I have to admit to never seeing the original, and maybe that is a good thing. House on Haunted Hill is a horror, but it comes across as far more as a horror-comedy, largely, I think, due to the performance of the, usually brilliant, Geoffrey Rush. His version of Stephen Price is slick but with an element of ham to it that makes him fun to watch, a constant showman that is manipulating the situation around him to his own ends. This is a haunted house tale in many ways though set in the ever-popular environment of a fallen insane asylum. I am a fan of this particular genre, and the setup here is interesting if a little cliched now. The scene of carnage and the deaths of many patients and their supposed carers, carers under the direction of a crazed doctor. The opening scene leaves little to the imagination and sets up the rest of the film as we are introduced to Stephen Price and his wife. House on Haunted Hill is destined to be the site of her birthday bash this year. We have some hinting at the state of their marriage, and we have the first run-in with some invisible force that manipulates the guestlist Price has created for the party. This hints at what is to come later. Next, we are introduced to the rest of the players in this little drama as the film brings them all to the House on Haunted Hill and awaiting Pritchard.
We get the custom setup to the lead into the renovated site, Pritchard reluctant to enter, as the rest wander in. There is a standard jump scare, and we have the arrival of the Prices. Again, Geoffrey Rush dominates any scene he is in, it always seems to me that he is thoroughly enjoying his time here. Ali Larter, Famke Janssen, and Taye Diggs all play their parts well as the film though somewhat dialled in at times. The film continues on with the surprise lockdown that catches all by surprise and panics Pritchard. This highlights that there is danger here and that only Pritchard is aware of it. It is evident that he had hoped to avoid this outcome, and now he finds himself trapped alongside this bunch of strangers. As we go, we learn more about this setup, that Evelyn and her husband are at odds, and this scenario has danger beyond just the supernatural. This is very much a film of its time, for those of us that grew up in the '90, it is plain to see the beats coming, and yet it never fails to amuse us. I have to admit that the film isn't great, it would not win awards or go down as a cult classic, but I have always found it an amusing watch. The use of the twisted warren of wards below the main floor is done well, the ruined areas hinting of much misuse and years of abandonment. The growing supernatural presence is upped as the film continues, and the danger to our protagonists escalates at a suitable rate. The imagery at times is somewhat disturbing, though, in comparison to later films could be considered tame now. The twist with Evelyn and then Price is interesting, and it leads to our final act of the film, the evil contained within finally set free.
I enjoyed the relationship that is developed between Diggs and Larter, and I enjoyed Pritchard somewhat. Janssen is underused, in my opinion, but Rush steals every scene he is in. The climax finds the evil within the house after those still alive, and it rapidly builds to their desperate attempt to flee from this madhouse. We have our survivors, and we're left wondering just how they will find their way to safety as we leave them, to say too much would spoil the ending. All in all, the film runs along typical tracks for a film of its type, it is average at best, but it has become one that I can watch over again in comfort. I have seen far worse films, films that took themselves far more seriously and suffered for it. House on Haunted Hill is a '90s flick that is at best a bit of mindless fun that has a couple of scares that might catch you by surprise, but little else. So, if you've got an hour and a half to kill, give it a watch, you might enjoy it.
I'd give the film a 3 out of 5, worth a look if you're bored and need to turn your brain off for a little while. Let me know what you think and what films along this vein you would recommend.
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