I wanted to see this movie from a very early age. Not just because I have an obsession with Vincent Price, but because my mother recalled seeing it with my father when they dated in High School at some third run movie house. She would tell me it was very scary and I anticipated that when I saw it the first time. Let me tell you something, 1960s scary is in no way the same as 1980s scary (when I first saw it). Still because of her stories, the movie holds a special place in my heart and I watch it every Halloween when I can and try to picture two carefree kids at a rundown movie house in NJ, trying to get a good scare.
The House on Haunted Hill, fantastic film. No it’s not really scary, but it’s so cool. And all the exteriors were shot at the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Ennis House in LA which is both effectively creepy and also an unusual choice for a film like this, what with its strong Modernist design.
Best thing about it, though, is Vincent Price.