Director: Michael Armstrong, Gerry Levy (uncredited)
Screenplay: Michael Armstrong, Gerry Levy (additional material)
Starring: Frankie Avalon, Jill Haworth, Dennis Price, Mark Wynter, George Sewell
Country: UK, USA
Running Time: 91 min
Year: 1969
BBFC Certificate: 15

The latest from the Tigon Collection, 88 Films’ series of Blu-rays (intended as a boxset, from the references in the audio commentaries) from the third most notable British horror studio, The Haunted House of Horror (1969) is an unusual film. Written by a 15 year old Michael Armstrong, the script was dusted off by the then 24 year old director and pitched to Tigon boss Tony Tenser as ‘The Dark’, and intended to star as the killer, Armstrong’s pal, a young actor and singer named David Bowman, sorry, Bowie. The film eventually became one of Tigon’s co-productions with American International Pictures and a series of production interferences from the American B-movie specialists resulted in Armstrong being removed four weeks into production. What remains is something that could have been a classic, a strange mix of AIP’s house style and Tigon’s down to Earth grotty Britishness that nevertheless has a strange power.

The film centres on a group of hip young things headed by American Chris (Frankie Avalon, at the end of his AIP career) who gather at a haunted mansion. These include Jill Haworth, the one-time bright new hope of Hollywood who after facing the wrath of Otto Preminger, playing the tragic fridged juvenile of Exodus, had Broadway success as the original Sally Bowles in Cabaret, only to settle into a run of grotty British horrors. Plus Richard O’Sullivan, who’d already been a major child actor but had yet to become the TV star of Man About The House and Dick Turpin, and Robin Stewart, later Sid James’ son in ITV sitcom Bless This House and Van Helsing junior in The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires, game show hostess Carol Dilworth (Chesney Hawkes’ mam), and Veronica Doran, later Marion Willis, Eddie Yeats’ wife in Coronation Street. Stewart’s character is in what was intended as a gay couple opposite Richard (Julian Barnes, later something of a Rentabrit in US stuff like Murder, She Wrote), the character intended for Bowie. If this sounds like a slasher movie, the truth is, yes, it is.

With typical Tigon elements including time-wasting scenes in provincial police stations, outdated ideas of youth hipness (early 60s pre-Beatles popster Mark Wynter has a barber shop quartet-esque musical interlude) and Dennis Price (deputising for an inconveniently deceased Boris Karloff) as the local inspector, the film is something of two halves. Armstrong’s film suggests a grimness and a bleakness especially with the queer undertones, while the reshoots by Gerry Levy under AIP boss Louis ‘Deke’ Hayward (later parodied in Armstrong’s script for Eskimo Nell (1975)) are padded out with unconvincing scenes of Carnaby Street banter. Surely in a horror film with a cast overflowing with young things who survive mostly unscathed, the film could have killed a few off. However, in the last few minutes, the film gets quite interesting. The climax is unusually strong and nihilistic, especially for a film that otherwise has a low body count. The hauntological Reg Tilsley soundtrack helps to convey the mood.

The cast are a mix. George Sewell adds presence as the older lover of one of the girls (Gina Warwick), while Price coasts along. The wonderfully camp character actress Jan Holden is underused as boutique owner. Apparently, Armstrong wanted Ian Ogilvy (fresh from working on Michael Reeves’ The Sorcerers and Witchfinder General for Tigon) and Jane Merrow as the leads, with Peter McEnery and later Bowie in the role of Barnes’ Richard. AIP wanted Avalon or Fabian, with either Sue Lyon or Carol Lynley (the latter of whom was a fixture of British horror, especially in television). While I like Haworth, she doesn’t get that much. For someone who is effectively the Final Girl, in the climax, she has little to actually do. Avalon is out of his depth, a 50s figure in a late 60s world. Ogilvy might have been interesting, but I feel the novelty of Avalon (especially in the climax) works better, as we perhaps had seen too much Ian Ogilvy suffering bleak ends in Tigon horrors by this time. Avalon’s participation apparently caused Bowie to be fired. Now, while a 60s British slasher with Bowie in a key role would have been something special, Barnes is perfectly fine as the sinister twink. But like so much in this film, you can’t help but think of what might have been.

Film:

The Haunted House of Horror will be released on 20th January on region B Blu-ray by 88 Films.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-rayTM presentation in original 1.66:1 aspect ratio
• Original Uncompressed Mono
• Optional English SDH
• Audio commentary by Film Critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan
• Audio commentary by Film Journalists Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• The Making Of The Haunted House of Horror
• House of Horrors – Micheal Armstrong on The Haunted House of Horror
• Helping to cut The Haunted House of Horror
• A Party to The Haunted House of Horror
• Haunted House of Horror Trailer
• Horror House Trailer
• Stills Gallery
• Limited Edition Picture Booklet
• Reversible sleeve featuring new artwork by Sean Longmore & original poster

With 88 Films’ usual expertise, the Blu-ray has plentiful extra features. There is a making of, interviews including one with director Michael Armstrong and a convivial commentary with critic Kim Newman and filmmaker Sean Hogan, though Newman does mix up Richard O’Sullivan and Richard O’Callaghan, and misremembers Stewart (who resembles O’Callaghan) as playing Robin Phillips’ role in Tales from the Crypt (1972), though this merely underscores the identikit nature of so many white dark-haired British light leading men in 70s British genre cinema. Armstrong’s interview feels quite poignant, as he reflects on how badly he was served by AIP. In all, a solid package.

Disc/Package:

Where to watch The Haunted House of Horror
The Haunted House of Horror (a.k.a. Horror House) - 88 Films
Film
Disc/package
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