House of Usher (1960)

 

If you adore Vincent Price, then this one is a no-brainer: you have to watch it. Not only does his presence once again lift the material, but this is also one of those gloriously colourful Poe-films that B-film meister Roger Corman produced with all the trappings. Does it faithfully follow Poe's story? Not quite, but there is plenty of atmosphere to be had and a twistingly creepy finale. 

Classic ghost stories and tales of the demented: there's something that modern day films often fail to capture. I'm guessing it's the opulent sets and costumes and exceedingly British way of acting and line delivery.

Philip Winthrop (Damon) is heading to the ancestral home of the Usher family in order to visit his fiancée Madeline, whom he hasn't seen since they spent time together in Boston. It turns out the Usher estate is in shambles, the grounds barren and the house itself dilapidated and decrepit and other words beginning with 'd'. He is met by Roderick (Price), Madeline's creepy as all heck brother, who insists that Madeline can never leave the house again, because they are both afflicted by the Usher family history.

See, it turns out nearly all of the Usher predecessors were some kind of twisted criminal, be it murderers, sadists and the like. Roderick himself cannot stand loud noises and Madeline has fainting spells. They both seem very determined to indeed pass away within the walls, but Philip is having none of it. Things do change when it seems as though Madeline passes away after an altercation due to a weak heart, but is she really dead? Or does Roderick have a nefarious scheme? 

And what about the crack in the walls of the house and the occasional tremors that shake everything? 

If you go into this expecting fast action and gruesome thrills, you will be disappointed. This one is all about the atmosphere and the unbearable buildup to tragedy. This also makes the film more akin to a stageplay, as there are in fact only four actors present. But the sets, costumes and above all else the inimitable Vincent Perice make this a joy to watch. 

Yes, it is maddeningly slow at times, even for a total length of about seventy minutes, but you get sucked in to the creepy world of the Usher family and the mystery does indeed build to a crescendo that still has a few twists up his sleeve.

This will not be for everyone and many will find this slow and mayhap boring. But if Edgar Allan Poe ànd Vincent Price seem like heaven to you, then this is obligatory viewing.