Customer Reviews

The House That Dripped Blood [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A creepy old house in the country proves to be deadly for anyone who rents it in this enjoyable quartet of horror tales. From the British Amicus output of anthologies in the 60's-70's, "House That Dripped Blood" boasts a superb cast and an interesting set-up of a Scotland Yard investigator looking for a horror film star who disappeared after being the last to rent the house. A cop and the strange Real Estate rep who rents the house tells the investigator the stories of the people who met their doom while living there. The tales include a horror writer whose latest murderous creation seemingly comes to life, Peter Cushing discovers that a weird Museum of Horrors has a Salome exhibit that seems to be still collecting heads, Christopher Lee's angelic young daughter turns out to be a voodoo practicing witch, and in the final tongue-in-cheek (or is that TOOTH in cheek) tale, the horror film star buys a vampire's cloak that still has chilling powers. Jon Pertwee is wonderful as the actor and the bosomy Ingrid Pitt is his seductive co-star---a REAL vampire. Great supporting cast includes Nyree Dawn Porter (from BBC's "The Forsyte Saga"). Very entertaining film that uses atmosphere and good acting instead of gore to get the job done. The DVD from Lion's Gate is a fine print in widescreen and features an interview with one of the producers, Max Rosenberg. This is another example of horror films that need to be on DVD. A great treat for Halloween and a collector's item for fans. Cut down the lights and enjoy.

Ahhh, another juicy Amicus film released by Lion's Gate Entertainment. With The House That Dripped Blood, we get five fearsome tales involving murder, voodoo, vampires, and generally bad mojo all around. The tales are centered on a large, old house located just outside of a small town in the English countryside. Seems a report filed on the disappearance of the most recent owner by the local constabulary has raised some questions within Scotland Yard, prompting a Yard investigator to make the trip for more clarification. On arriving, the investigator learns that the disappearance of the recent tenant was only the last in a long line of strangeness to come out of that house with regards to past tenants.

The first tale, Method For Murder, involves a horror writer, played by Denholm Elliot, whose most recent literary creation, a maniacal strangler, seems to have come to life, and is lurking in and around the house, being all troublesome and such.

The second story, Waxworks, stars Peter Cushing as a retired investment banker and mysterious goings on at the local wax museum. Seems one of the wax figures in the museum bares an uncanny resemblance to a woman he used to know. This one also has a young Joss Ackland, of whom I vaguely recognized until I remembered him as the head bad guy from Lethal Weapon 2.

The third story, Sweets to the Sweet, stars Christopher Lee in a tale about a child with unnatural abilities. To say anymore would give it away, though you will most likely be able to figure out what's going on before the ending is revealed.

The fourth story, The Cloak, star Jon Pertwee as an egotistical horror actor in search of a realistic cloak for an upcoming role in a horror movie. He does find what he's looking for, and much more. Also in this one is Ingrid Pitt, as his buxom co-star. This one had a twinge of humor throughout, while the others were more serious, straightforward horror tales. One part that stands out in my mind was when Pertwee is verbally thrashing the art and movie director for the lack of realism in the sets and in the wardrobe, and he relates the 'look' he's after to past horror movies for examples, citing Frankenstein and Dracula, "but the one with Bela Lugosi, not that newer one." in reference to Christopher Lee and his performances as the count.

The fifth story is basically an ongoing one between the other stories, involving the Scotland Yard inspector hearing each of the four tales, and then deciding to see this house for himself.

All stories seem to be credited to Robert Bloch, probably best known for writing the Hitchcock classic Psycho, but looking at the IMDb, it shows a couple of other writers had a hand in this movie, most notably Richard Matheson. The print used for transfer to DVD was quite good, especially when compared to an included trailer of dubious quality. The only other special feature is a psuedo interview with the producer, Max Rosenberg, whose prolific production career includes such movies like Scream and Scream Again (1969), Tales From the Crypt (1972), Asylum (1972), The Land That Time Forgot (1975), and The Incredible Melting Man (1977). Good directing, accomplished actors, a creepy house, and a haunting musical score all come together to create an overall enjoyable experience. The threads that tied the individual stories to the house were a little thin in some places, but that appears fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

