The Haunting

"Hill House has a reputation for killing it's occupant's," so relates the narrator of this creepy thriller about an alleged haunted house.  This chilling black and white adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel, investigates a haunting of this isolated country manor.  This film is directed by Robert Wise who also directed The sound of music.

Dr. John Markway (Richard Johnson) wants to prove the existence of the supernatural at Hill House.  He gets the blessing of his current owner and carefully selects participants for his experiment.  Strange and horrifying happenings befall the participants, especially Eleanor.

Eleanor has come to Hill House escaping a stifling existence and expecting adventure for the first time in her life.  She is most affected by this house that was "born bad."  She finds herself succumbing to the lure of  what haunts this house and the house seems to want her.  Evil certainly awaits her.

Shock after shock is delivered until "whatever walks alone," in this house gets what it wants and achieves it's final climax.  This is a great film for all scary movie lovers.  While it is not one of the rarer ones I will review, it is a must see in the horror movie genre and will not disappoint.  

Scream of Fear aka Taste of Fear

This black and white film is set on the beautiful cote d'azure.  Penny Appleby, a fragile and lovely wheelchair bound young lady is summoned by her father to visit his estate after a ten year absence.  Penny descends into Nice to be met by her father's chauffeur.  Arriving at the home, she is told her father is away on business by her stepmother.  Here begins her personal horror.  She sees her father's dead body in a variety of settings - only for it to vanish when the rest of the household appears.  

This psychological thriller follows Penny's possible descent into insanity.  Penny is adamant that she has seen her dead father and only her father's chauffeur appears to believe that her sightings are real and not imagined.  In their search for her father, Scream of Fear continues as a mind bending odyssey following Penny's search for the truth.  Note:  Nothing in this film is what it appears to be.

Although this film was not very popular in America, I think scary movie buffs would enjoy this film.  It is mostly non violent but more keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat.  I shared it with a few friends and family and they agreed.