Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'House on Haunted Hill (1959)'

Written by Scott Edwards

​There are few things in life that really frighten me. Nuclear Winter, spiders, quicksand, zombies, being buried alive, not being tall and plantar fasciitis. That is pretty much it and three of those can be crossed off of the list because I have no control over them, you be the judge on that. But ghosts and haunted houses have never made the list since I have always wanted to see and or feel something from a different realm and hope at some point it will happen. I have never hidden my feelings on seeing ghosts and how I would react when I see one (running away and screaming…probably) but it would be nice to be able to know what happens after my human body no longer walks among the living.

Frederick Loren is looking to throw a party, one for the ages for his wife Annabelle. Although none of the planning falls on her, the guests are driven up to their party central for the night, the House on Haunted Hill. With five strangers arriving at the house, the current owner of the property has come as well and knowing what torments the house has in store for the evening, he would much rather be on his way than stay there on more night. But Mr. Loren has a special incentive to keep everyone in the house for the night, $10,000 for everyone that makes it through the night…alive.

As the guests enter the house, they all notice how creepy it is and as they venture further into the depths, they start to understand why the owner wants nothing to do with it. Being given a tour by Watson Pritchard, the home owner, the group is told the unknown history about what the home is really about…death. After one guest is privy to a little blood on the hand, the group is taken down to the wine cellar and finds out that the wine hold is actually filled with acid. Hearing the story about the last husband and wife that lived at the property, the group wants nothing to do with this room, but young Nora and Lance stick around to discuss why they are willing to stay in the house anyway. The money is too enticing, and neither can pass it up, but when the lights go down in the cellar, Nora is left on her own and a ghostly figure comes in and out of the room. 

Being frightened beyond anything she has ever seen, Nora gives her report to the others in the house, but everyone believes that she is crazy. Not listening to her, Nora goes back up to her room to find a disembodied head has found its way into her suitcase, but when the group is ready to inspect her claims, it has vanished. With nobody believing anything that she has seen, the house owner believes that she has been targeted by the house and will be its next victim, but what he does not know is the feud that has been going on between Mr. and Mrs. Loren. Finding Mrs. Loren hanging by her neck over the stairway, everyone is left aghast and a killer has to be on the loose in the house. Looking for someone else in the house, no one is found and needing to find a way to survive until the morning is everyone's next and only priority. Without knowing what they are up against, the house's history speaks for itself and everyone will need to find a way to cope with their deepest and darkest fears.

Classic, I don’t think I could say anything other than that about this movie. If anyone is trying to make a horror movie today, they should reference this one to find out how to make it really work.  With the blood and guts being replaced by outright conventional scares in this movie, you are left with a storyline that will keep you guessing who the killer is until the very end. The actors are just fantastic in this movie and if you have not seen them and are a fan of horror movies, you really need to check it out. With minimal effects and a couple good screams, you will be left wondering what the house has in store for its next guests. Stay Scared!

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