Which makes it even better getting to see actors you know being offed in creative ways. I mean seriously, from the always manic Chris Kattan, to Peter Gallagher, all the way to Final Destination’s Ali Larter, this cast is filled with “hey, I remember that guy” actors. What does it matter? When Stephen creates the guest list, his computer mysteriously changes the names to bit part actors from the 90’s and early 2000’s.

Geoffrey Rush in particular hams up the screen in his performance that obviously feels like a Vincent Price homage, even though he states in the commentary it was not.īut what is a birthday bash without a group of guests to enjoy it with? Hell, even if they are complete strangers. But even lesser is still a welcome change in an era where horror films feel devoid of characters with distinct personalities, like today. Make no mistake, this is less than his best. The pluckesh report these two actors have, trading stabs back and forth feels reminiscent of the Kevin Williams era 90’s horror writing that I enjoyed growing up. The always great Geoffrey Rush plays Stephen Price, a millionaire amusement park owner who arranges a birthday bash for his gold-digging wife Evelyn (Famke Janssen). And instantly House on Haunted Hill dates itself in all the right ways for this Gen-Xer. House on Haunted Hill set the standard for films to come.īeginning with the establishing scenes containing flashbacks of psychotic scientists, to the roller coaster in present day, the intentions here are clear: amp up the gore and despicable characters that will likely die in gruesome ways, and give the kids what they want because roller coasters are cool! I specifically remember in the late 90’s that roller coasters were a big thing.

Being named after horror producer William Castle, the company's focus was on horror and had quite a bit of Castle’s 60’s films in mind to modernize. While being a remake of 1959’s Vincent Price film of the same name, 1999’s House on Haunted Hill was the start of Dark Castle Entertainment under the wing of Silver Pictures. Horror is without a doubt no exception to the rule. If you’re a lover of modern-day cinema you have resigned yourself to this fact long ago. In today’s Hollywood culture, remakes are inevitable.

House on haunted hill 1999 cast