Rating: 
Summary: A pleasant way to spend a dark and stormy evening ...
Review: "The House that Dripped Blood" appealed to me not from its incredibly cheesy title, nor from the ugly picture on the cover, but from the fact that each of its four segments stars a British actor I really like. Denholm Elliot, who we see in the first part, was Marcus in the Indiana Jones movies. Peter Cushing, in segment two, was all kinds of people, from Moff Tarkin in the original Star Wars to Van Helsing in the Hammer films. Christopher Lee (who is, incidentally, the only one of the four stars still living, at the time that I write this), well. Who hasn't Christopher Lee been? The man's everywhere, and definitely one of my all-time favorite actors! And finally, the third Doctor Who himself, Jon Pertwee, stars in the final bit. A really flimsy story is used to unify the four parts... as I knew about the uniting factor beforehand, I was expecting it right away to be rather... well, less than perfectly done (would have been better, in my opinion, to just play the four segments with a black screen and a title card before each one begins, and then leave the one thing that the four stories share, the house itself, in the background where it belongs. That way, if the audience is clever enough (and let me tell you right away that I'm not!), they would notice the house being the same one in all four stories themselves and then each one of them come up with a better reason why than the one the movie gives us. Of the four segments, I liked the first two best, and the one with Christopher Lee the least. The Denholm Elliot segment (the first one) has the most creative plot, with a nifty twist I didn't see coming in the last few seconds before it wraps up. The Cushing one is just creepy. Lee's was... well, Lee did a great job, but I just didn't care as much for the story. It was strange for me to see Pertwee, in the final segment, playing someone who wasn't the character I'm used to seeing him play (but did anyone notice that his vampire costume was almost identical to the one he wears on "Doctor Who"?). Pertwee's segment is more of a comedy bit than the others. Not a bad thing at all, but it's just a rather sudden change from the previous three, where there wasn't a lot of humor to be found. Not much for extras on the DVD... just an interview with the producer (which was okay I guess... if you like that kind of thing) and a hidden trailer. The quality of the trailer is very poor, but I appreciate the fact that they included it. I had fun watching "The House that Dripped Blood", but I don't know how well it will stand up to repeat viewings. Only time will tell. But if you just watch it once and that's all, I don't think you'll feel like you wasted your time. Carry on Carry on, MN
Rating: 
Summary: Creepy Amicus Horror Anthology Laden With Atmosphere
Review: "The House That Dripped Blood", has always been my absolute favourite of the rich output of horror anthologies that Amicus Productions turned out in the 1960's and early 1970's. Often mistaken for Hammer Studios productions because of the frequent crossover of casts and story themes, Amicus' speciality was these multi story horror tales tied together by an overlapping framing story. Here the story revolves around a suitably creepy old house in the countryside just outside London that seems to have a strange effect on its succession of occupants. The framing story of this piece concerns the mysterious disappearance of the latest tenant, famed horror movie actor Paul Henderson (Jon Pertwee)who was renting the house while shooting his latest horror epic "Curse of the Bloodsuckers", and it revolves around the police investigation carried out by Scotland Yard's Det. Insp. Holloway (John Bennett). Along the way the inspector is introduced to the eerie history of the house and the strange fate of each of its occupants. Four excellent stories are told in flashback and each is highly entertaining in it's own unique way with great atmosphere, first rate casts and with themes including deranged stranglers, haunted wax museums, witchcraft and vampires. In short it is a horror fans smorgasbord sure to entertain.
Story One is "Method for Murder", and revolves around famed murder mystery writer Charles Hillyer (Denholm Elliot), who during a period of acute writers block takes up residence in the house with his wife Alice. Charles creates a sinister main character in his new novel called Dominic who is a deranged strangler who laughs as he murders his victims. For inspiration Charles even creates a drawing of his killer and shows it to Alice. As the novel progresses however Charles begins to question his sanity as he actually begins seeing Dominic in the house or just outside the window. When he attempts to point him out to Alice she cannot see him and after one frightening episode where Charles sees Dominic trying to strangle Alice she cries out that it was Charles himself who attacked her. When a doctor he visits to talk about this problem is strangled Charles really begins to wonder if Dominic is actually alive or is it some other sinister reason why his fictional character seems so real?
