The Legend of Hell House (1973)

This is one of those titles I was introduced to at an early age and, for whatever reason, has stuck with me through the years. This was my first introduction to Roddy McDowell's own brand of creepiness, and his is one of the voices that still produces deep pangs of terror within me to this day.

For some people, it's Vincent Price. For others, it's Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi, but for me it's McDowell. I can't explain it, but I do know it all started with "The Legend of Hell House."

"The Legend of Hell House" has everything you could ask for in a horror flick. There's the haunted mansion, the legends of death and debauchery, hot chicks, a scientist, some psychics, a freaky black cat and a horny ghost.

Four people — scientist Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill), his wife, Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), physical medium Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and physical medium Benjamin Fischer (McDowell) — are enlisted by dying millionaire Rudolph Deutsch (Roland Culver) to spend a week at what he refers to as the "Mount Everest of haunted houses" — the Belasco House, better known as "Hell House," to find the truth about survival after death.

The mansion is dubbed "Hell House" after a massacre involving homeowner Emeric Belasco, who is also known an the "Roaring Giant" because of his six-foot-five frame. After the massacre, Belasco disappeared and was never heard from again.

Barrett sets out to prove Hell House is nothing more than residual energy that he can extinguish with a machine he built. Tanner wants to prove there are several personalities haunting Hell House, most of which are Belasco, and Ben just wants to do what he's already famous for — walk out of Hell House alive and with his mind intact after a previous investigation.

Barrett and Tanner are at odds from the get-go, and things begin to boil over when Tanner, the mental medium, experiences physical phenomena after confessing her belief that the spirit is Emeric's son, Daniel, and not the "Roaring Giant" himself.

They find the body of Daniel and bury him with rites in hopes to set him free and stop the activity at Hell House. However, after Daniel's discovery and burial, the activity only intensifies.

Each member of the party experiences different levels of phenomena during their first few days — all except Ben. When Barrett finally confronts him about not opening up to Hell House, Ben tells him he's planning on riding the week out, collecting his money and never returning to the Belasco House.

As the week wears on, Tanner is repeatedly attacked by paranormal forces and eventually is possessed by Emeric when she has "relations" with an entity she believes to be Daniel Belasco. Ben convinces her to leave the house, but before she can vacate, she visits the chapel that is at the heart of the hauntings.

In the chapel, Tanner is once again attacked and a huge crucifix falls on her and kills her. But before she passes, she writes on the cross in her own blood the clue that will ultimately set Hell House free.

The others discover her body, and Barrett turns on his machine designed to eliminate the spirits, exits with Ben and Ann and waits. When they reenter the house, Ben opens himself up and finds, to his amazement, that the house is clear.

As Barrett is recording his findings, his machines come alive and the activity resumes, resulting in the doctor's death. This flips a switch in Ben, who heads to the chapel to confront the spirit.

Once in the chapel, Fischer opens himself completely to Hell House and Emeric Belasco. He begins attacking the spirit with verbal barbs, such as calling Belasco the "son of a whore" and a "little dried-up bastard" and "no Roaring Giant." Emeric fights back by hurling Ben through the air, but Fisher's onslaught becomes too much and the back wall to the chapel explodes, revealing a secret room.

Fischer and Ann enter and find a preserved Emeric Belasco with a glass of wine in hand. Ben cuts away his pant leg to reveal Emeric had prosthetic legs to create his larger-than-life size. Ben also realizes why the machine didn't work on Emeric as it made the rest of the house clear. The walls of his room were lined with lead to protect him.

Ben and Ann leave the chapel open, turn on Barrett's machine and exit the house. As they leave, they say they hope Tanner and Barrett can help guide Belasco into the other world.

I haven't watched this film since I was young, but it holds up incredibly well in spite of McDowell's choice of spectacles. The film is creepy on so many levels, and what director John Hough got out of what I would assume was a small budget is miraculous.

Like I said at the outset, I was introduced to this film at an early age and now watching after at least three decades, I can't fathom why. The film is filled with sexual undertones and terrifying images, and it was probably my first experience with a ghost-on-girl love scene.

The scenes of covers slipping back on their own and of a demented cat attacking a barely clothed woman are top-notch Schlock. But the best part is when the spirit leaves Tanner's room, and you can plainly see a piece of a 2x4 used to ghostly close the door on its own.

However, on the whole, "Hell House" looks amazing. The sets are excellent, the exterior shots are super creepy and the acting, with a few exceptions, is wonderful.

You might recognize Emeric Belasco during his brief appearance. It turns out the perverted Roaring Giant also masquerades as Bruce Wayne's faithful butler, Alfred, in the "Batman" films of the 1980s and 1990s. Gough stars as Belasco in an uncredited part. Also for the nerdy folks out there, Revill was also the voice of the Emperor in the original release of "The Empire Strikes Back."

"The Legend of Hell House" is one of the best haunted house movies out there, with very good practical effects and a strong story. Plus McDowell's attack on Belasco at the end is one of my favorite scenes from a horror movie ever.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sJhdMwOtRU&w=514&h=315]