Don't be misled by the title. This is a movie that relies on atmospheric sets, solid acting, and mood-enhancing music to get the job done. As you would expect from a master of the genre such as Robert Bloch, all of the stories are well-crafted (unlike many anthologies, which toss at least one dud into the mix). I was very pleased with the transfer from VHS to DVD. The picture is bright and clear, and I was able to discover many details that were murky on tape. The sound is also crisp, which is especially important with this movie - the music and the odd sound effects are integral to maintaining the spooky atmosphere that permeates the film. The first three stories are serious in tone, but Mr. Bloch lightens-up the proceedings in the final story - where the rubber-faced Jon Pertwee and the buxom Ingrid Pitt are given a chance to camp things up a bit. This very enjoyable movie has thunderstorms, candlelight, creaking doors, shadows, and cobwebs.....but no blood. Let me provide some by giving this film a rating of...."A positive."

one of amicus films greatest anthologys. it has it all, spooky old english manor, vampires witches and not forgetting the presence of both christopher lee and peter cushing turning in superb performances. they are supported by a great cast too.
this film is very hard to find as it has been deleated since the eighties.i have an original but even a copy is a must inevery horror addicts video libary. it even attracts dr. who fans as jon pertwee plays the part of a horror actor who ,by mistake buys a real vampires cloak.ingrid pitt soon leads him to the darkside in a wity sendup of the vampire world. all in all see it for yourself its a great piece of fantasy genre. ENJOY !

This is a collection of four short narratives with a link story about the mystery of the creepy old house where all are set. In the first, a writer of horror stories fears he is going mad when the lunatic murderer he is writing about suddenly appears in his life and starts to stalk him. In the second, a respectable retired unmarried stockbroker is thrown off balance when he comes across a waxwork of a young woman that reminds him of his lost love. In the third, a young woman is hired as a governess and is puzzled to discover that her employer has forbidden his sweet little girl to play with dolls... In the fourth, a hammy old horror movie actor goes off shopping for a vampire's cloak and gets more than he bargained for. His subsequent disappearance has brought a Scotland Yard detective sniffing around whose investigations are a basis for the slender linking story.

Five stars first of all because of the title. If it isn't the best title of any movie ever, what on earth is? And you know you're into a treat when you watch the rest of the credits: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Denholm Elliott, Joss Ackland, Ingrid Pitt... But my most vivid memory is still one of NOT seeing it. When it was released I was a wee boy of seven or eight, a good ten years younger than the certificate said I had to be to go and see it at the cinema. But I saw it advertised and was, I remember, desperately frustrated: a film with such a title could not possibly fail, my small boy's bloodthirsty imagination insisted, to be the most brilliant ever made. Older and perhaps wiser (and able to watch it as often as I like without troubling the law), I'll now concede it my well not be the most brilliant, or even anywhere near the scariest, film ever made. But I think my seven-year old self would not have been disappointed by these lovely gruesome little tales (and would not, I confidently conjecture have suffered significant psychological harm from seeing them). And even now, at my present relatively disenchanted age, I can watch it with unmitigated and not particularly guilty pleasure.

"The House that Dripped Blood" appealed to me not from its incredibly cheesy title, nor from the ugly picture on the cover, but from the fact that each of its four segments stars a British actor I really like. Denholm Elliot, who we see in the first part, was Marcus in the Indiana Jones movies. Peter Cushing, in segment two, was all kinds of people, from Moff Tarkin in the original Star Wars to Van Helsing in the Hammer films. Christopher Lee (who is, incidentally, the only one of the four stars still living, at the time that I write this), well. Who hasn't Christopher Lee been? The man's everywhere, and definitely one of my all-time favorite actors! And finally, the third Doctor Who himself, Jon Pertwee, stars in the final bit.

