possible, try to keep any future movie suggestions limited to what's available through these same sources.

2. Sometime within the next three weeks send me an email at eegahinc@gmail.com with a short paragraph or two commenting on the film, preferably including any ideas it may have brought to mind regarding religion or a related topic. If you prefer to write a full review for your own blog, just provide me with the link.

3. By the end of the third week I'll assemble all the comments, along with the usual plot synopsis and such, and post the results. Everybody is welcome to cross-post any and all comments on their own blogs, just remember to kindly link back to whomever's comments you use. (A link back here would be nice also.)

4. And please remember this is an exercise of your God given free will. No one is to hold The B-Movie Catechism responsible for any mental anguish resulting from viewing the selection of the month.

That's all there is to it. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of Advent and the Christmas season.

3 comments:

D. G. D. Davidson said...

Ooh, I really like this one. Good choice.

It's kind of like an episode of Scooby Doo. But how did he...? I mean, they couldn't... But...!?!

Allen's Brain said...

It's a fave of mine as well! Not sure it classifies as a B-movie, but fun, nonetheless.

EegahInc said...

I'm sure there's someone out there who dislikes this movie, but I question whether they were born with a soul.

I've never really defined B-Movie for purposes of this site, but I've usually applied it (loosely) to the budget rather than the quality. Most of the A movies already had budgets in the millions by the end of the 50s and House only cost about $200,000 according to IMDB, so it squeezes in under that definition.

Budget or not, it's definitely one of the best movies I'll probably ever review here.