What sets Dario Argento apart from many of his contemporaries is his success with visual imagery. In a style where sudden visual shocks are used to thrill the audience, Argento creates elaborate deaths which cannot be quickly forgotten. The highly involved double-murder towards the beginning of the film still remains one of the most memorable scenes in horror history, standing next to the Psycho "shower scene" in pure sensory input. And in a technique so powefully employed here and here alone, Argento sets scene after scene aglow with color, using it to express the mood in ways only the subconscious can fully appreciate. All around, this is an excellent addition to the genre of horror cinema, one of the most expressive films to ever plunge a knife into the psyche of its viewers.
Reviews
2 Reviews
House on Haunted Hill
(1959)
A truly effective thriller
8 March 1999
Among the films of William Castle, House on Haunted Hill stands as testimony to the success one can achieve with a great atmospheric theme. While the plot is somewhat lacking, the real draw is in the mood of the film: powerful storms, a maze-like haunted house, paranoid guests brandishing pistols against a menace that may or may not be real. From the opening sequence showing the arrival of the strangers, escorted in hearses, to the final pan out the door of the house as sinister laughter fills the air, this movie manages to make the skin crawl and will undoubtedly cause the audience to look over their shoulders a few times. To anyone looking for a good thrill to enjoy alone in the dark, this movie offers exactly what's needed.
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