Filmed under the much more appropriate title "THE DARK" this movie quite often airs on television in a darkened print. Darkened so that the blood can't be seen so clearly! In a couple of shock sequences, still shocking today, there's an awful lot of it! It has been said that David Bowie was originally cast in this film! Also Peter Cushing was supposed to play the George Sewell part originally. The film opens on location around the definitely in-place of the sixties - Carnaby Street. Despite the slightly silly Scooby Doo "teenage" characters that are introduced early in the film at a swinging sixties house party, the acting gets realistically serious as we enter the haunted house of the title. I've always been intrigued by this early example of teenage serial killer horror film, especially since it subverts the slasher genre quite drastically. Despite all the screaming, it's the men who are the victims - no more pointedly than in the film's finale...
The acting is very good, the plot keeps you guessing and you could cut the atmosphere with a knife!
The acting is very good, the plot keeps you guessing and you could cut the atmosphere with a knife!