Oswald Mitchell (director)
Network On Air (studio)
PG (certificate)
74min (length)
04 August 2014 (released)
15 September 2014
A pebble from the late forties, hardly even that – this one takes some time to take off. When it does, however, it doesn’t go very far. The script was penned by John Gilling, who later directed the Hammer Horror classics The Reptile and Plague Of The Zombies. Sadly, and despite its title, House Of Darkness fails to raise even the slightest goose-pimple!
It could be described as an Edwardian melodrama with a supernatural twist, and for this we have to wait until the end of the film. It features a largely undistinguished cast, headed by a debuting and miscast Laurence Harvey who looks far too modern in appearance. The story begins when conductor and bandleader George Melachrino (who composed the film’s score) relates the tale to actor Henry Oscar via flashback. The ensuing plot concerns a family that once inhabited what is now a derelict haunted country house in Dorset. It’s a familiar tale: the elder, violin-playing brother, John (Alexander Archdale) is suffering from heart condition and has been left the bulk of the estate by his late mother, which she shares with brother Noel (John Teed). Enter profligate, dishonest and piano-playing stepbrother Francis (L. Harvey) who arrives with his wife Elaine (Lesley Osmond), and is needless to say a little peeved upon discovering he is left so little. However, thanks to John’s weak heart the virtually dispossessed Francis in soon in control of the power game… On one occasion, Frances informs John that all megalomaniacs are insane and of course, he is no exception! At another occasion, Frances tells him that it isn’t necessary to murder a dying man and that there are no violins where he is going. That said, we have to endure almost seventy minutes of the film before the supernatural element enters the picture.
The film isn’t altogether lacking in atmosphere (the score doesn’t actually do a great deal), but until the chilling finale there is simply not enough going on to keep as interested in the outcome.
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Promo material PDFs
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