31 Days of Horror: House on Haunted Hill (1959) (1999)

In the 1959 original of House on Haunted Hill, Vincent Price starred as an eccentric and wealthy cad who invites six strangers over for a party of lifetime offering $10,000 to whomever survives the night. The B&W film is horror classic. Beautifully rendered by director William Castle and Vincent Price, the film is still terrifying and creepy to this day.

The 1999 remake starring Geoffrey Rush as the Price-esque millionaire, Steven Price is surprisingly effective. He plays perfectly to the camp of Price right down to the mustache. Famke Janssen plays his evil wife, Evelyn. Taye Diggs, Ali Larter, Peter Gallagher and Chris Kattan are among the guests. Thankfully, we don't linger on character development--we know enough--and quickly the chills begin.

While this film deviates somewhat, the thrills are equally creepy. The home, this time, was once the Vannacutt Psychiatric Institute for the Criminally Insane and was the scene of a horrible massacre by the mental patients that included the death of Dr. Vannacutt (Jeffery Combs). Price, offers one me-llion dollars each to the survivors.

The atmosphere of the home is perfectly diabolical with enough creep and substance to keep the viewer engaged. Price's homemade plans blend seamlessly with the murderous ones of the house. Inventive deaths and odd-ball gore keep the suspense building. The score adds a surprising taut layer as well.

Though clocking in at about 90 minutes, the film looses steam toward the end with the conclusion not quite as sustaining as I'd hope. {Stay past the credits for a touch more.}

House on Haunted Hill--whether the classic or the campy tribute--is spooky good.