Plot: What’s it about?
The legend of Hell House has been told for years, stories of various ghosts, strange events, and even disappearances. But unlike most haunted houses, Hell House has proven it has some evil spirits, as a team of researchers was demolished within its walls. A sole survivor emerged from that last visit, while countless others have died or gone insane after venturing inside, due to unknown forces and such. You would think this blood soaked past would keep others out, but a new team is prepared to take on Hell House, led by the only survivor of the last team. So this team has a slight inside look ahead of time, but when you’re talking about Hell House, nothing is ever for certain, except the guarantee of total fear. As this newest group tries to uncover the truth about Hell House, they will discover fears they never knew they had, as well as threats to their very lives. But will they be able to gather the information they entered Hell House to obtain, or will they simply become the latest victims of this real life haunted house?
This film has been toward the top of my most wanted list for some time, so I am thrilled Fox has finally seen to release The Legend of Hell House. This is an eerie, well made picture and while it is on the dated side, I still think it holds up rather well. The Legend of Hell House lays on the tension & suspense thick, to create a certain atmosphere, one which ensures the material can work to the fullest extent. Yes, some cheap scares are delivered also, but the overall atmosphere is what gets you here, without a doubt. I do think younger audiences might find it to be slower than their usual horror fare, but if you have a decent attention span, you’ll be fine. The film doesn’t use much in terms of blood & guts either, which might disappoint some, but trust me, you won’t miss the gore elements even for a second. The performances are terrific also and while perhaps a little over the top at times, I think the cast is more than up to the task. This move is required viewing for horror buffs, as well as anyone who likes a well concocted scare session. I do wish Fox had done a little more with this disc, but the price is low enough to warrant a purchase, if you’re so inclined.
His work here can become a little heavy handed, but I still think Roddy McDowall is terrific in The Legend of Hell House. He seems like a logical choice to take on his role, as he looks the part, as well as having the right persona to handle the task. McDowall has some great material to work with here, but he manages to make it even better at times, especially when he has an extended speech or moments, impressive stuff. Yes, a couple of times he is a ham and it shows big time, but he works well within the character and remains solid from start to finish. You can also see McDowall in such films as Planet of the Apes, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Fright Night, The Longest Day, and Cleopatra. The cast also includes Pamela Franklin (Satan’s School for Girls, The Food of the Gods), Clive Revill (The Double Man, Zorro The Gay Blade), and Gayle Hunnicut (Running Scared, The Spiral Staircase).
Video: How does it look?
The Legend of Hell House is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This movie was made in the 1970s and it shows, as the image here shows more grain than expected, in addition to an overall dated visual appearance. But when stacked up against other editions of this film, this transfer looks much better than the rest, which is good news. The main improvement is contrast, as black levels are much more refined, which allows for more detail and in a dark movie like this, that can make a lot of difference. The colors look stable, but very dated, although that is due to the time it was made, not this transfer. The print looks cleaner than prior versions, but still shows debris and grain, though not an extreme amount. This might not be a pristine, restored visual effort, but fans should be pleased, as it is the best home video presentation out there.
Audio: How does it sound?
In a tense, eerie movie like this one, the audio can enhance the experience more than a little, to be sure. The included 4.0 surround option allows the material to branch out, but still lacks the presence of more modern efforts. But you have to remember this is older material and as such, it won’t be as rich and dynamic as more recent titles. The track sounds very good on the whole, with good sound effects presence, while the musical score sounds excellent also. I had no problems with dialogue at all, as vocals were crisp and always easy to understand. This disc also includes mono options in English and French, as well as Spanish and English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
