The 1950s was a transition period for thehorrorgenre. The iconicUniversal Monster filmswere being phased out for the more psychological and ghostly films that would haunt the ’60s. This meant there was a lot of experimenting with the types of ghastly stories that were being told. One of the finest examples of this wasThe House on Haunted Hill. The 1959 horror mystery combined the best campy elements of the past with a thrilling pace that would inspire so many future horror classics. Now, with anewHouse on Haunted Hillfilm releasing next year,the original nightmare is currently streaming for free.
The House on Haunted Hillis screaming for free with ads on Fandango at Home. While the paid VOD service’s free section is mostly filled with direct-to-video genre films you’ve never heard of,Haunted Hillis the deadly exception. The horror thriller holds a certified-fresh critics' rating of 80% and an impressive audience score of 73% onRotten Tomatoes. This may make it the perfect chill you need to survive the holiday season. It also contains arguably horror legendVincent Price’s most beloved performance. That’s saying a lot given hismassive resume, which includes gems likeThe Last Man on Earth,House of Usher,The Raven, andEdward Scissorhands.
What’s ‘House on Haunted Hill’ About?
The House on Haunted Hillfollows a group of supposed strangers who are invited to Frederick Loren’s (Price) spooky mansion for a “haunted house party.” The objective is to survive the night and stay in the house until dawn. If they do so, each member of the party gets $10,000. That’s if the ghost of the house doesn’t get them first. It’s a classic mystery full of twists and turns that’ll have you on the edge of your seat asking,are there really supernatural forces at play or is this game the dreadful work of the living?WhileHaunted Hilldoes show its age with itspractical campy effects, thegothic atmosphereremains next to none, and the mixture of tense performances make this a horror treat. It would go on to inspire well-known franchises likeScooby-Doo, and its influences can be felt in modern genre pieces like 2024’sAbigail.
The House on Haunted Hillreceived a remake in 1999, and it would get a sequel in 2007. The franchise has been dormant ever since. However, earlier this year, it was announced thatHaunted Hillwould be returning in a big way.Anew filmwill be hitting theaters in 2025. It will be starring amodern horror icon inDaniel Roebuckand Price’s daughter,Victoria Price. The new take will be set in 1976 and feature a group of investigators doing a piece on Hill House for live TV. This exciting iteration has already wrapped production.
Stream or Scream… the Choice Is Yours
Alongside being onFandango at Home,The House on Haunted Hillis also streaming for free on YouTube. The trailer can be viewed below.
