Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

House of the Long Shadows Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 6, 2015

In the early 1980s, Cannon Films was looking for a fright picture to vary their line-up of genre and exploitation releases. Producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus sought out Pete Walker to concoct a particular horror brew for 1983, pulling the B-movie helmer (“House of Whipcord,” “Frightmare,” “The Flesh and Blood Show”) out of retirement to craft an ode to the scary features of yesteryear, where dark corners and fiendish intentions were the trends of the day. “House of the Long Shadows” is throwback entertainment from Cannon, collecting a rogues’ gallery of horror stars, bringing in Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and John Carradine to flavor up a tale of mystery, murder, and mild parody, bringing with them decades of experience and unparalleled professionalism. Walker’s lucky to have them, as “House of the Long Shadows” isn’t much of a pulse-pounder, with a draggy, expositional mood that dilutes chills and even comedy, with the production often caught stargazing instead of tightening moments of suspense.

Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnaz Jr.) is an author facing a professional slowdown when sales of his last book fail to match previous successes. Hoping to disarm publisher Sam’s (Richard Todd) disappointment and prove that he can churn out a classic like “Wuthering Heights” in no time, Kenneth decides to make a wager, betting $20,000 that he can craft a respectable book in 24 hours. Accepting this hubris, Sam offers an isolated place to work in Wales, sending Kenneth to the Bllyddpaetwr Manor, where a typewriter, paper, and candles await his genius. Arriving at the estate, the writer is surprised to find Lord Grisbane (John Carradine) and daughter Victoria (Shelia Keith) inside, clinging to their ownership of the property. As the night wears on, Kenneth is completely distracted from his mission, caught up in a “family affair” that involves siblings Sebastian (Peter Cushing) and Lionel (Vincent Price), and a potential buyer for the manor in Corrigan (Christopher Lee). Helping Kenneth grasp the oddity of the evening is Sam’s assistant Mary (Julie Peasgood), who warns the author to vacate the premises immediately.

Inspired by the novel “Seven Keys to Baldpate” by Earl Derr Biggers, “House of the Long Shadows” doesn’t waste time getting to the writer’s challenge. A proud cynic, Kenneth doesn’t believe in love and kindness, preferring to expose harsh truths to fill his creative needs. His book sales are tanking, yet the author remains confident in his abilities, willing to sell out to help his publisher restore his once celebrated name. The wager is made right away, awkwardly suggested by Kenneth as a way to prove his skill, giving himself one day to complete a manuscript that’s entirely built out of manipulation, not reason. “House of the Long Shadows” is off to the races after five minutes of introduction, putting Kenneth on windy, dark, rain-slicked roads as he makes his way to Wales, mentally preparing to claim his financial prize.

Of course, the evening doesn’t go smoothly for Kenneth, who walks into an underlit manor coated with cobwebs, populated with a pair of older characters who claim to be caretakers, but end up with a grander motivation to remain on the estate. Expecting an evening of creative flow and household stillness, Kenneth is quickly wrapped up in family drama, watching as more guests arrive for the evening, sharing punch and accusations as tension mounts amongst the group. There’s also trouble from Mary, a comely blonde who catches Kenneth’s fancy, finding the writer more interested in seducing the stranger than dealing with his wager. The screenplay creates thick personalities with defined agitation, offering the cast an opportunity to chew on pleasantries and hostilities as the evening wears on, with Walker making sure to stay out of the way, respecting the talents as they cover familiar dramatic terrain.

The only real odd man out is Arnaz Jr., who has trouble summoning a playboy-ish contempt for others, unable to mix smugness with suspicion, even while gifted a few terrific lines from screenwriter Michael Armstrong. Still, he hardly blocks the view, with the veterans carrying the feature with charm and genre awareness, securing some degree of nuance when dealing with roles that often require bellowed accusation and quivering confession.

“House of the Long Shadows” embraces classic horror ornamentation and mood, offering stinging lightning strikes, hidden passageways, and a secret resident of the manor. There’s even a scare triggered by a leaping black cat. There’s awareness here that should be irresistible to genre fans, dusted with some mild parody, primarily delivered by Price. Yet, momentum is lacking throughout the picture, which tends to mistake stillness for suspense. “House of the Long Shadows” isn’t truly meant to disturb, but it’s strange to watch the movie slowly fall asleep, unable to summon a more authoritative atmosphere of chills and general confusion that keeps Kenneth on the move, working to figure out relationships and manor history. The feature ends up dull and often uneventful, wasting the remarkable cast assembled here.

House of the Long Shadows Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation is all about dark corners and candlelit encounters, but delineation isn't always as strong as hoped for. Blacks display moments of solidification, losing cinematographic potency, and while it isn't a complete loss, the viewing even feels flat on occasion, lacking genre muscularity. Colors fare better, even while working with a limited palette. Costuming generally provides more vivid hues, along with manor interiors, surveying paintings and assorted decoration. Skintones are natural, downright ghostly with the aged stars. Grain is filmic and unobtrusive. Source is in fine shape, displaying some speckling and minor scratches.

House of the Long Shadows Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix remains an uneven listening experience, though the first half of the picture does feature a degree of crispness and inviting dramatic range. The track encounters a slight dip in clarity around the 42:00 mark, revealing a muffled quality that gently mutes whatever power the mix is looking to share. Dialogue exchanges aren't threatened, just dulled, with intelligibility remaining as various actors compete for screen time. Scoring is supportive without encouraging definition. Atmospherics are evocative, emphasizing stormy locations and creaky scenes of manor exploration.

House of the Long Shadows Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Pete Walker.

• Commentary #2 features film historian David Del Valle.

• Interview (14:48, HD) with Walker details the origin of the "House of Long Shadows" production, where the helmer was pulled out of early retirement by producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, hired to create an old-fashioned horror film featuring classic genre stars. Walker seems proud of his "nostalgia piece," discussing his creative freedom and inspirations, while celebrating his prepared cast. Walker also highlights his return to retirement after the successful release of the movie.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:27, SD) is included.

House of the Long Shadows Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While passable with horror particulars, Walker isn't a director that pushes the possibilities of the genre, resting comfortably with "House of the Long Shadows." The screenplay has a specific direction (its effectiveness is up to the viewer), but no real energy, dragging to a close. Still, the sight of so many stars playing to their strengths is something to see, and their charisma carries the feature a passable distance, making sure deathly stares, loaded smirks, and pure shock are cared for, giving fans exactly what they want.