From that point forward, compilation albums of frightening sounds and atmospheric music were used at parties and haunted houses all over the country. The chillingly melodic introduction inspired entire record albums filled with nothing but ghostly sound effects and music. The House audience was then treated to both a spooky warning from Watson Pritchard and an eerie invitation from Frederick Loren, which, in the total blackness, highlighted the spine-tingling musical score of composers Von Dexter and Richard Kayne. At the time, this was a heady and horrifying stunt that eventually morphed into other “blackout” experiences, primarily in theme parks and live theaters. Prior to the start of House, theaters were plunged into complete darkness, accompanied by horrible noises echoing around and originating from different points of the theater. Next, the film’s opening introduced the theater jump scare. Just Google the name of the movie and “guerilla marketing” to see the examples. Bayona ( Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom) have taken such gimmicks even further to promote their films. Castle himself said it was a shame no one actually expired during his movies as it would have been exceptional publicity. In addition to this, Castle had select theater owners station nurses in their lobbies and park hearses outside.

However, if anyone with the policy by the died of fright during the movie, that person’s next of kin would be paid $1,000. Castle offered $1,000 Lloyd’s of London insurance policies for those brave enough to watch his horror film. His technique first appeared with his movie Macabre (1958) but due to its success, it was replicated with House a year later. To start, director William Castle was the original master of guerilla marketing. What you may not know is the many ground-breaking elements of the film which still influence entertainment and promotion today. Ironically, its 40 th anniversary remake in 1999, starring Geoffrey Rush and Famke Janssen cost $37M to make and has only netted $43M to date worldwide, making the original House proportionally the clear winner with fans. Filmed for $200K over the course of 14 days in 1958, the film has netted over $1.5M and counting, thanks to video rentals and streaming.

The House on Haunted Hill (1959) starring Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Alan Marshal and Julia Mitchum was not only critically acclaimed in its own time, but still has an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes today. In 2019 (aka “the Time Before”) one of the quintessential horror movies of our time celebrated its 60 th birthday.

House on Haunted Hill (Allied Artists, 1959)

House on haunted hill trailer