The movie is about a strange rich guy (Price) who pays five seemingly random people to come to a party in a haunted house where seven people were supposedly murdered. Each is told if they stay the night, they will receive $10,000 in the morning. However, soon after this, murders begin occurring and everyone is terrified for their lives. The film does have a somewhat interesting twist at the end, though otherwise it's a haunted house film. It does try very hard and William Castle threw practically everything into this film to make it entertaining--except a decent script. Sure, it's fun to watch, but also pretty brainless--with lots of dumb plot devices and holes. For example, the home that all the people are in has a vat of acid in the basement under a trap door! Huh?! And, later, someone trips into it! Pretty clumsy, huh?! As far as the acting goes, it's not especially inspiring. Price is amazingly restrained in his performance--and I really wished he'd acted with a little more energy. Most of the rest of the actors were okay, though Elisha Cook should have been a tad embarrassed for his over-acting--he really was quite silly.

Overall, the film is mediocre and very skip-able unless you are a huge Price fan.

Okay, I do think that Vincent Price has done better overall movies(Theater of Blood, Abominable Dr Phibes and Witchfinder General). But I cannot deny that as always, coming from someone who was supreme in this film genre at this particular time, he is brilliant with a charismatic presence and great deadpan delivery that will give you chills and excitement at the same time. He is well supported by Carol Ohmart, Alan Marshal, Richard Long and especially Elisha Cook Jnr, who plays the paranoid drunk with real exuberance. There are many other joys to House on Haunted Hill than the cast. I for one love the Gothic production values, as well as the suitably creepy atmosphere, haunting music and witty script that is in perfect keeping with the tone of the horror movies of the time. The story apart from the short length and one or two meandering subplots is very clever with some memorable moments such as decapitated heads, witches and acid vats as well as a fun twist. All in all, spooky slick fun with a great atmosphere and performance from a genre icon. 8/10 Bethany Cox

House On Haunted Hill is a great example of a talented cast putting over something that has very little substance to it. Vincent Price is an eccentric millionaire who with his wife Carol Ohmart throws a party where five ostensible strangers are invited and offered $10,000.00 to stay the night. Not his house mind you, but a comfortable out mansion that's just a bit haunted.

One of the guests Elisha Cook has a connection to the house, a couple of his relations got murdered there. In fact seven murders occurred there in the past. The other guests are Richard Long, Carolyn Craig, Julie Mitchum and Alan Marshal.

It's emphasized how much of a cash flow problem these randomly selected guests have. Otherwise if someone offers you that kind of money for one night's stay in any house, most of us would know there was a bad gimmick attached and would flee from that offer.

In the end though it's proved that some guests are not random and some have some really human motives for the events that take place.

House On Haunted Hill was made on the cheap and does not have the gore that a lot of Vincent Price movies have. This film was made at the beginning of the horror cycle of Price's career. It's a great tribute to his talent that it could frighten as it did.