Horror Hotel (1960) Reviews

Horror Hotel (1960)
Play Trailer and Clips
Member Rating:  
George Baxt scripted this extraordinarily good chiller from a story by Milton Subotsky, who also co-produced. A college student (Venetia Stevenson) with an interest in witchcraft goes to the Massachusetts town of Whitewood. It's a foggy, spooky town which gets even scarier when Stevenson discovers that the owner of the Raven's Inn, Mrs. Newlis (Patricia Jessel) is in fact a 268-year old witch. Jessel sold her soul to the Devil to regain her life after being burned at the stake. The whole town is her coven, including Stevenson's kindly history professor (Christopher Lee). Stevenson's boyfriend and brother arrive to look for her and discover human sacrifices and all sorts of evil goings-on. One of the few horror films of the period which still has the power to frighten, Horror Hotel is required viewing for genre fans. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

 Read More


Director(s):
John Llewellyn Moxey
Format(s):
DVD
View All Versions to rent and buy
 
 
 
 
 
 

Average Ratings

(7 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Steven J.

We take well written stories for granted. This movie definately deserves a place in Horror history. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It is as fresh as the day it was recorded. Timeless.

Yes   |   No


Eric H.

I remember this one from the late 60s/early 70s watching it on Creature Features. As I've read elsewhere, it is among the few of those old horror flicks that really can scare the pants off of you. It scared me back then in the way the original Night of the Living Dead did. And it is still true to form. Its well cut and filmed and acted. Rent this and share with your older kids to show them what horror movies are really supposed to be all about.

Yes   |   No


Thomas S.

Good old fashioned Gothic horror... with interesting hip jazz soundtrack music in (appropriate) places. No surprises in this tale but you'll love the look. You'll also notice the director's deep love for fog.

Yes   |   No


Richard E.

An absolute classic of the genre. And an under-appreciated one. Made in the days when horror movies were more about creepy atmosphere than gore. Its setting in New England and other elements are very Lovecraftian, though not based on any Lovecraft story

Yes   |   No


Raymond O.

Though some people regard this film as a highlight of the genre, I have to crash the party here. The villains are all 1-dimensional cartoons. Call me elitist, but I like my villains to have motivations instead of simply being evil. And the women in distress, of course, remain blissfully ignorant of the evil around them until it's too late. The gothic decorum is on the mark sometimes, but other times it can simply be cliched and distracting, drawing eye-rolls instead of trepidation (fear about what's going to happen.)

Yes   |   No


Michael B.

One of the best Christoper Lee films. A beautiful college student is recommended to take a trip to a secluded town that was involved in witch burnings by her professor (Lee). She disappears and her family and friends trace her steps. Thick atmosphere, beautiful cinematography. One of the best horror films of the 60's.

Yes   |   No


Georgianna M.

Very effective use of moody, foggy atmosphere, and especially the dual performance of Patricia Jessel as 17th century witch Elizabeth Selwyn and her modern reincarnation as the inkeeper, Mrs. Newlis, make this a very effective yarn. Good use of available resources in a subtly shaded B&W film that is both easy on the eyes and conducive to the imagination with its slightly greenish tint. You can forget your typical Hammer Films slashers with all their gore, color, and T&A interests. What crawls around in your mind and makes you imagine things is the key to good horror filmmaking. When British film did horror right (as in this flic and in "Night of the Demon") it didn't get any better.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

BY MAIL

Monthly Subscription
 
Buy New  $6.99
 

IN-STORE

 

What's Your Take?

Add to FavoritesIn Favorites  |  Share:     Email to a friendShare on FacebookShare on Twitter
    YOUR REVIEW
    WRITE A REVIEW
     
    1000 
     
    Member Reviews
    Read all (7)
     
    Steven J.

    We take well written stories for granted. This movie definately deserves a place in Horror history. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It is as fresh as the day it was recorded. Timeless.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Eric H.

    I remember this one from the late 60s/early 70s watching it on Creature Features. As I've read elsewhere, it is among the few of those old horror flicks that really can scare the pants off of you. It scared me back then in the way the original Night of the Living Dead did. And it is still true to form. Its well cut and filmed and acted. Rent this and share with your older kids to show them what horror movies are really supposed to be all about.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Thomas S.

    Good old fashioned Gothic horror... with interesting hip jazz soundtrack music in (appropriate) places. No surprises in this tale but you'll love the look. You'll also notice the director's deep love for fog.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 7 Reviews
       

      Quick Links

      Email Exclusives

      Find Us Online: BLOCKBUSTER Blog - BLOCKBUSTER Widgets - BLOCKBUSTER RSS FEED - BLOCKBUSTER Facebook Page - BLOCKBUSTER Twitter Page - BLOCKBUSTER Wiki

      FIND MOVIES

      ALL MOVIES

      Popular | # | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

      ALL ACTORS AND DIRECTORS

      Popular | # | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

      BLOCKBUSTER CORPORATE

       

      BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C. © 2012 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.

      Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2012 Rovi Corporation.