In my take on the original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' I noted that for all the accolades the film has received for predating and introducing what are now standard elements in the slasher genre(or what a certain portly paragon of film criticism calls 'Dead teenager movies'); that it is often overlooked just how much of a final statement(and subversion) of the 'Old Dark house with a homicidally funny family' genre it is. That's a statement I'm willing to stand by, but TCM was by no means the last modern horror film to re-use that tried-and-true concept, and though it was the best, it certainly wasn't the only good one.
'House of the Long Shadows' is a nice tribute to the 'Old Dark House' genre, as well as a refreshing breeze during the era of the slasher. A sarcastic writer(Desi Arnaz Jr.) who hates Gothic novels makes a bet with his publisher(Richard Todd)to write a novel that makes use of the Gothic settings and purple prose that he so despises, and it has to be completed in 2 days time. So our hero takes off to an abandoned manor in Wales. After a frightening encounter at a train station in the pouring rain(which feels like the beginning of a giallo film), he arrives at the manor, only to find that the supposedly deserted mansion is very much inhabited("For a place deserted for 40 years, this house is more active than Time's Square!").
Then a cliché storm sets in while the real storm outside rages.
It's all here: A madman locked up for decades, a creepy developer, bickering family members with unusual habits, 'Ten little Indians'-inspired murders, a contrived romance, flat tires, visitors who kill each other, if you've seen it in an Old Dark house film, it's in here somewhere. The script is taken from the oft-filmed 'Seven Keys to Baldpate', but still manages to work in elements from various other works, such as several Lovecraft & Bloch stories, several William Castle films(notably the underrated 1963 version of 'The Old Dark House') and even the TV. movie 'Bad Ronald'.
This cliché storm needs an umbrella.
It's all by-the-numbers and all the family members are as one-dimensional as can be, defined by speech patterns or clothing and various broadly played traits, but when the family is played by John Carradine, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, who could complain? This is like the "Magnificent Seven" of horror. All of these old pros appear to be having a good time, as for the other actors; Arnaz makes us really relate to his irritability and longing for peace and quiet, and unknown Julie Peasgood is good as his love interest, she's definitely unusual looking, but a welcome break from the talentless cheerleader types seen in most '80's horror films.
As cliché as it all is, the film manages to be compelling enough to stick around to the end. And everything ends in a triple twist-ending that works on one-hand, and is infuriating on the other. For one, it explains the ridiculous level of coincidence away, but the next twist cancels it out, then cancels it out AGAIN for a happy ending. It would be much better if the last 5 minutes had been cut. Still, this film is definitely worth-seeing. With much to enjoy on repeat viewings. Recommended.~
'House of the Long Shadows' is a nice tribute to the 'Old Dark House' genre, as well as a refreshing breeze during the era of the slasher. A sarcastic writer(Desi Arnaz Jr.) who hates Gothic novels makes a bet with his publisher(Richard Todd)to write a novel that makes use of the Gothic settings and purple prose that he so despises, and it has to be completed in 2 days time. So our hero takes off to an abandoned manor in Wales. After a frightening encounter at a train station in the pouring rain(which feels like the beginning of a giallo film), he arrives at the manor, only to find that the supposedly deserted mansion is very much inhabited("For a place deserted for 40 years, this house is more active than Time's Square!").
Then a cliché storm sets in while the real storm outside rages.
It's all here: A madman locked up for decades, a creepy developer, bickering family members with unusual habits, 'Ten little Indians'-inspired murders, a contrived romance, flat tires, visitors who kill each other, if you've seen it in an Old Dark house film, it's in here somewhere. The script is taken from the oft-filmed 'Seven Keys to Baldpate', but still manages to work in elements from various other works, such as several Lovecraft & Bloch stories, several William Castle films(notably the underrated 1963 version of 'The Old Dark House') and even the TV. movie 'Bad Ronald'.
This cliché storm needs an umbrella.
It's all by-the-numbers and all the family members are as one-dimensional as can be, defined by speech patterns or clothing and various broadly played traits, but when the family is played by John Carradine, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, who could complain? This is like the "Magnificent Seven" of horror. All of these old pros appear to be having a good time, as for the other actors; Arnaz makes us really relate to his irritability and longing for peace and quiet, and unknown Julie Peasgood is good as his love interest, she's definitely unusual looking, but a welcome break from the talentless cheerleader types seen in most '80's horror films.
As cliché as it all is, the film manages to be compelling enough to stick around to the end. And everything ends in a triple twist-ending that works on one-hand, and is infuriating on the other. For one, it explains the ridiculous level of coincidence away, but the next twist cancels it out, then cancels it out AGAIN for a happy ending. It would be much better if the last 5 minutes had been cut. Still, this film is definitely worth-seeing. With much to enjoy on repeat viewings. Recommended.~