By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Often remakes are absolutely awful, complete letdowns, and mere shells of the original film. It is impossible to improve on a Vincent Price masterpiece. Vincent was the epitome of creepiness and represented what horror films should be, and thankfully “House on Haunted Hill” recognizes this. This movie is meant to put a new spin on an old classic and all the while pays homage to the actor who started it all.
The lead character is even named Stephen H. Price (Geoffrey Rush). Rush does a fine job portraying the rich, thrill seeking, amusement park owner, who is throwing his unappreciative, adulterous wife, Evelyn (Famke Janssen), at a closed down mental institution notorious for torturing their patients.
Invitations are mysteriously switched and, instead of Evelyn’s friends, a group of strangers are brought to the hospital with a promise of winning one million dollars for surviving the night. Upon arrival, the horrors begin immediately. The doors and windows go into lock-down mode, all exits are closed, and the entire party is trapped in the confines of the house on haunted hill.
Most believe that the strange occurrences are orchestrated by Stephen, and some are; but others are signs and warnings of things to come by the sinister powers that control the hospital. The only one who is immediately terrified by the house itself is the inherited owner Watson Pritchett (Chris Kattan). Kattan is wonderful in this role. Hopeless and completely assured that everyone is going to die, he gets drunk and offers sarcastic remarks when anyone attempts to form a plan of escape. He knows the history and knows what the place is capable of, and therefore he is resolved to the idea of disaster, torture and failure.
HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL is filled with cool imagery, great dialogue, above par acting and, most importantly, never forgets to be fun.
The original is a classic, but the remake is strong, complimentary and definitely something to watch and enjoy with some friends.
Scared Stiff Rating: 6.5/10 Hauntingly Good
