The allegedly deceased patriarch of a wealthy 1890's Massachusetts family leaves his survivors feeling cursed after his funeral is held three days early and his body entombed before the five day waiting period he had requested. The family solicitor reads the will to the pathetic survivors which includes a not so grieving widow, some ungrateful, hateful children, and various servants who were all given bequests. Nobody could meet the rules of this estate which places a threat on all their lives. A servant girl is found beheaded, a vain heir is dragged to his death with his face scarred beyond recognition, and another heir desperately afraid of fire is gruesomely burnt to death. Yes, this is the typical "Old Dark House" premise where the deceased head of the family vows to come back to get them if his post-mortum requests are not honored.
If you were a fan of the early years of "All My Children", you will be shocked to see the elegant Hugh Franklin (Dr. Charles Tyler) as the family lawyer, joined here by Robert Milli (who played Lars Bogard in the early 80's) as the elegant but self-centered elder son who only has his own interests at heart. Probably best known for playing the noble Adam Thorpe on "Guiding Light" throughout the 1970's, Milli has a grand time here being a total scoundrel. Helen Warren gives an indication of how her widowed character felt alone and scared when her now deceased husband was alive, and you truly feel terrified for her here. A very young Roy Schneider plays a younger son, but is overshadowed by Milli, Warren and Margot Hartman as Milli's reluctant co-hort in his own despicable action. The acting is a notch above the usual schlock style, and the photography is darkly sinister. To think that this came from the same producer who in 1964 also gave us "The Horror at Party Beach" is a total contrast, or maybe this just seemed better because I watched as part of a double bill with that major turkey. Of course, the ending is pretty predictable (straight out of "Scooby Doo") but when I had such fun being scared, I didn't really care too much.
If you were a fan of the early years of "All My Children", you will be shocked to see the elegant Hugh Franklin (Dr. Charles Tyler) as the family lawyer, joined here by Robert Milli (who played Lars Bogard in the early 80's) as the elegant but self-centered elder son who only has his own interests at heart. Probably best known for playing the noble Adam Thorpe on "Guiding Light" throughout the 1970's, Milli has a grand time here being a total scoundrel. Helen Warren gives an indication of how her widowed character felt alone and scared when her now deceased husband was alive, and you truly feel terrified for her here. A very young Roy Schneider plays a younger son, but is overshadowed by Milli, Warren and Margot Hartman as Milli's reluctant co-hort in his own despicable action. The acting is a notch above the usual schlock style, and the photography is darkly sinister. To think that this came from the same producer who in 1964 also gave us "The Horror at Party Beach" is a total contrast, or maybe this just seemed better because I watched as part of a double bill with that major turkey. Of course, the ending is pretty predictable (straight out of "Scooby Doo") but when I had such fun being scared, I didn't really care too much.