The Legend of Hell House

United Kingdom

1973

95 Min

Color

1.85:1

English

Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
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PROD Albert Fennell, Norman T. Herman

CAST Clive Revill, Roddy McDowall, Pamela Franklin, Gayle Hunnicutt, Roland Culver

Physicist Lionel Barrett is enlisted by an eccentric millionaire, Mr. Deutsch, to make an investigation into “survival after death” in “the one place where it has yet to be refuted”. This is the Belasco House: the “Mount Everest of haunted houses,” originally owned by the notorious “Roaring Giant” Emeric Belasco, a six-foot-five perverted millionaire and supposed murderer, who disappeared soon after a massacre at his home. The house is believed to be haunted by numerous spirits, the victims of Belasco’s twisted and sadistic desires. Accompanying Barrett are his wife, Ann, as well as two mediums: a mental medium and Spiritualist minister, Florence Tanner, and a physical medium, Ben Fischer, who is also the sole survivor of an earlier investigation. —Wikipedia

Director

John Hough

Talented and versatile director John Hough has had a long and eclectic career that encompasses everything from a sexy Hammer horror feature to more wholesome Disney family fare. Hough was born on November 21st, 1941 in London, England. Hough began his career in his early twenties working odd jobs on the sets of various London TV productions. Hough eventually secured himself a steady gig as an assistant director on the immensely popular cult TV series “The Avengers” and directed his first episode in 1968. Hough made his feature debut as director with the obscure Robin Hood item “Wolfshead.” He followed this picture with the stylish and suspenseful thriller “Eyewitness” and the fine Hammer chiller “Twins of Evil.” Hough maintained his stride with the spooky supernatural shocker “The Legend of Hell House” and the exciting drive-in car chase hit “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry.” He demonstrated his considerable range and skill with the delightful Disney sci-fi adventure “Escape to Witch Mountain”… read more

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Cbarky99

2Feb13

Extra credit for the title card to this one: 'Although the story of this film is fictitious, the events depicted involving psychic phenomena are not only very much within the bounds of possibility, but could well be true' -Tom Corbett, clairvoyant and psychic consultant to European royalty

DK and HKFanatic like this

MikeEverleth

23Sep12

Moody and atmospheric ghost story is still effective thanks to Hough's deep focus and angular shooting scheme and the haunting electronic score.

Mr. Arkadin

16Jun12

It's trippy (and adds all sorts of layers to the film) to watch the little girl from *The Innocents* appear here as one of the four doomed visitors to Hell House. She's especially unsettling in the red-tinged ectoplasm scene, as well as each time she becomes possessed by the spirit(s) of the house. The colors on the German Blu seemed a little washed-out to me, though maybe that's accurate to the source.

MODERNGRUMBLE and HKFanatic like this

Matt Burgess

21May12

A rather silly twist ending cannot negate the truly gorgeous atmosphere and beauty dripping from every frame. The sexual undercurrent also sets it apart from the pack, its soundtrack full of ghostly, erotic moans.

Sheldon No and HKFanatic like this