House of Usher (1960)

[Plain Old Tele]

Discuss.

[Jim Shorts]

Eh, I prefer this one..

 

 

[Fancyarcher]

The Fall of the House of Usher is the first of Roger Corman’s six Edgar Allan Poe adaptation (Premature Burial being the only one not to star Vincent Price), and first of seven movies he did with Vincent Price (the Raven and the Haunted Palace were Poe adaptations in name only, and they also did Tower of London did together, not based off a Poe story, but a remake of an earlier film that featured Vincent Price).

 

This film is a perfect example of an older horror movie. It relies more on atmosphere than jump scares in order to frighten its audience, and builds up to its horror slowly. Although today’s audience might find it to be very silly and slow, I found it to be very effective.

 

There is a fog that keeps showing up in the film, and it gives me chills anytime it shows up. The opening sequence where it changes into different colors is brilliantly done. Another scene is that brilliantly done (and is atmospheric) is the scene where Philip dreams, the color are distorted and the picture turns blue (to resemble the fog). When the ghosts show up with their “aaahhh!” sounds, the scene becomes frightful, and the distortion of colors is a big reason why.

 

This film is set in one location, and it works perfectly fine. There are only four primary actors in the film (with several extras playing ghosts). Although he gets top billing Vincent Price is not the “exact lead”, instead Mark Damon (no relation to Matt Damon) as Philip Winthrop is. As the lead Damon gives a mixed performance, being wooden for the majority of the film (no wonder he quit acting to become a producer). Near the end of the picture though his acting does improve somewhat considerably, as he searches for his lover Madeline Usher (Roderick Usher’s sister), and he makes it believable, as a man almost driven insane by love.

 

Although he isn’t the main character, and doesn’t have as much screentime as Damon, this is very much Vincent Price’s film (stealing the entire picture with his performance as Roderick Usher). Though one could claim that Vincent Price is a hammy actor, his performance here is very restraint at times, and melodramatic as well. Anytime he’s on screen, the camera loves him. His distinct voice, his blonde hair (he dyed his black hair), and his overall appearance help to make his performance as a madman essentially, memorable and brilliant, and also helps to establish why he is a movie icon. One scene that stands out for me, that features him, is when he’s talking about what happened to the land that he’s lives on. His delivery (along with Les Baxter’s score) helps to make that scene distinct and bleak.

 

The score (short as it may be) by Les Baxter is both chilling and memorable, helping to create the atmospheric feel of the movie. For example when Roderick and Philip are looking at the paintings, the score is especially effective in that scene, giving you the idea and feeling that something bad is about to happen.

 

The imagery and design of this movie is also wonderful. The film is supposed to be a B picture, yet it (and the mansion) look as great as many A pictures of its day.

 

This is not a movie for everyone, but it reminds me what most modern horror movies lack these days compared to the ones of the past. They weren’t just about scare, they had tone, and they built up the menace instead of throwing it right at you. This movie has rightfully and deservedly found a place among my favorites.

 

9 / 10

Edited October 29, 2013 by Fancyarcher

[Fancyarcher]

Eh, I prefer this one..

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2013 by Fancyarcher