This film is a frequently viewed favorite of mine. I try to watch it at least once a year. Usually this happens during the month of October. Featuring plenty of twists and a couple effective scares it is the second of my daily reviews for a horror film this month.
Vincent Price stars as Frederick Loren. A sinister gent (you're surprised?) who owns a sinister mansion on a sinister hill. He offers several of his enemies $10,000 each. As is the normal practice with such an offer he, just for fun, throws in a catch. If they agree to spend one night in his mansion they get the prize. If they leave or are somehow murdered they don't receive anything and their prize money is divided evenly between the remaining guests. Frederick festively gives each of his invitees a tiny coffin containing a handgun, then he takes delight in setting in motion a number of gadgets and devices designed to frighten the guests to using their weapons. The end result, he hopes, being that they all kill each other.
There's a certain moment in the film which utilizes what I like to call a "jump scare". A jump scare is intended to make people jump and then chuckle. This is a cheap technique that gives your audience five seconds of shock and then they're only reaction is to laugh at themselves. However in this film the jump scare is a primitive version of that technique in that there is no loud bang or sharp musical chord to accompany the scary image. I don't want to ruin that moment for the people who haven't seen the film or have never heard of said moment. Besides if you have seen the film you know exactly what moment I am talking about so I'll just say that after more than fifty years it still startles people and Vincent Price is still at his creepiest (you're surprised?) in this film.
All I can suggest is that, if given the choice between this film and the inadequate remake with Geoffrey Rush, search for this one. It might take you a little longer to find but trust me. It's worth it.
★★★1/2
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