Canon Films approached director Pete Walker to fashion an old-style horror film and cast it with well-known horror legends. The result was the highly enjoyable House of the Long Shadows, an “Old Dark House” tale featuring Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and John Carradine, honoring the horror films from 1950s Hollywood and 1960s Hammer.
Studio: MGM
Distributed By: Kino Lorber
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HDMA
Subtitles: None
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 Hr. 40 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray
Blu-ray keepcaseDisc Type: BD25 (single layer)
Region: A
Release Date: 09/15/2015
MSRP: $29.95
The Production Rating: 3/5
Best selling author Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnaz, Jr.) is on a book-signing tour in London, and over lunch he makes a $20,000 bet with his publisher, Sam (Richard Todd), that he can turn out a novel along the likes of Wuthering Heights in just 24 hours, provided he has a quiet, remote place to write. Sam sets Kenneth up in a Welsh mansion thought to be deserted, only to meet the “caretakers,” Lord Grisbane (John Carradine) and daughter Victoria (Shelia Keith). They are soon joined by Sam’s assistant, Mary (Julie Peasgood), who suggests to Kenneth that he leave. But the front door seems to be a revolving one, as they are then joined by Grisbane’s sons Sebastian (Peter Cushing) and Lionel (Vincent Price), as well as the future owner of the property, Corrigan (Christopher Lee). The Grisbane’s are have returned to their estate to bid farewell to the sibling they locked away in the attic many years ago after an incident that quite literally tore the family apart. Distracted by the guests, Kenneth attempts to help the family track down the escaped son, who is now taking vengeance on his family by killing them off one by one.
House of the Long Shadows is a joy to watch, if nothing more than to see two Hammer legends (Lee and Cushing) share the screen with Corman legends Price and Carradine, and appear to be having a fun time doing so. The script by Michael Armstrong borrows its premise from Seven Keys to Baldpate, and allows its actors to sink their teeth into their roles and take the audience through a fun house of sorts, throwing in just about every cliche in the genre in the form of parody. Director Pete Walker keeps the pacing tight, adding touches of humor here and there with some thrills along the way, all leading to a fun twist at the end.
Video Rating: 3.5/5 3D Rating: NA
The 1080p transfer on Kino-Lorber’s Blu-ray release is fairly solid, retaining the film’s original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and has been compressed using the AVC codec. Blacks are a little weak at times, with shadows sometimes getting lost in the dark backgrounds, but this is a darkly lit film for the most part. Colors are consistent and natural, never appearing over saturated. Detail is quite good, especially during some of the more brighter lit scenes.
Audio Rating: 3.5/5
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track is serviceable, providing clear dialogue that very rarely gets lost in the mix. There are a few spots where the sound appears muddy, but those are few and far between, and noticeable only if you are listening for them.
Special Features Rating: 4/5
Pete Walker’s “House of Horror (1080p; 14:48): Director Pete Walker is interviewed, and discusses the production.
Audio Commentary with Director Pete Walker: Walker goes into much more detail (obviously) about the production, and is moderated by film historian and author Derrick Pykett.
Audio Commentary with Film Historian David Del Valle: Del Valle is joined by film documentarian Elijah Drenner, and the two discuss the production, the legacy of its famous cast, etc. The track was recorded the week after Christopher Lee’s passing.
Trailer for House of the Long Shadows (1080p; 2:27)
Trailer for Madhouse (1080p; 1:48)
Trailer for The Oblong Box (480i; 1:56)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
House of the Long Shadows is a fun, old-style horror movie that is made even somewhat charming by its legendary cast. Kino-Lorber has finally made the film available on physical media here in the US, a definite improvement over the previous MOD-DVD from Fox/MGM.
Reviewed By: Todd Erwin
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