Story Two is "Waxworks", and stars the great Peter Cushing as retired Stockbroker Philip Grayson who takes out a lease on the house to get away from the fast life and many painful memories in London. While visiting the local village he comes across an old wax museum and to his horror finds one of the wax exhibits depicting Salome is an exact likeness of his old lost love. Visited by old friend Neville (Joss Ackland), Philip reluctantly takes him inside the museum where Neville who loved the same woman immediately is also taken by the resemblance. The museums strange proprietor (Woolfe Morris) relates the eerie story of the model being his murdered wife and the wax figure seems to create a strange hold over any man who gazes on her. Neville becomes besotted with the figure and cannot resist going back to the museum and when Philip goes searching for him at the museum he learns to his own detriment the deadly secret of the waxworks.
Story Three is "Sweets to the Sweet, which finds widower John Reid (Christopher Lee) and his seemingly angelic young daughter Jane (Chloe Franks) moving into the house. John has an unexplained fear of his daughter and is intent on keeping her isolated from other children of her age. He hires a nanny/teacher Anne Norton (Nyree Dawn Porter),to tutor Jane at home. Anne is repulsed by John's harsh treatment of Jane that includes destroying any toys that Anne buys for her. However first appearances in this case can be very deceptive as Anne's initial dislike of John's methods provides a logical reason only when it is too late after he starts suffering from terrifying stabbing pains in the chest and arms. Only when warned by John about his daughter does Anne discover the real story of Jane's mother and what this supposedly innocent child is capable of.
Story Four is "The Cloak", and finds the latest residence of this cursed house to be the famous horror actor Paul Henderson who to his own detriment finds himself attracted to the Gothic nature of the dwelling. He is currently starring in a dire horror effort titled "Curse of the Blood Suckers", and fed up with appearing in "Z" grade efforts goes in search of his own authentic costume. Mysteriously a business card appears on his makeup mirror which leads him to an old antique shop where he purchases a scarlet lined cloak from a seemingly decrepit old man (Geoffrey Bayldon) who in actual fact is a vampire. Before long Paul begins to discover the sinister power of this cloak as when he puts it on he has no reflection in his mirror and begins to take on the characteristics of a vampire like floating in the air and actually growing fangs and biting his leading lady the buxon Carla Lynde (Ingrid Pitt) during a love scene in the movie. Carla however is not as innocent as she first seems and eventually she reveals her true identity and real purpose to a terrified Paul who pays dearly for his quest for better quality and "authenticity" in his acting roles.
I personally love everything about this horror effort from its great title, to superbly spooky haunted house set to great cast all ideally cast in often surprisingly non typical roles. All four segments take a different approach in their storytelling and are of equal interest. Obviously with themes such as vampirism, witchcraft, voodoo and characters out of a book coming to life the proceedings are a splendid showcase for the talents involved. The British cast are all given wonderful showcases for their talents in both the large and smaller roles and Christopher Lee has the distinction of suffering probably the most horrible death of any of the characters in the stories. Story four has strong elements of humour in it which surprisingly works well within it's vampire subject matter. Remembered mainly as television's Dr. Who, Jon Pertwee is perfectly cast as the bombastic actor Paul Henderson who's disappearance sparks off the investigation around this house that literally seems to drip blood on all who live there.
Amicus Productions were expert in creating these horror anthologies and excelled in their other big effort the next year in "Tales From The Crypt", however this effort rightly takes it's place in the haunted house hall of fame and is essential viewing for all horror buffs like myself that enjoy these multi story horror tales set in creepy mist shrouded old mansions hidden away from the outside world. Make sure you visit "The House That Dripped Blood", soon but remember your stay may be a short one so enjoy it while it lasts!
Rating:
Summary: HOUSE OF FUN......
Review: A creepy old house in the country proves to be deadly for anyone who rents it in this enjoyable quartet of horror tales. From the British Amicus output of anthologies in the 60's-70's, "House That Dripped Blood" boasts a superb cast and an interesting set-up of a Scotland Yard investigator looking for a horror film star who disappeared after being the last to rent the house. A cop and the strange Real Estate rep who rents the house tells the investigator the stories of the people who met their doom while living there. The tales include a horror writer whose latest murderous creation seemingly comes to life, Peter Cushing discovers that a weird Museum of Horrors has a Salome exhibit that seems to be still collecting heads, Christopher Lee's angelic young daughter turns out to be a voodoo practicing witch, and in the final tongue-in-cheek (or is that TOOTH in cheek) tale, the horror film star buys a vampire's cloak that still has chilling powers. Jon Pertwee is wonderful as the actor and the bosomy Ingrid Pitt is his seductive co-star---a REAL vampire. Great supporting cast includes Nyree Dawn Porter (from BBC's "The Forsyte Saga"). Very entertaining film that uses atmosphere and good acting instead of gore to get the job done. The DVD from Lion's Gate is a fine print in widescreen and features an interview with one of the producers, Max Rosenberg. This is another example of horror films that need to be on DVD. A great treat for Halloween and a collector's item for fans. Cut down the lights and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: HOUSE OF FUN......