A really flimsy story is used to unify the four parts... as I knew about the uniting factor beforehand, I was expecting it right away to be rather... well, less than perfectly done (would have been better, in my opinion, to just play the four segments with a black screen and a title card before each one begins, and then leave the one thing that the four stories share, the house itself, in the background where it belongs. That way, if the audience is clever enough (and let me tell you right away that I'm not!), they would notice the house being the same one in all four stories themselves and then each one of them come up with a better reason why than the one the movie gives us.

Of the four segments, I liked the first two best, and the one with Christopher Lee the least. The Denholm Elliot segment (the first one) has the most creative plot, with a nifty twist I didn't see coming in the last few seconds before it wraps up. The Cushing one is just creepy. Lee's was... well, Lee did a great job, but I just didn't care as much for the story. It was strange for me to see Pertwee, in the final segment, playing someone who wasn't the character I'm used to seeing him play (but did anyone notice that his vampire costume was almost identical to the one he wears on "Doctor Who"?). Pertwee's segment is more of a comedy bit than the others. Not a bad thing at all, but it's just a rather sudden change from the previous three, where there wasn't a lot of humor to be found.

Not much for extras on the DVD... just an interview with the producer (which was okay I guess... if you like that kind of thing) and a hidden trailer. The quality of the trailer is very poor, but I appreciate the fact that they included it.

I had fun watching "The House that Dripped Blood", but I don't know how well it will stand up to repeat viewings. Only time will tell. But if you just watch it once and that's all, I don't think you'll feel like you wasted your time.

Carry on Carry on,

MN

Couldn't wait for "The House that Dripped Blood" DVD to arrive. Loved it! Initially bought "House" (as well as other superb anthologies including "Tales from the Crypt", "Vault of Horror" and "From Beyond the Grave") ss an exercize in nostalgia.

I discovered, far beyond my expectations, that "House" has great writing, direction and acting. In an unexpected turn, I found myself immersed in the movie's devotion to, and exploration of, adult issues and psychological terror with dashes of sly humor thrown in along the way.

On the surface, the old Hammer and Amicus films might appear too quaint for modern audiences accustomed to excessive blood and gore. However, I've played "House" and the other horror anthologies for friends and family on movie nights at our homes and everyone enjoys them. Great fun!

I've been on a horror binge lately, and watched this Amicus gem for the first time tonight. "The House that Dripped Blood" is a horror anthology that reminded me of another Amicus production, "From Beyond the Grave", which was also an anthology. "The House that Dripped Blood" boasts an excellent cast, which helps move the stories along.

A Scotland Yard inspector investigates the mysterious disappearance of a well-known horror movie actor [Jon Pertwee]. His last known address was a sinister manor in the English countryside. A constable tells the inspector that it is the house which is the problem, bringing misfortune to all who reside in it. In the first story, a horror writer with writer's block moves into the house with his lovely wife, and immediately his creative juices start flowing, creating a homicidal character which becomes all too real as the days pass by. In the second story, Peter Cushing plays a retired stockbroker, who is pining for a lost, dead love, only to discover to his horror that a life-like wax figure in the local waxworks bears an uncanny resemblance to her. When an old friend comes to visit, both men find themselves drawn to the wax figure, with predictably disastrous consequences. In the third story, Christopher Lee moves into the house with his beautiful young daughter, who turns out to have a fascination with the dark arts. At this point, the inspector has had enough, and goes to the real estate agent to get the keys to the house, only to be regaled with the last story, that of the movie actor who comes into possession of a sinister cape which makes him embrace the role of a vampire all too realistically. When the tale end, the inspector decides to visit the house himself, ignoring the dire warnings of the realtor.

I liked this anthology, though I think I preferred "From Beyond the Grave", but both are wonderful horror anthologies that will satisfy the cravings of classic horror fans, especially fans of Cushing and Lee. Recommended!

** MINOR SPOILERS BUT THEY DON'T RUIN THE FILM TO READ THEM! **

I really enjoyed the House that Dripped Blood (even though not a drop is seen in the actual film)! This British horror film had some big name horror stars such as Ingrid Pitt, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing so I had to watch it.

Made well before Tales from the Crypt, it follows the anthology style of that late lamented TV series. A film star goes missing and the landlord of the house (Stoker, naturally) tells the Scotland Yard inspector who is investigating the disappearance a history of the house, thus a great lead-in to four stories surrounding the house.

