House of Usher
House of Usher

Movie spotlight

House of Usher

1960
Movie
79 min
English

Convinced that his family is tainted by generations of evil, Roderick Usher is hellbent on stopping his sister Madeline’s wedding to prevent the cursed Usher bloodline from expanding. When her fiancé Philip Winthrop arrives at the crumbling estate to claim his bride, Roderick goes to ruthless—even deadly—lengths to keep them apart.

Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes71% (8 reviews)
Director: Roger CormanGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A young man named Roderick travels to the ancestral home of his fiancée, Madeline Usher, to break off their engagement. Upon arrival, he discovers that the Usher family is cursed with madness and premature death, and that the house itself seems to be alive and malevolent. Roderick soon finds himself entangled in a terrifying descent into madness as the Usher family's dark secrets are revealed.

Critical Reception

House of Usher was generally well-received by critics for its atmospheric horror, Vincent Price's performance, and Roger Corman's direction, especially considering its B-movie budget and production schedule. It is considered one of the standout films of Corman's Poe-inspired cycle.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for Vincent Price's iconic performance as the tortured Roderick Usher.

  • Lauded for its gothic atmosphere and effective use of color and set design.

  • Often cited as a high point in Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe adaptations.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's spooky atmosphere and Price's compelling portrayal. Many appreciate its classic horror elements and enjoy it as a quintessential Vincent Price film.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The film's striking mansion exteriors were shot at L drawr Castle in San Simeon, California, the same location used for filming many scenes in the original 1933 "King Kong" film.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

_**“It’s a mad house, a mad house!”**_ In the late 1830s, a man from Boston (Mark Damon) visits the ancestral manor of his fiancé out in the country (Myrna Fahey), but he finds her curiously ill and her older brother nigh insane (Vincent...

John Chard

John Chard

Fissures of concrete and of the mind... Phillip Winthrop has been searching for his missing fiancée, Madeline Usher. Tracking her down to the Usher family castle, he finds that Madeline is held strangely under the spell of her brother Ro...

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