Ehem.
‘Legendary scare-master Vincent Price serves up a diabolical nightmare dripping with “brooding evil and sinister suspense” (film daily)! Based on Edgar Allen Poe’s chilling tale about a family driven to savage bloodlust by their wildest fears, this terrifying story of “murder, madness, and necrophilia” (cue) proves that there’s no place like home… for horror! Convinced that his family’s blood is tainted by evil, Roderick Usher (Price) is hell-bent on destroying his sister Madeline’s wedding. But when Madeline’s fiancé arrives at the haunted castle to claim his lovely bride, he soon discovers that, for this family, their house is more than just a home… it’s their TOMB!’
That? That right there? That is bloody hilarious. I can’t even read it without breaking into a deep, overdramatic voice.
‘It’s their TOOOOOOOMB…!’
Hee hee.
Alright, enough of that. This is actually a pretty good flick. It’s entertaining and tells a decent story, even if it’s pretty ineffective as a horror. I should also mention that this movie is directed by one Roger Corman, a name familiar to anyone who has ever spent time watching Mystery Science Theatre 3000. If you need a bit of refreshment, Mr. Corman has been involved in such illustrious projects as ‘It Conquered the World’ and ‘Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell’. As such, it may be a little surprising when I reassert the fact that I adore this movie, and not in the ironic, masochistic way I did when watching Deathstalker's Adventures with the Magic Doorknob.
Our story begins as our ‘protagonist’, Philip Winthrop, arrives at the titular house seeking an audience with Ms. Usher.
He is turned away, but insists upon entry. At this point, I would like to mention that I hate this character. He is an obnoxious, belligerent git. I just detest him. At any rate, he does go to see Roderick Usher, played, as you know, an utterly fashionable Vincent Price.
Usher tells him in no uncertain terms to vacate the premises, explaining that his family is trapped in a dark curse, including some rather severe physical afflictions, and that he and his sister are the last of their line. Their childless deaths would mean the end of the curse. Mr. Winthrop, that paragon of courtesy, refuses again to depart and the sound of their argument attracts none other than young Madeline herself. Who looks precisely like a plastic doll I used to own.
Winthrop is grudgingly allowed houseroom and proceeds to lust after Madeline at every opportunity
and try to convince her that she should leave the House’s confines and return with him. He also tries to persuade her to eat, which on one hand inspires an amusingly ironic line about how he ‘won’t have a scrawny woman for a wife’, but on the other hand also leads to a very unnerving scene where he tries to spoon-feed her. Is that supposed to be romantic? Because it’s really a bit awkward.
The House does not seem to appreciate his presence either, and he suffers several near-catastrophic mishaps including falling chandeliers and breaking banister rails.
This brings up another good point, and that is the set design. The House of Usher is just lovely and haunted-looking, and cluttered with delightfully tacky furniture.
The story bounces back and forth, with Mr. Usher and even Madeline encouraging Winthrop to take his leave, and he refusing to do so without Madeline at his side. Eventually he makes up his mind to take her back to Boston that very day, and tells her to get her things together. Upon returning to her room he finds the door locked and hears her arguing with her brother. He tries to enter, hears a scream, and the door unlocks, opening to reveal Madeline collapsed on her bed and, according to her brother (and Winthrop’s medical expertise), dead.
(Fun fact: As I was taking screenshots I noticed that, if you look closely, you can see that Madeline is in fact breathing during this scene.)
They hold a sort of burial ceremony in the House’s chapel, and here we see Madeline’s fingers move, prompting Roderick to shut the casket and ferry her away to the basement tomb.
As an aside, this is one of my favourite movie screams of all. From outside the casket we hear Madeline’s breath quicken as she awakens and realizes her predicament. She gasps, and lets out a piercing, metallic shriek that cuts to the bone. The film itself may not be a good example of horror, but that one moment is just wonderfully chilling.
Winthrop prepares to leave, but the servant unwittingly reveals that Madeline suffered from catalepsy, and Winthrop runs back to Mr. Usher, accusing him of burying his sister alive. Usher admits to this, but says that it was the only way to end the curse and asserts that she is now dead. Winthrop swoons, or something, and experiences a very weird dream sequence, with ghastly figures who actually say ‘ooOOoooOOOooo!’ as they loom out of the technicolour swirliness.
This bit is interrupted by another scream, and Winthrop confronts Roderick, who eventually reveals that Madeline still lives and that she is hidden in one of the secret passages below.
From this point, the film revolves around Winthrop searching for Madeline, who is now hunting her brother, and eventually culminates in a massive fire, which kills both Ushers and their servant. Winthrop totters away, assumingly traumatized, and the movie ends.
Before the conclusion, there are a few other things I want to mention.
The soundtrack is actually not too bad. Comprised of strings and odd clinking sounds, it generally fits the theme and only a few times seems to veer into overdrama. The pacing is steady and the acting is pretty good, but what really makes this film is the role of Roderick Usher, who is just absurd enough to be interesting, and adds a much-needed layer of ominous to the whole affair.
Now, I’ve watched Fall of the House of Usher three times now… and still I am utterly baffled by the case-description’s assertion of ‘murder, madness, and necrophilia’. The first two, sure. But necrophilia…? Perhaps they mean Winthrop’s search for Madeline after her burial… But then, it was well established that she was buried alive…. I don’t know. I’m willing to bet that the blurb-provider didn’t really watch the thing, and was instead trying to review ‘Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell’.
While you watch this movie you may notice something annoying. Of course, it may also be that this is only annoying if you are a nitpicking little problem, as I am. You see, the characters, Winthrop in particular, frequently refer to the ‘darkness’ shrouding the house. The problem, naturally, is that this whole film is really rather well lit. Even the tiny candle brought into the crypt illuminates the room like a floodlight. Probably because there was a floodlight present.
It doesn’t detract too much from the experience, but I find it a bit funny.
In conclusion: Watch this movie with a bowl of your favourite semi-healthful snack, and enjoy both activities thoroughly. Best seen with friends who appreciate your sense of humour.
Spin.
Fall of the House of Usher is © Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer Home Entertainment Incorperated.
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