I won't regurgitate the plot, but instead give my brief impressions of each episode.

"Method For Murder" was an interesting story of a mystery writer who comes to let the house to get some mood and it seems his main character, a strangler named Dominic, is appearing in real life to a point where he is going nuts! Robert Bloch brings horror in the form of Dominic as well as an underlying psychological terror due to his scheming wife.

"Waxworks" was a lot of fun with Peter Cushing and his friend being fascinated with a wax woman in a wax museum. How were they to know the proprietor is an axe murderer? The strange colors and warped view are weird and psychedelic. I have to hand it to the director. He clearly must have some admiration for Hitchcock and the German silent era.

"Sweets to the Sweet" is Christopher Lee's vehicle, who actually plays the victim for a change. His daughter seems sweet and nice, except when she plays with voodoo dolls and sticks pins in them! Robert Bloch uses sound and incredible visuals to give the audience a hint of what's going on rather than a blatant show (screams, melting doll, joyful evil smiles). Nicely produced. It's also a satire on Hammer horror films.

Lastly in "The Cloak" we have our missing film star who it turns out is a horror actor who brings along his girl played by Ingrid Pitt. The cloak in question is addictive and soon we have vampires running around loose in the house. (How they locked themselves in the basement though is a mystery.) It's great watching traditional vampires for a change, with fangs that are reminiscent of Count Orlok of Nosferatu fame.

Fed up with the landlord's stories of the house, the Scotland Yard inspector has had enough and goes to the house at night and runs into a pair of vampires. I'm afraid Ingrid gets her dinner early that night!

Also on this DVD is a great interview with the producer Max Rosenberg who has produced such films as 1957's Curse of Frankenstein and 1972's Tales from the Crypt!

On the outside, Yew Tree House seems like a peaceful, country villa - the perfect place for escaping your worries. Unfortunately, it is possessed by evil. Books on witchcraft line the shelves in the study. Yew trees used to make magic potions provide shade. This house destroys the lives of everyone who lives there as evidenced by the quartet of tales in one of Amicus Production's greatest horror anthologies: "The House That Dripped Blood."

"Method for Murder" - An overworked horror writer, Charles Hillyer, is obsessed by his latest novel. He begins to imagine seeing its villain, Dominick the strangler. Then people around him begin to die. The creepiest tale in the anthology, it has a great twist ending.

"Waxworks" - Horror legend Peter Cushing is retired stockbroker Phillip Grayson. Wandering into town, he visits a wax museum of murderers. One of the, Salome, resembles his dead lover; she is holding the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Because the wax figure is so beautiful and mesmerizing, men begin literally losing their heads. This one is the goriest tale.

"Sweets to the Sweet" - Another horror legend, this time Christopher Lee, stars in this tale; he is businessman John Reid who is terrified of his adorable, pixie-faced daughter, and for good reason. She is the spawn of a witch. Voodoo and black magic run rampant in this tale.

"The Cloak" - Famous horror actor Paul Henderson buys a cloak for a role in a vampire film; he is unaware that it belonged to a genuine vampire. The cloak causes him to put the bite on luscious Ingrid Pitt ("The Vampire Lovers" and "Countess Dracula").

Lions Gate has presented a superb DVD package. "The House That Dripped Blood" is presented in a pristine widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Audio and video are wonderful. An interview with the witty co-producer Max J. Rosenberg has been provided. Max explained that him and his co-producer Milton Subotsky called their production company Amicus which means "friends." "What were we suppose to call it?" he asked, "enemies?" All of the tales are based on short stores written by "Psycho" author Robert Bloch. Max explains that he went through literally hundreds of them before he found ones suitable for the anthology.

"The House of Blood" is highly recommended for Amicus fans. Other Amicus anthologies that are highly recommended are "Asylum," "Torture Garden," "Tales from the Crypt," "Vault of Horror," "From Beyond the Grave," "Tales that Witness Madness" and "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors." In the United States, the last two have not been given a DVD release.