In 1999, we were treated to a full re-imagining of the 1959 horror classic House on Haunted Hill. Directed by William Malone and loosely adapted from Robb White’s original story by screenwriter Dick Beebe, this is one of those rare remakes/reboots/re-imaginings where homage and inspiration meet and produce something welcome at just the right time.
This update is completely different in just about every way—except for the basic kernel of the story.
Geoffrey Rush (as Steven Price) and his wife Famke Janssen (Evelyn) host a party of unsuspecting guests for a night filled with shock and terror. The animosity between the couple and the characterization of Watson Pritchett (Chris Kattan) are carried over, and yes, there’s a very large house with some very scary things. But that’s about where the similarities end.
This re-imagining updates the tone to a contemporary horror standard: heavy on computer effects, much gorier, both almost loud enough to overshadow the entertaining performances from the entire cast, but it doesn't. In the end it all works for a lot of fun.
Our party guests are rounded out by:
Taye Diggs
Ali Larter
Peter Gallagher
Bridgette Wilson
And the great Jeffrey Combs as Dr. Vannacutt
It’s slick, it’s loud, it’s bloody—and it’s a lot of fun. A haunted house movie for the late ’90s, with just enough weirdness to make it memorable.
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