Review: A creepy old house in the country proves to be deadly for anyone who rents it in this enjoyable quartet of horror tales. From the British Amicus output of anthologies in the 60's-70's, "House That Dripped Blood" boasts a superb cast and an interesting set-up of a Scotland Yard investigator looking for a horror film star who disappeared after being the last to rent the house. A cop and the strange Real Estate rep who rents the house tells the investigator the stories of the people who met their doom while living there. The tales include a horror writer whose latest murderous creation seemingly comes to life, Peter Cushing discovers that a weird Museum of Horrors has a Salome exhibit that seems to be still collecting heads, Christopher Lee's angelic young daughter turns out to be a voodoo practicing witch, and in the final tongue-in-cheek (or is that TOOTH in cheek) tale, the horror film star buys a vampire's cloak that still has chilling powers. Jon Pertwee is wonderful as the actor and the bosomy Ingrid Pitt is his seductive co-star---a REAL vampire. Great supporting cast includes Nyree Dawn Porter (from BBC's "The Forsyte Saga"). Very entertaining film that uses atmosphere and good acting instead of gore to get the job done. The DVD from Lion's Gate is a fine print in widescreen and features an interview with one of the producers, Max Rosenberg. This is another example of horror films that need to be on DVD. A great treat for Halloween and a collector's item for fans. Cut down the lights and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Terror waits for you in every room...
Review: Ahhh, another juicy Amicus film released by Lion's Gate Entertainment. With The House That Dripped Blood, we get five fearsome tales involving murder, voodoo, vampires, and generally bad mojo all around. The tales are centered on a large, old house located just outside of a small town in the English countryside. Seems a report filed on the disappearance of the most recent owner by the local constabulary has raised some questions within Scotland Yard, prompting a Yard investigator to make the trip for more clarification. On arriving, the investigator learns that the disappearance of the recent tenant was only the last in a long line of strangeness to come out of that house with regards to past tenants. The first tale, Method For Murder, involves a horror writer, played by Denholm Elliot, whose most recent literary creation, a maniacal strangler, seems to have come to life, and is lurking in and around the house, being all troublesome and such. The second story, Waxworks, stars Peter Cushing as a retired investment banker and mysterious goings on at the local wax museum. Seems one of the wax figures in the museum bares an uncanny resemblance to a woman he used to know. This one also has a young Joss Ackland, of whom I vaguely recognized until I remembered him as the head bad guy from Lethal Weapon 2. The third story, Sweets to the Sweet, stars Christopher Lee in a tale about a child with unnatural abilities. To say anymore would give it away, though you will most likely be able to figure out what's going on before the ending is revealed. The fourth story, The Cloak, star Jon Pertwee as an egotistical horror actor in search of a realistic cloak for an upcoming role in a horror movie. He does find what he's looking for, and much more. Also in this one is Ingrid Pitt, as his buxom co-star. This one had a twinge of humor throughout, while the others were more serious, straightforward horror tales. One part that stands out in my mind was when Pertwee is verbally thrashing the art and movie director for the lack of realism in the sets and in the wardrobe, and he relates the 'look' he's after to past horror movies for examples, citing Frankenstein and Dracula, "but the one with Bela Lugosi, not that newer one." in reference to Christopher Lee and his performances as the count. The fifth story is basically an ongoing one between the other stories, involving the Scotland Yard inspector hearing each of the four tales, and then deciding to see this house for himself. All stories seem to be credited to Robert Bloch, probably best known for writing the Hitchcock classic Psycho, but looking at the IMDb, it shows a couple of other writers had a hand in this movie, most notably Richard Matheson. The print used for transfer to DVD was quite good, especially when compared to an included trailer of dubious quality. The only other special feature is a psuedo interview with the producer, Max Rosenberg, whose prolific production career includes such movies like Scream and Scream Again (1969), Tales From the Crypt (1972), Asylum (1972), The Land That Time Forgot (1975), and The Incredible Melting Man (1977). Good directing, accomplished actors, a creepy house, and a haunting musical score all come together to create an overall enjoyable experience. The threads that tied the individual stories to the house were a little thin in some places, but that appears fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
Rating:
Summary: An Ultimate Classic.
