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“The Legend of Hell House” is a bone-chilling horror movie that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Based on the novel by Richard Matheson, the film tells the story of a team of paranormal investigators who are hired to spend a week in the infamous Belasco House, known as Hell House. The haunted mansion becomes their battleground as they encounter terrifying apparitions and supernatural occurrences beyond their wildest imaginations. The Legend of Hell House is a spine-chilling horror film that has captivated audiences since its release in 1973. Directed by John Hough, this movie is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Matheson.
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If John Hough, the director, and his small, willing cast maintain mild tension during their harried visit to this haunted 'hell house,' the few chills they provide are of little help. Clive Revill, the physicist, who attempts to clear the house of its evil, Pamela Franklin, the mental medium and Roddy McDowall the survivor of the previous incursion, are all first-rate. This intelligent, creepy and disturbing horror film preys upon the most primal aversions to discomposure and the paranormal that even the most staunch realists among us harbor, but hide. Fans of "The Legend of Hell House" and haunted house stories in general should have no qualms about picking up a copy. The last-act revelation is a let-down and even somewhat silly, but this remains a top-tier ghost movie, thanks mostly to director John Hough, who privileges atmosphere over logic.
The Legend of Hell House Reviews
10 Underrated Haunted House Movies Of The Twentieth Century You Probably Haven't Seen (And Where To Watch ... - Collider
10 Underrated Haunted House Movies Of The Twentieth Century You Probably Haven't Seen (And Where To Watch ....
Posted: Wed, 13 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
John Hough’s The Legend of Hell House is an atmospheric horror thriller that slowly builds to an unbearable level of tension in the third act. The picture is steeped in Gothic atmosphere and features a terrifying supernatural element that comes to a head in a mind-blowing conclusion. The movie follows a team of investigators who are tasked with unraveling the mysteries of the Belasco House, a notoriously haunted mansion. As they spend a week in the house, they encounter supernatural phenomena and must confront the malevolent spirits within. A physicist, his wife and two mediums are hired to investigate the Belasco House, where 27 guests had inexplicably died in 1927, along with most of a team of paranormal investigators that wa...
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The production design deserves special mention, as it successfully brings the haunted mansion to life, enveloping the audience in a world of darkness and dread. Works based on his novels and stories are The Omega Man (1971) from his I Am Legend, the afterlife fantasy What Dreams May Come (1998), the fine ghost story Stir of Echoes (1999), I Am Legend (2007), The Box (2009) and Real Steel (2011). This week’s pick is one of my favorite haunted house films and certainly one of the most underrated.
Filming
The film’s artistic merit continues to captivate audiences, making it a must-watch for horror movie enthusiasts. It is to both of the films’ credit that they only partially resemble each other. The film’s foundation lies in the frightening novel by Richard Matheson, one of the best science fiction writers to ever exist.
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There is a certain tendency to rely on shock effect and the film never has any scenes as startling and effective as the famous door battering in The Haunting but Hough creates a tense and uneasy atmosphere from the outset. Alan Hume’s photography – with shots reflected off rotating records and entire rooms seen in the curved reflection of a polished silver teapot – is marvellously stylish. Immediately after Corbett’s quote fades away, Hough goes to work establishing an atmosphere of unease. When the participants enter the titular Hell House, all the lights are out and the home is eerily quiet. We can hear the sound of footsteps on the stone floors echoing off the walls. In one early shot, the camera looms behind the cast, gradually drawing closer until it almost seems as if it will swallow each participant whole; like some kind of silent, supernatural force.
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The Legend of Hell House was released on DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on 4 September 2001. The film features a score with an electronic music bassline (with occasional woodwind and brass stabs). The score and electronic sound effects were created by Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson, recorded at Hodgson's Electrophon studio in London.
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(As a result, The Legend of Hell House comes out as a far more intelligent and subtly effective film than The Exorcist). There were so many shots and ideas that were reminiscent of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, which wouldn’t be released for another six months. The creep factor was all brought together with a chilling score by Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson, the duo that created the original theme music for Doctor Who. On the whole, The Legend of Hell House is a visually striking film with no shortage of atmosphere.
A varied team of investigators (sceptic, medium, survivor…) descends on the ominous ‘Belasco House’ to confront the possibility of life after death. The novel combines supernatural horror with mystery as the researchers attempt to investigate the haunting of the house while their sanity is subtly undermined by its sinister supernatural influence. The home exploits its guests' deepest desires and attempts to turn people against one another during the course of their visit. Where The Legend of Hell House works particularly well is in the hands of director John Hough. British director Hough had emerged from tv’s The Avengers (1962-9) and previously directed Twins of Evil (1971), the third and best in Hammer’s Karnstein trilogy, and would go onto make a good deal of unremarkable Disney and B-budget horror fodder. While I’m a huge fan of Matheson’s novel, I had never seen The Legend of Hell House until celebrating its 50th birthday.
Also effective is the way the Belasco house brings Gothic vibes that harken back to Hammer’s heyday. The cathedral ceilings and the near absence of natural light give the domicile an ominous aura. Equally impressive is the way Hough manages to make the massive dwelling feel almost claustrophobic with the way he frames his shots. Yes, the movie has gained a cult following over the years and is highly regarded by horror enthusiasts. The Legend of Hell House makes up for its disappointing lack of outright scares with a top notch cast and a suitably macabre atmosphere.
This includes Barrett’s wife Ann and mediums Florence Tanner and Benjamin Fischer, the sole survivor of the previous investigation. Once inside however, the house begins to prey on the team and their individual weaknesses. Granted, while the movie didn’t go nearly as hard as similarly-themed films in decades to come, it was quite a bit more graphic and disturbing than other haunted house films around the time, including House on Haunted Hill or Burnt Offerings. For 1973, there were plenty of glass shards going into faces, murderous cats, and late-night, sexually frustrated, ghost-chomped bite marks to satisfy even today’s horror fans. One of the film’s strengths lies in its ability to keep viewers guessing with unexpected twists and turns. The script, written by Matheson himself, masterfully combines elements of exorcism, possession, and psychic phenomena to create a truly chilling narrative.
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Flourishes like that establish a profound level of unease long before the first sign of paranormal activity appears. In this article, we will dive deep into the world of The Legend of Hell House and uncover 37 fascinating facts about this iconic movie. From its production details and behind-the-scenes anecdotes to its impact on the horror genre, we will explore everything you need to know about this chilling cinematic experience.
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