News

Horror in Black and White: The Old Dark House (1932)

Published

5 years ago

December 13, 2018

The year was 1932; the Hays Code and all its restrictions had not yet come to be, and James Whale, hot off his success with Frankenstein, gave us the gift of The Old Dark House.

This film was so many things!

For starters, Whale brought along his friend Boris Karloff to the production, making it the actor’s first credited starring role. His name was left off the publicity materials for Frankensein, and was only briefly mentioned in the end credits.

Karloff, again playing mute, is possibly more menacing that in the previous role giving a full-body performance that few could match.

Karloff wasn’t the only star-power in the film, however. Charles Laughton, Raymond Massey, Melvyn Douglas, Lilian Bond, Ernest Thesiger, and Gloria “I threw a big ass diamond into the ocean at the end of Titanic” Stuart round out this cast.

Now check out the film’s synopsis.

“Seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of Wales, several travelers are admitted to a gloomy, foreboding mansion belonging to the extremely strange Femm family. Trying to make the best of it, the guests must deal with their sepulchral host, Horace Femm and his obsessive, malevolent sister Rebecca. Things get worse as the brutish manservant Morgan gets drunk, runs amuck and releases the long pent-up brother Saul, a psychotic pyromaniac who gleefully tries to destroy the residence by setting it on fire.”

It doesn’t take a die hard horror fan to realize that the film laid the groundwork for a tried and true genre trope. Oh sure, the details get changed around but I bet you can name five films off the top of your head where motorists stranded in a rainstorm find themselves in a creepy old house full of even creepier residents.

There’s something suspicious going on in The Old Dark House.

What’s particularly interesting, however, is how progressive the film was, for its time.

Let me repeat that. The film was progressive for its time.

If you go in for a first time watch expecting what we’d call progressive today, you’re going to be upset.

What the film does is turn the rules of gender and sexuality on their head in ways that audiences of 1932 were not expecting.

In the Femm household, for example, it is Rebecca Femm (Eva Moore) and not her brother Horace (Thesiger) who runs the house, sets the rules for guests, etc. It might not seem like much, now, but that was really something to talk about then.

And then there’s Horace, himself. Fastidious, slightly effeminate, soft spoken Horace…

Whale, an out gay man, was clearly letting his own self shine through Horace, and the fact that he alone, of all the men in the household, shows no real interest in the ladies seems to support this. Add to that, Horace’s acidic wit, and I’m sure that more than a few queer audience members at the time cast knowing sidelong glances to their companions in the theater.

It’s sad that Horace was coded, but even in the pre-code film era, there were some things that you just could not say aloud on film in 1932.

And then there’s the surname of the family in question: Femm…that’s a whole different article to tackle, however.

The Old Dark House is entertaining on multiple levels with almost as many laughs as there are chills to be found in its 71 minute run time.

My favorite scene in the film happens when Rebecca takes Margaret Waverton (Stuart) upstairs to change out of her wet clothes.

Rather than leaving her to change in private, Rebecca insists upon staying in the room and goes on quite the melodramatic monologue about her sinful brothers and her even more sinful sister–who died previously–and the way they flaunted their lustful natures while she was forced, by their father, to remain in her room and pray.

During the entire speech, Whale intentionally distorts Rebecca’s image by filming her reflection in various almost funhouse style mirrors showing the ugliness of the woman’s jealousy over Margaret’s fine, satiny, sinfully sheer, clothing.

Perhaps that is why Rebecca cannot help but reach out to touch Rebecca’s smooth skin and then, before finally leaving the room takes a moment to check her own reflection, still slightly distorted, and smooth out her own hair before casting one glance back at the younger woman as she storms out of the door.

The Old Dark House is the perfect movie for a dark and stormy night on the couch, and it’s available to rent and/or purchase on several streaming apps including Amazon and Vudu for only $2.99!

For more Horror in Black and White coverage, check out last week’s entry on Val Lewton’s Cat People, and be sure to join us next week for another monochromatic horror gem.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Spirit Halloween (@spirithalloween)

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

15 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.