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The Legend of Hell House on DVD (1973)

The Legend of Hell House cover art
Average rating: 61%
12254206915
3.0
from 219 members
 
Starring: Roddy McDowall, Pamela Franklin, Clive Revill, Gayle Hunnicutt, Roland Culver, Peter Bowles
Director: John Hough
Studio: 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 94 mins
Certificate: 15
Genres: Horror
Languages: English
Dubbed: German
Hearing-impaired: English, German
Released: 30/06/2003
Also Available on: Also Available on: DIGITAL

Brief synopsis of The Legend of Hell House

In this atmospheric and menacing film, the wealthy owner of a haunted mansion believes his home (which has been dubbed Hell House due to a history of bizarre happenings therein) might provide the answer to the phenomenon of life after death. To prove his theory, he enlists the help of four brave psychic investigators whom, to acquire the situation in its entirety, set up residence in the dark and mysterious abode. Soon after, the team are nearly driven to insanity as they slowly begin to discover how the mansion got its gloomy moniker.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 3 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Richard Matheson's adaptation of his own novel Hell House is long on theory and short on terror. Dying millionaire Roland Culver offers a handsome reward to scientist Clive Revill and psychics Pamela Franklin and Roddy McDowall if they can discover the secret of the afterlife in a house with a history of violent hauntings. Although director John Hough makes atmospheric use of the suitably eerie sets, he is too content to send shivers rather than shocks, and thus dilutes the efforts of a cast (including Gayle Hunnicutt as Revill's wife) that has valiantly entered into the spirit of the thing.

Time Out

Richard Matheson's disappointing adaptation of his own rather disappointing novel, a haunted-house tale in which a... Read more on www.timeout.com

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Harrowing thriller, a less solemn but more frightening version of The Haunting.

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 3 starsWorth a go

A customer from Beds, england , 19/06/2004

I wasnt sure what to expect from this but was pleasantly suprised.

Quite a creepy and atmospheric little film that raises your hackles.

Was reminded after many years that Roddy McDowall used to be a fine actor once upon a time actually.

The ending however is rather silly - leaves you with a 'all that for that!!' kind of feeling, but an over all reasonably enjoyable film if you like your classic horrors.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 stars

Andre#11 from CANNOCK , 18/06/2004

A psychic researcher (Clive Revill) attempts to resolve the age-old enigma of life after death by investigating a notorious house in which the spirits of the victims of its bloody history are said to roam. The team consists of his wife (Gayle Hunnicutt) and two mediums (Roddy McDowell and Pamela Franklin). The film is moodily shot with effective sets and an eerie score. Performances are generally good, though Revill is a little lightweight in his role as main protagonist. There are a few rather primitive SFX but the chills (and there are many) come mainly from mood and setting. The screenplay by Richard Matheson from his own novel ?Hell House? is intelligent, though character motivation (well described in the book) is largely absent here. I would recommend the film to be watched in a double bill with Robert Wise?s ?The Haunting? (1963 version) if possible.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsIn the so bad its good category

TheBigBopper from london , 05/09/2004

The script makes little sense and people say things for no apparent reason, it's a rip off of loads of other ghost stories but the scenary and atmosphere are good. it's a really entertaining movie if you like trashy seventies horrors where all the men are rational and in charge and the ladies waft about in nighties being irrational and seduced by ghosts.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsFrightened me

brokky from devon , 17/01/2006

This film is the only horror to frighten me. It sent shivers right through my body. I really recomend it if you like paranormal things.

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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 3 starsIn the so bad its good category

TheBigBopper from london , 05/09/2004

The script makes little sense and people say things for no apparent reason, it's a rip off of loads of other ghost stories but the scenary and atmosphere are good. it's a really entertaining movie if you like trashy seventies horrors where all the men are rational and in charge and the ladies waft about in nighties being irrational and seduced by ghosts.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsWorth a go

A customer from Beds, england , 19/06/2004

I wasnt sure what to expect from this but was pleasantly suprised.

Quite a creepy and atmospheric little film that raises your hackles.

Was reminded after many years that Roddy McDowall used to be a fine actor once upon a time actually.

The ending however is rather silly - leaves you with a 'all that for that!!' kind of feeling, but an over all reasonably enjoyable film if you like your classic horrors.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
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