| Photos (see all 10 | slideshow) |
| Karen Black | ... | Marian Rolf | |
| Oliver Reed | ... | Ben Rolf | |
| Burgess Meredith | ... | Arnold Allardyce | |
| Eileen Heckart | ... | Roz Allardyce | |
| Lee Montgomery | ... | David 'Davey' Rolf (as Lee H. Montgomery) | |
| Dub Taylor | ... | Walker | |
| Bette Davis | ... | Aunt Elizabeth | |
| Joseph Riley | ... | Ben's Father | |
| Todd Turquand | ... | Young Ben | |
| Orin Cannon | ... | Minister | |
| Jim Myers | ... | Dr. Ross | |
| Anthony James | ... | The Chauffeur |
Directed by | |||
| Dan Curtis | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Robert Marasco | (novel) | |
| William F. Nolan | (screenplay) and | |
| Dan Curtis | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Dan Curtis | .... | producer | |
| Robert Singer | .... | associate producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Bob Cobert | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Jacques R. Marquette | (as Jacques Marquette) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Dennis Virkler | |||
Casting by | |||
| Linda Otto | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Eugène Lourié | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Solomon Brewer | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Ann Roth | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Al Fleming | .... | makeup artist | |
| Abraham Meech-Burkestone | .... | hair stylist | |
| Peggy Shannon | .... | hair stylist | |
Production Management | |||
| Joseph M. Ellis | .... | unit production manager (as Joseph Ellis) | |
| Ira Loonstein | .... | production supervisor | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Howard Grace | .... | first assistant director | |
| Stephen Lim | .... | second assistant director | |
Art Department | |||
| Gerald MacDonald | .... | construction coordinator | |
Sound Department | |||
| Don J. Bassman | .... | sound re-recordist (as Don Bassman) | |
| David M. Ronne | .... | sound mixer (as David Ronne) | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Cliff Wenger | .... | special effects (as Clifford Wenger) | |
Stunts | |||
| Dar Robinson | .... | stunts | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Alan Goldenhar | .... | gaffer | |
| Elliott Marks | .... | still photographer | |
| Bradford May | .... | first assistant camera (as Brad May) | |
| Robert A. Petzoldt | .... | gaffer (as Robert Petzoldt) | |
| Sven Walnum | .... | camera operator | |
| Robert Blair | .... | key grip (uncredited) | |
| Wynn Hammer | .... | still photographer (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Lucia De Martino | .... | costumer | |
| Agnes G. Henry | .... | costumer (as Agnes Henry) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Bud Klutchman | .... | assistant editor (as Bud Klotchman) | |
Transportation Department | |||
| James E. Foote | .... | transportation captain (as James Foote) | |
Other crew | |||
| Pam Ellis | .... | production secretary | |
| Eliza Garrett | .... | production secretary | |
| Alan Greedy | .... | script supervisor | |
| Ruth Kennedy | .... | assistant to producer | |
| Susan B. Landau | .... | production assistant (as Susan Landau) | |
| Jason E. Squire | .... | production executive | |
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| The Living and the Dead | The Innocents | Something for Everyone | The Skeleton Key | The Grudge |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Horror section | IMDb USA section |
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This is one of the few horror films that I can still sit back and enjoy. It scared me pretty badly as a kid. I still feel all the haunting vibes and chills as an adult.
It may not be action packed (although the scene with Reed trying to kill his soon in the pool was terrifying--and ultra-realistic), but it certainly gets under your skin. This film is about mood, and it is both beautifully entrancing and ominously mesmerizing. I actually found the acting quite good. Reed was wonderful. I loved the two weird siblings, Roz and Brother (Burgess Meredith, wonderful actor). Their adoration of the house sends chills up my spine.
The true stars of the movie are the music (Bob Cobert's amazing Music Box Theme) and the house (Dunsmuir House & Gardens, in Oakland, California). For true horror buffs out there, this movie inspired the creators of PHANTASM to drive up to Oakland and use this same mansion as the infamous Morningside Mortuary. Which is probably, when the opening moments of PHANTASM rolled in 1979, I already had such fear upon seeing the mansion again on screen!
I have to wonder if other elements of BURNT OFFERINGS inspired PHANTASM as well. Note the creepy old lady upstairs at the end. Reminds one of PHANTASM's eerie fortuneteller. How about B.O.'s terrifying hearse chauffeur? He's kind of like a forerunner of the Tall Man!
BURNT OFFERINGS is well worth the viewing. Don't expect any real jolts or screams. But turn off the lights and let it really sink in. It's well worth a viewing. There are many moments (such as the house renewing itself during the rainstorm) that are bizarre and horribly fascinating. I haven't seen this good a haunted house movie in years.
And definitely visit Dunsmuir in real life. This place is spectacular. You'll fall in love with it, just like Karen Black! I certainly did. I spent awhile helping out as tour guide and volunteer at the estate while attending college in the Bay Area.