The Legend of Hell House

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The Legend of Hell House

PG,

1973,

1h 34m,

Horror

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Watchlist

72%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

56%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

56%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Scientist Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill) and his wife, Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), lead a team into the infamous Belasco House, supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a notorious serial killer. Though the rational Barrett does not believe in ghosts, the other members of his group do, including devout spiritualist Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and psychic medium Benjamin Fischer (Roddy McDowall), who has been in Belasco House before and seen what horrors can befall those who enter it.

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Critics Consensus

The Legend of Hell House makes up for its disappointing lack of outright scares with a top notch cast and a suitably macabre atmosphere.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Clive Revill, the physicist, who attempts to clear the house of its evil, Pamela Franklin, the mental medium and Roddy McDowall the survivor of the previous incursion, are all first-rate.

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Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

Richard Matheson's disappointing adaptation of his own rather disappointing novel.

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A.H. Weiler

New York Times

May 9, 2005

2/5

If John Hough, the director, and his small, willing cast maintain mild tension during their harried visit to this haunted 'hell house,' the few chills they provide are of little help.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 15, 2025

3/5

A creepy and atmospheric experience that was ahead of its time and is still as effective today as it likely was 50 years ago.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Oct 21, 2024

Author and screenwriter Richard Matheson, adapting his own novel, brings a rare intelligence, a literate sensibility, and a refreshing seriousness to this mix of haunted house thriller and paranormal science from 1973.

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Aug 20, 2024

FOUR STARS

Many of the plot and design elements used in this influential genre film went on to be quoted, if not expanded on, by budding young horror directors in love with its artfulness. "The Legend of Hell House" is a minor masterpiece.

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Theodore R

Feb 3, 2018

Not horrible, but nothing really scary here, there are some interesting plot points if you love haunted house movies.

Draco R

Oct 1, 2017

i mean, it's what you'd expect a horror movie from the 70's to be like. terrible, over-dramatic acting & nothing really happens, haha. but i'm kind of surprised the ratings are so low, actually -- i think this is a pretty typical representation of the genre for that decade; if it were the 70's now i'd probably rate it higher.

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Theodore W

May 18, 2017

Great cast with comparable chemistry. A nice little trip into the macabre..

Leia S

Apr 26, 2017

People don't seem impressed by this but I liked its dark atmosphere, its not as scary as todays ghost movies but I liked it. I like when she gets attacked by a cat

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Finn R

Apr 28, 2008

Richard Matheson "retooled" Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, except where Ms.Jackson used subtlety, Matheson designs his story for the great unwashed. A scientist takes some spiritualists into a haunted house to see if the place is bonafide spooky. "We'll use science to check, see?" Probably still a viable formula. One of Roddy McDowell's better outings.

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John Hough

Director

Pamela Franklin

Florence Tanner

Roddy McDowall

Benjamin Franklin Fischer

Clive Revill

Dr. Barrett

Gayle Hunnicutt

Ann Barrett

Roland Culver

Rudolph Deutsch

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25%

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Synopsis

Scientist Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill) and his wife, Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), lead a team into the infamous Belasco House, supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a notorious serial killer. Though the rational Barrett does not believe in ghosts, the other members of his group do, including devout spiritualist Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and psychic medium Benjamin Fischer (Roddy McDowall), who has been in Belasco House before and seen what horrors can befall those who enter it.

Director: John Hough
Producer: Albert Fennell, Norman T. Herman
Production Co: Academy Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 34m

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