13 Ghosts (1960)

3.5 / 5
Tagline: IT'S FUN TO BE SCARED BY 13 GHOSTS
Directed by: William Castle
Written by: Robb White
Actors include: Charles Herbert, Jo Morrow, Martin Milner
Genre: Horror
Length: 84 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Oh it's cute for a kiddies kinda film...I mean it's absolutely not frightening in any way but it's kitschy and fun in a way that only Castle can be. The gimmick on this one was "Illusion-O" glasses that the audience in the theatre would put on as soon as they saw one of our characters wear glasses. Of course watching this at home without glasses I kinda lost that effect but since it was so cheaply done I hardly believe it would have made a difference. The premise is that a poor family discover that their rich scientist Uncle (who collected ghosts) died and has left them their house. Things start moving around at will and ghosts keep appearing and startling the family. There are also rumors of money being lost from the estate, a creepy Housekeeper who comes with the house (played by Margaret Hamilton from The Wizard of Oz of course). It's rather wholesome, it's got a few laughs and it's easy to watch, I would definitely show this to children though!

Availability:  On DVD

Homicidal (1961)

4.5 / 5  Nov '09
Tagline: A WORD OF WARNING! Please don't reveal the ending of this picture or your friends will kill you - IF THEY DON'T, I WILL! - William Castle
Directed by: William Castle
Written by: Robb White
Actors include: Glenn Corbett, Patricia Breslin, Eugenie Leontovich
Genre: Horror, Black Comedy, Thriller
Length: 87 Minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is one hilarious black comedy, and shocking (well until about the halfway point where it's a dead giveaway) but still! It's about a murderous Nurse who is looking after an old Woman with a lot of money. It's very hard to review this actually because I don't want to give a thing away because it really must be experienced with as little information as possible. Heck William Castle threatened to kill anyone who gave the ending to this away! I can say it's surprising, it's dark, I laughed a ton, the characters are amusing and the lead character is simply stunning as a homicidal maniac! This film's gimmick was a 45 second fright break near the ending for patrons who weren't ready for it to leave the theater. Kinda weak on his scale of gimmicks but the movie more than made up for it in style and sheer entertainment. I was glued to the screen from the beginning to the ending, it really is one heck of a film and I'm kinda surprised that Castle had this in him! Definitely watch now and don't read any more for your own good...

Availability:  On DVD

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

4 / 5 Nov '09
Tagline: See it with someone with warm hands!
Directed by: William Castle
Written by: Robb White
Actors include: Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long
Genre: Horror
Length: 75 minutes
Banned: Finland

 

Review:

Vincent Price starts us off as saying he's rented a haunted house for his wife's party of 5 strangers, whomever survives the night will earn 10,000 dollars each! They will be locked in at midnight and the caretakers will abandon them so they can't leave...spooooky! Nobody seems to know who the fellow throwing the party is, and nobody seems to know one another making for an interesting experience of course. The house is the main character, it has ghostly moving chandeliers, bleeding ceilings, acid vat, doors that close themselves and many other little quirks. The caretaker is even somewhat creepy (for the time mind you). It's gimmicky (it's a William Castle picture, of course it is!) but it's clear and concise, darkly funny and easy to watch. If you like Vincent Price then you will like this movie, I can almost guarantee it!

Availability:  On DVD or watch it for free online here:  http://www.hulu.com/house-on-haunted-hill