When the tools of murder are stretched out on a dresser covered in cloth, the insinuations of what those weapons can do becomes all the more real, and as victims fall prey, the horror is much more frightening because of those insinuations. Forget about the Bob Hope remake when watching this, even though that's good in it's own right as a completely different variation on the 1927 classic.
Color usually doesn't add much to horror movie remakes outside of the color of blood, and the use of blood is very subtle. That's probably why in the era of the "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th" franchises, this would end up being referred to as a relic. But with a heroine like Carol Lynley (aging amazingly well over a decade after playing Harlow), this starts off great and ends up greater.
British stage and screen legends Wendy Hiller and Beatrix Lehmann are excellent as the attorney and housekeeper to Wilfred Hyde White, seen in a film within the film 20 years after his character has died, and he's quite funny. Honor Blackman however walks away with the film as a seemingly sinister relative, her raspy voice perfect for relashing her psychological torture of Lynley, calmly telling her that there's a mad killer on the loose.
The young men aren't as fortunate with their roles being as showy, but Michael Callan, Edward Fox and Daniel Massey do professional jobs. Olivia Hussey is beautiful but rather pointless as far as plot is concerned. You'll want to check out the closing credits which are cleverly integrated into the story. I've seen this old dark house plot done in many ways, but it's certainly one of the best variations.
Color usually doesn't add much to horror movie remakes outside of the color of blood, and the use of blood is very subtle. That's probably why in the era of the "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th" franchises, this would end up being referred to as a relic. But with a heroine like Carol Lynley (aging amazingly well over a decade after playing Harlow), this starts off great and ends up greater.
British stage and screen legends Wendy Hiller and Beatrix Lehmann are excellent as the attorney and housekeeper to Wilfred Hyde White, seen in a film within the film 20 years after his character has died, and he's quite funny. Honor Blackman however walks away with the film as a seemingly sinister relative, her raspy voice perfect for relashing her psychological torture of Lynley, calmly telling her that there's a mad killer on the loose.
The young men aren't as fortunate with their roles being as showy, but Michael Callan, Edward Fox and Daniel Massey do professional jobs. Olivia Hussey is beautiful but rather pointless as far as plot is concerned. You'll want to check out the closing credits which are cleverly integrated into the story. I've seen this old dark house plot done in many ways, but it's certainly one of the best variations.