The Legend of Hell House
A team of paranormal investigators are hired to discover proof of life after death, and where better to find it? Hell House– often called “the Mount Everest of haunted houses”, the team must brave the darkness within that has already taken the lives of a group of researchers before them. Through their investigation they unravel a chilling mystery and an entity that is bent on driving them away.
The Legend of Hell House, adapted from a book by Richard Matheson. Immediately I notice that he has adapted it himself. I’m a big fan of Matheson. Growing up, there were several Twilight Zone episodes that I considered favorites.. It wasn’t until several years ago I found out they were all written by him. I wanted to be excited that the author of the book is the one writing the screenplay, but the debacle that was Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter soured my trust of writers and their on-screen vision.
This adaptation translates very well on film I’m happy to say. The story is smartly written, not relying on cheap gimmicks or jump scares. In fact, you never see the spirit(s) that are haunting the house and causing such mayhem. The suggestion of the presence, as well as some creepy special effects are definitely an effective method to create the atmosphere of a haunted house.
This film lends itself more toward story than scares. Knowing the back-story of the particular house is important, especially all the evil and twisted things that took place in it over the years. Murder, vampirism, cannibalism, drug addiction, alcoholism, sadism, mutilation– just a regular weekend at Hell House. The debauchery that has taken place in the past begins anew, influencing some of the investigators to do some pretty odd things. At one point one there is an intense fight scene with a cat. Yes, you read that correctly. Although this scene gets a lot of laughs, it is really well done. It is hard for something like that to be taken seriously, and to not look totally fake, but they pull it off. It is a memorable scene in the movie, memorable enough to be parodied decades later in Scary Movie 2.
Clive Revill plays Dr. Barrett, the lead physicist. He is a typical lead investigator, all about evidence and in search of the truth, sceptical to the very end. Gayle Hunnicutt plays his wife, Ann Barrett. Although she is not integral to the team, she delivers a strong performance, especially when influenced by the more erotic vibes coming from the house. Pamela Franklin plays Florence Tanner, a medium who is brought to channel the spirits of the house in attempts to communicate. Franklin has some very demanding scenes as her character is driven to the brink of sanity. It is Roddy McDowall who drives the film, however, giving an absolute stellar performance as Benjamin Fischer, another psychic medium. Fischer warns the rest of their impending fate should they challenge the house, as he experienced it as a teen, being the only one to walk away sane and uninjured. Once he is ready to take on the house, and the former owner, Belasco, MacDowall delivers a performance that sets himself apart from the rest, propelling the final act into something truly spectacular.
Video
The Legend of Hell House is presented in 1080p 1.85:1. Despite the age the print is in great condition. Colors are a bit faded at times, but overall look really good. There is noticeable grain in some scenes, but the presentation, especially most close ups, look exceptional.
Audio
The sound is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Dialogue is very clear, and the electronic score accompanying the film sounds great.
Extras
The extras on this disc are a bit sparse compared to other Shout! Factory releases. Despite that, they are worth watching, giving us a bit more information on the making of the film. On this release you’re going to get:
The Story of Hell House: An Interview with Director John Hough
Theatrical Trailer
Photo Gallery
Radio Spots
Audio Commentary with Actress Pamela Franklin
The Legend of Hell House sets itself apart from most Haunted House films. It delivers a good story, some chilling effects, and best of all some amazing performances. If you’re looking for something to watch this Halloween, add this to the list.