A terrifically creepy and nasty opening and the jolting modern day introduction set us up nicely. An able cast is brought to the haunted house where unspeakable things were done to mental patients who's revenge we witnessed at the outset. Geoffrey Rush is great, doing a nice oily tribute to the inimitable Vincent Price (of the 50's version of this story).

Great stuff follows with two plots unwinding simultaneously, the fake and the real "haunting". The images of the good "doctor" appearing in the camcorder and on the surveillance cameras was terrific. I wish the whole movie could have sustained the chills generated by the "just-glimpsed-then-gone" evil and the hackle-raising stare and smile of these apparitions. And, of course Geoffrey Rush's trip in the psychotic chamber is worth the price of admission alone.

Unfortunately, someone decided they could forego the sinister doctor and his minions and victims for a big CG finish that ISN'T scary and ISN'T creepy. And so the movie ends with a bang that is actually a whimper. Too bad, they were really on to something in the buildup prior to that. Could have been great.

But, the ending is only the ending, and the leadup to it has enough good stuff to make it worth a look.


I Had To Buy It   January 19, 2001
 14 out of 14 found this review helpful

After missing the films release at the cinema i decided to buy the film anyway as my friends had said that it was very good, and i have to agree with them. I hadnt seen the original so this was a totaly new film to me and i loved it all the way through. The storyline is there, there are plenty of deaths, the special effects are great and the cast certainly earned their pay.


Better than the original   February 24, 2000
 10 out of 14 found this review helpful

In comparison to the original version this is far better because of the special effects(excellent) and more modernised than the Vincent price original. The plot is basically that Mr price has a party in this house which used to me a mental asylem and is apparently haunted. Mr Price decides to offer people 1 million dollars each if they stay in the house all night and are around in the morning to collect thier reward however the Invitations are mysteriously sent out to the wrong people it begins from there. Saying anymore will spoil this great film which when I wathced it I thought that it would be superb on DVD with dolby 5.1 ! Buy it soon.


A PRICE-less Classic   May 14, 2000
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

Having read so many lousy reviews of this remake of William Castle's 1959 schlock classic, I felt I had to set the records straight. The 1999 House on Haunted Hill is a much better movie than any of us could expect.

In true Castle tradition; it has equal parts gore and humour and a superb cast that hams up the proceedings perfectly (Geoffrey Rush plays the Vincent Price role with relish). But this time, however, we have a masterfully paced script (that is as knowing and 'post-modern' as anything from the pen of Kevin Williamson,) with genuine twists (on the original) and shocks aplenty, beautifully lit Bauhaus style interiors, and the best use of colour since Don't Look Now. The FX are not at all gratuitous (like so many scare flicks) and are simply quite astounding. We have the most creepy CGI apparitions imaginable [an animated monochrome Rorschach of lost souls], vibrating headed demons [a la Jacob's Ladder] and a 'saturation tank' mirage of monsters and ghosts - actually, a cleverly realised montage of black and white/sepia images with occasional vivid bursts of reds.

The DVD is a superb widescreen transfer and is crammed full of extras - Director William Malone's commentary, 18 minute documentary and effects catalogue.

Prepare yourself for a white-knuckled, roller-coaster ride of a movie.