Review of The Haunted Palace

Mixing the themes of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, American International's horror unit added one of their better thrillers to their repertoire. Vincent Price is back yet again, delivering yet another melodramatic performance in a dual role as an evil warlock burnt at the stake, leaving a curse that is to be fulfilled more than a century later when his seemingly decent descendant shows up to claim his property. This delights fellow Warrick alone Chaney Jr. who has been taking care of the titled palace all that time in preparation for this day. Price's descendant takes on evil intentions as the evil spirit of his ancestor seeks control in seeking revenge against the families of those who killed him.

Debra Paget and Frank Maxwell co-star in this gripping thriller where the upset townspeople rise up against the obvious curse, poised to come through thanks to the return of the stock's kinsman. Paget is Price's wife, desperate to get away from the rising evil, while Maxwell takes the role of the town doctor who is the only one to believe in Price's innocence, much to his regret.

Colorfully filmed and hauntingly scored, thus is mesmerizing and totally fascinating. It also has an extremely surprising ending, a far cry from the others from this series. With a fascinating torture chamber set, this shows the evil that men do in not so subtle visuals that may chill you to the bone.