"House On Haunted Hill" - 1999: A Review - AudioHead

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"House On Haunted Hill" - 1999: A Review

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The remake of "House On Haunted Hill" is an exceptionally well conceived
and executed film, with fine production by Robert Zemeckis, sharp direction
by William Malone (an ardent fan of the 1958 original), taut scripting by
Malone and Dick Beebe, (Beebe who incidentally, coscripted the original),
and good performances by the cast. Peter Graves featured in a cameo.
HOHH 1999 more or less adheres to the original with some differences; first and foremost it being more serious, with its horrid
backstory and graphic violence. This film is definitely not recommended
for viewing by small children and those prone to nightmares, as there are
lots of disturbing, sadistic scenes, some profanity and brief nudity. Not
since "Silence Of The Lambs" and the "Hellraiser Series" have I been
subjected to so many shocking, gruesome images.
Another difference, a fresh and interesting twist, it that the house is not
a house per se, but rather a former mental institution converted into living quarters. This variation is integral to understanding and supporting the backstory.
The film has a brisk pace with little dragging "expository lumps"; the
crucial backstory is seamlessly insinuated into the current events. The
soundtrack is on the mark, conveying the sinister tone and atmosphere with
modern rock music tracks and even an "Addams Family" type track thrown in
to pay a brief tribute to the more light-hearted tone of the original
film.
The characters are standard stereotypes, but are played well within the
context, and by mid-story, it is predictable as to who exactly will survive
the ordeal, not that that is seriously distracting.
The standouts of the show are former Oscar Winner, Geoffrey Rush (in
the Vincent Price role) as Steven Price, and Famke Janssen as Evelyn, his
Significant Other. Both deliver great performances, both individual and
in tandem, as they remain faithful to the Vincent Price/Carol Ohmart
adversarial relationship: some delicious/vicious, catty dialogue between the twosome.
I can't say that I snickered and grinned that much throughout this remake,
like I did during the original, but I don't think that was ever part of
Malone's intention. (He had stated in pre-production that he "wanted to
capture the flavor of the original, while putting it into a modern context".)
In conclusion, while HOHH 1999 certainly remains indebted to the 1958
original, it can stand firmly upon it's own merits, and undoubtedly will
achieve a reputation as one of the better horror films of the 90's.
One wicked rollercoaster ride! - AH

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Topic - "House On Haunted Hill" - 1999: A Review - AudioHead 13:20:48 10/31/99 (3)

Re: "House On Haunted Hill" - 1999: A Review - BKing 17:28:14 10/31/99 (2)

Re: "House On Haunted Hill" - 1999: A Review - AudioHead 16:10:41 11/01/99 (1)

Re: "House On Haunted Hill" - 1999: A Review - BKing 17:08:06 11/02/99 (0)

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