Ghostly Hauntings...

Well, friends, we continue our foray into the macabre with a pair of hauntings.  The first—another Vincent Price classic.  The second—a phenomenal piece of modern haunted cinema.

Movie #1:  House on Haunted Hill (1959, with Vincent Price, Richard Long)

A dashing villain, Vincent Price lures a number of strangers to a “murder house” up on a secluded hill to spend the night.  The incentive to stay--$10,000.  IF—you make it through the night alive.  (insert maniacal laugh here)  Classic black and white movie, the best features are the shadows and play of light against dark.  Because of a number of shots in the movie, we believe that this may have shown in theaters as 3D.  There is a mixed cast of characters ranging from a drunk to a psychologist, to a teacher, to an over-the-hill journalist with a gambling problem, among others.  There is a suicide, an acid vat, malevolent ghosts lingering in secret passageways, loaded revolvers, miniature caskets, and severed heads in suitcases!  But remember….with Vincent Price, not everything is as it seems.  

What we liked:  1. The play of light and shadow which is so particular to black & white movies.  2.  Gothic atmosphere.

Ratings:  Jason—3; Kathy—3; Me—3.  Good, entertaining movie for its time.

Movie #2:  The Others (2001, with Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flannagan)

This movie is now over a decade old, but it is one of the best movies about a haunting that has ever been done.  It is a beautifully shot movie.  It is a visual masterpiece, and the casting is spot on.  We all agreed that Nicole Kidman should’ve won an Oscar for THIS performance rather than for Virginia Wolff in The Hours. There is so much to talk about with this movie, but it is definitely one of those where plot cannot be discussed.  For anyone who HASN’T seen the movie, keeping the plot “unspoiled” is absolutely crucial!  What I can discuss-- if you are looking for a movie with atmosphere, then this is it.  We start with an isolated English manor house on the shores of Jersey at the end of WWII.  There is the impenetrable British fog covering the grounds and the house.  The servants have all suddenly vanished.  Because of constant German attack during the war, there is no electricity in the house, so everything is dim with candle-light and oil lamps.  Unexplained noises… curtains that open and close by themselves…whispered voices in the halls…drifting shadows…and mysterious strangers that show up—as if from thin air.  

If you haven’t seen this movie—do yourself a favor and watch it.  It’s suspenseful rather than “horror” if that helps those of you that are not fans of “horror flicks”.  There’s no slicing/dicing, no blood and guts.  It’s simply a powerfully thrilling ghost story.

What we liked:  EVERYTHING.  

Ratings:  Jason—4.5; Kathy—5 ;  Me—4.75