The Legend of Hell House

Play trailer

The Legend of Hell House

PG

1973

1h 34m

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

56%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Scientist Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill) and his wife, Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), lead a team into the infamous Belasco House, supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a notorious serial killer. Though the rational Barrett does not believe in ghosts, the other members of his group do, including devout spiritualist Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and psychic medium Benjamin Fischer (Roddy McDowall), who has been in Belasco House before and seen what horrors can befall those who enter it.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Legend of Hell House makes up for its disappointing lack of outright scares with a top notch cast and a suitably macabre atmosphere.

Read Critics Reviews

Variety Staff

Variety

03/26/2009

Clive Revill, the physicist, who attempts to clear the house of its evil, Pamela Franklin, the mental medium and Roddy McDowall the survivor of the previous incursion, are all first-rate.

Go to Full Review

Time Out

02/09/2006

Richard Matheson's disappointing adaptation of his own rather disappointing novel.

Go to Full Review

A.H. Weiler

New York Times

05/09/2005

2/5

If John Hough, the director, and his small, willing cast maintain mild tension during their harried visit to this haunted 'hell house,' the few chills they provide are of little help.

Go to Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 15

3/5

A creepy and atmospheric experience that was ahead of its time and is still as effective today as it likely was 50 years ago.

Go to Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

10/21/2024

Author and screenwriter Richard Matheson, adapting his own novel, brings a rare intelligence, a literate sensibility, and a refreshing seriousness to this mix of haunted house thriller and paranormal science from 1973.

Go to Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

08/20/2024

FOUR STARS

Many of the plot and design elements used in this influential genre film went on to be quoted, if not expanded on, by budding young horror directors in love with its artfulness. "The Legend of Hell House" is a minor masterpiece.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

John Hough

Director

Pamela Franklin

Florence Tanner

Roddy McDowall

Benjamin Franklin Fischer

Clive Revill

Dr. Barrett

Gayle Hunnicutt

Ann Barrett

Roland Culver

Rudolph Deutsch

Madhouse

57%

49%

Madhouse

Watchlist

Tales from the Crypt

90%

69%

Tales from the Crypt

Watchlist

It's Alive

65%

41%

It's Alive

Watchlist

Blacula

46%

44%

Blacula

Watchlist

Audrey Rose

57%

43%

Audrey Rose

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Scientist Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill) and his wife, Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), lead a team into the infamous Belasco House, supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a notorious serial killer. Though the rational Barrett does not believe in ghosts, the other members of his group do, including devout spiritualist Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and psychic medium Benjamin Fischer (Roddy McDowall), who has been in Belasco House before and seen what horrors can befall those who enter it.

Director: John Hough
Producer: Albert Fennell, Norman T. Herman
Production Co: Academy Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 34m