So my guess is the immediate question is what is number one?
That is reserved for, and always will be in my mind, Robert Wise' THE HAUNTING.
That movie set the stage for haunted house films. The great thing is that this
movie tips its hat to that film in the extras. This is not to say that his film
doesn't deserve great rewards though. It stands out as an amazing movie in the
genre, filled with enough scares to haunt your dreams and enough great moments
to deserve a spot in the horror hall of fame.
If you've never seen the movie this is your chance. Shout
Factory has gone out of their way to present the film in all of its eerie glory
with a transfer that doesn't overly clean up the print but allows it to retain
that fog shrouded walk to the house as it was first seen and presents it much
as I recall seeing it that first time as a second billed film at the drive in.
Too bad they didn't realize that the better film that night was this one, so
good that I can't even recall what the first movie was after all these years.
The story takes place in the Belasco house, a home said to
contain the most evil of spirits. The current owner employs Dr. Barrett (Clive
Revill) to give him conclusive proof that there is or is not life after death.
To do so he gives him one week inside the house with all expenses to get his
equipment there. He also insists that a select team accompany Barrett including
a psychic named Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and the only survivor of a
previous effort to the house, Benjamin Fischer (Roddy McDowell). If they make
it through the week and return with the answers he seeks, each will be paid
handsomely.
Joining the group is Barrett's wife Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt).
While Barrett thinks she should sit this one out, she insists on accompanying
him to help. As the four enter the grounds of the house the surrounding area is
covered with fog. Opening the door they find the area prepped for them already
with electricity running and the house prepped with food and needed supplies.
Once they settle in they have a séance. During this whatever
spirit resides in the house manifests itself through Florence, first with
ectoplasm emanating from her fingertips and then speaking through her. Warned
to leave they fail to follow the advice of the spirit and things go from bad to
worse.
Through the first part of the film Fischer stands or sits
tentatively saying very little, choosing his words carefully. Eventually he
tells them the story of what happened before and how he was fortunate enough to
survive. Through it all Barrett disbelieves the existence of a malevolent
spirit, a man of science who believes this is nothing more than trapped energy
within the house. But Fischer and Florence try to tell him that there is more
here than energy, a presence that once lived here is at work. Florence believes
it to be someone in need of help. Fischer knows it is something more, something
that is pure evil.
That should be enough story to set up what you will
experience when watching this movie. More happens, trust me, some of it
frightening and much of it thought provoking. For being made in 1973 the
effects are quite well done and the movie, much like THE HAUNTING, doesn't
overly rely on the effects to frighten or move the story forward. Instead it
lets the actors move about freely in their characters with each ones quirks and
beliefs as they are manipulated by the spirits that haunt this mansion, evil
spirits that are not fully revealed until the end.
Based on the novel by the late Richard Matheson, the movie
tones down much of what the book contained. The amount of sexual depravity the
book's Belasco brought in to the house is extremely lowered and yet the film
contains enough hints at this and that to make you realize how depraved he
truly was. While watching I felt that it had enough of that part of the story
to make the movie not one for young impressionable children and yet at the same
time not enough to offend sensitive adults. . It retains enough of the story to
make it a truly scary film.
At the same time you must consider that this film was made
in the seventies. Had it been made today I'm certain that there would be
gratuitous amounts of nudity and debauchery witnessed on screen. Perhaps the
fact that it isn't included here makes this film better. Rather than rely on
the latest hot actress with the newest implants this movie focuses instead on
the actual haunting going on and the effect it has on these four and that's
what makes it both believable and frightening.
For fans of the film the extras are limited but good ones
worth paying attention to. Included is, of course, the original theatrical
trailer. But you also have an audio track during the film done by Franklin
which gives some insight into the process of making the movie and an interview
with director John Hough that is filled with some wonderful information as
well. Once again Scream/Shout Factory has done a tremendous job in bringing to
life a movie that got a lackluster release prior to this one, a first time
blu-ray edition. For movie fans and horror fans alike, this one is worth adding
to your collection.
Click here to order.
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