Review: Creative, spine-tingling creepy, weird, and completely original for its time. Back before horror meant big boobs running from a silent stalker. A creative story with great faces and a twisting storyline. Excellent for Halloween or gift for any horror fan.
Rating:
Summary: Not A Drop In Sight.....
Review: Don't be misled by the title. This is a movie that relies on atmospheric sets, solid acting, and mood-enhancing music to get the job done. As you would expect from a master of the genre such as Robert Bloch, all of the stories are well-crafted (unlike many anthologies, which toss at least one dud into the mix). I was very pleased with the transfer from VHS to DVD. The picture is bright and clear, and I was able to discover many details that were murky on tape. The sound is also crisp, which is especially important with this movie - the music and the odd sound effects are integral to maintaining the spooky atmosphere that permeates the film. The first three stories are serious in tone, but Mr. Bloch lightens-up the proceedings in the final story - where the rubber-faced Jon Pertwee and the buxom Ingrid Pitt are given a chance to camp things up a bit. This very enjoyable movie has thunderstorms, candlelight, creaking doors, shadows, and cobwebs.....but no blood. Let me provide some by giving this film a rating of...."A positive."
Rating: 
Summary: This House Drips NO Bodily Fluids Of Any Kind...
Review: Don't let the title fool you. There's no blood in this film. THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD is a four part horror anthology about an old manor and the untimely deaths of it's occupants. First, Denholm Elliot (Indiana Jones) is a horror writer who moves into the creepy place looking for inspiration for his next book. He draws a picture of a mad strangler character he's imagined. He soon begins seeing him in real life! Next, we have Peter Cushing as a bachelor who visits a wax museum, only to find an old girlfriend's image in a figure of Solome. He becomes obsessed with it. Meanwhile, the owner of the museum has dark secrets of his own. I found this one pretty dull. Number three stars Christopher Lee as a man who moves into the house with his 8yo daughter. He hires a woman as nanny for the girl who soon believes Lee is a heartless monster for keeping his daughter isolated and not allowing her to play with dolls. Is he evil? Or is there something seriously wrong with his daughter? Semi-creepy. Finally, Jon Pertwee (Dr. Who) is a jaded horror movie actor working on his latest vampire epic. Disgusted by the cheesey sets and costumes being used, he goes to an occult shop and buys a "new" vampire cape for 13 shillings (cheap). The cape appears to turn him into a real nosferatu! Ingrid Pitt co-stars as Pertwee's seemingly innocent girlfriend, who isn't at all what she seems. This last one's mostly for laughs and reminds me of an episode of Rod Serling's Night Gallery. All four stories are tied together by a Scotland Yard detective who tries to solve the mysteries. Enjoyable, if not all that scary. It's always cool to see Cushing and Lee in anything. Recommended for diehard horror fans...
Rating:
Summary: Amicus on form
Review: Fun, old fashioned horror from Amicus studios. As with all compendium films of this type some stories are inevitably stronger than others. The final one in this case, featuring Jon Pertwee is by far the weakest. I think the scariest is the first one with Denholm Elliot as a writer who goes mad thinking he's becoming the murderous character he's created.
The Christopher Lee segment is excellent too, closely followed by the Peter Cushing episode.
The transfer is very good with strong, rich colours and the sound is good and clear.
Rating: 
Summary: The House That Dripped Boredom.
Review: I just finished watching this last night and all I can say is HoHum. Some wonderfull actors are wasted in this quadrilogy that only takes the time to present the scant hint of a delightfull macarbe plot only to quickly rap it up with endings that didnt have any twists or "wow, didnt expect that? kind of ending. Im surprised that the most excellent performers Lee, Cushing ,and Elliot gave their time to this coulda been made for tv movie. If anybody remembers the "Tales From the Crypt, Asylum, Vault of Horror" movies that came out of this period of early 1970 you will have some creepy scary viginettes to compare this movie to and it will come out lacking. This house ought to be condemned.
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