Starring: Patricia Jessel, Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee, Tom Naylor, Betta St. John
Directed by: John Llewellyn Moxey
Story: A young coed uses her winter vacation to research a paper on witchcraft in
New England. Her professor recommends that she spend her time in a small village
called Whitewood. He originally cam from that village so he also recommends she
stay at the "Raven's Inn," run by a Mrs. Newlis. She gets to the village and notices
some weird happenings, but things begin to happen in earnest when she finds
herself "marked" for sacrifice by the undead coven of witches. It seems that the
innkeeper is actually the undead spirit of Elizabeth Selwyn, and the "guests" at the
inn are the other witches who have come to celebrate the sacrifice on Candalmas
Eve.
Review:
Horror Hotel is probably one of the coolest PG-13 rated movies I've ever seen. If I
were to make a list of my top favorite classic horror films, Horror Hotel (aka City of
the Dead) would be somewhere near the top of my list. It's a true classic in the
genre and it's one of those films I will never get tired of watching. It's one of the
greatest chillers of all time. The film tells the story of Nan Barlow, a young Coed who
is doing a paper on witchcraft. Her teacher recommends that she goes to the town
of Whitewood, the same town where Elizabeth Selwyn was burned to death for
being accused as a witch hundreds of years ago. As Elizabeth heads for Whitewood
she notices that there are some strange things happening. When the young coed
arrives in Whitewood she stays at the Raven's Inn Hotel, where she unwillingly finds
herself marked for sacrifice by the undead coven of witches.
If I may recall Horror Hotel was actually the first film made by Vulcan Productions.
The same production company who was once of Hammer's most successful rivals in
the 60s and 70s. I love this era of film, it would have been a grand pleasure to
watch this back in 1960. Luckily today you can purchase most of the classics on
DVD and this is one film I am proud to have in my collection. Horror Hotel is filled
with thrills, chills and plenty of terrifying suspense. Like most old genre films this
isn't heavy on blood and gore, but it's the story and characters that kept me focus.
We're treated to some wonderful by Patricia Jessel, who plays Elizabeth Selwyn (the
witch) and her role in the film is dark and creepy. Also in the movie is film veteran
Christopher Lee, who is really known today for his roles as Count Dracula and other
various Hammer characters.
The real joy for me while watching this movie not only comes from the cast and
acting but also from the films plot. While watching the film I get so attached to the
characters and the events that take place, any film that can keep my full attention is
a film definitely worth watching over and over. Im sure if you compare this movie to
other genre films today you'll notice all the clichés that take place. The story and
thought about witch craft and the burning of actual witches is very well known
today. The only thing about that is that I haven't seen too many horror films that
carry such a strong topic. If you were to do that today it would most likely either
not work or it just wont be as impressive. The thing that I recommend most when
watching this film is just pay attention through the whole thing. Let the story and
the characters take you on a chilling ride.
The film also plays off as a mystery. Well if you're an avid horror viewer then it
wouldn't be hard for you to guess the movie and its small twists. Even if it is
predictable it's still very good. Watching this movie is like watching a sick and
twisted evil episode of the twilight zone. Horror Hotel is one of my all time favorite
classic horror films. The story is great, the acting is good and it's just a fun watch.
The film is filled chilling suspense and a mystery which isn't really hard to guess. The
cast of actors and actresses alone is really impressive, who doesn't love seeing
Christopher Lee in horror films? That's just one of the joys in the picture.
Everything else is just as good and it's a film I really recommend watching if you're
into the black and white classics.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall: 8/10
Directed by: John Llewellyn Moxey
Story: A young coed uses her winter vacation to research a paper on witchcraft in
New England. Her professor recommends that she spend her time in a small village
called Whitewood. He originally cam from that village so he also recommends she
stay at the "Raven's Inn," run by a Mrs. Newlis. She gets to the village and notices
some weird happenings, but things begin to happen in earnest when she finds
herself "marked" for sacrifice by the undead coven of witches. It seems that the
innkeeper is actually the undead spirit of Elizabeth Selwyn, and the "guests" at the
inn are the other witches who have come to celebrate the sacrifice on Candalmas
Eve.
Review:
Horror Hotel is probably one of the coolest PG-13 rated movies I've ever seen. If I
were to make a list of my top favorite classic horror films, Horror Hotel (aka City of
the Dead) would be somewhere near the top of my list. It's a true classic in the
genre and it's one of those films I will never get tired of watching. It's one of the
greatest chillers of all time. The film tells the story of Nan Barlow, a young Coed who
is doing a paper on witchcraft. Her teacher recommends that she goes to the town
of Whitewood, the same town where Elizabeth Selwyn was burned to death for
being accused as a witch hundreds of years ago. As Elizabeth heads for Whitewood
she notices that there are some strange things happening. When the young coed
arrives in Whitewood she stays at the Raven's Inn Hotel, where she unwillingly finds
herself marked for sacrifice by the undead coven of witches.
If I may recall Horror Hotel was actually the first film made by Vulcan Productions.
The same production company who was once of Hammer's most successful rivals in
the 60s and 70s. I love this era of film, it would have been a grand pleasure to
watch this back in 1960. Luckily today you can purchase most of the classics on
DVD and this is one film I am proud to have in my collection. Horror Hotel is filled
with thrills, chills and plenty of terrifying suspense. Like most old genre films this
isn't heavy on blood and gore, but it's the story and characters that kept me focus.
We're treated to some wonderful by Patricia Jessel, who plays Elizabeth Selwyn (the
witch) and her role in the film is dark and creepy. Also in the movie is film veteran
Christopher Lee, who is really known today for his roles as Count Dracula and other
various Hammer characters.
The real joy for me while watching this movie not only comes from the cast and
acting but also from the films plot. While watching the film I get so attached to the
characters and the events that take place, any film that can keep my full attention is
a film definitely worth watching over and over. Im sure if you compare this movie to
other genre films today you'll notice all the clichés that take place. The story and
thought about witch craft and the burning of actual witches is very well known
today. The only thing about that is that I haven't seen too many horror films that
carry such a strong topic. If you were to do that today it would most likely either
not work or it just wont be as impressive. The thing that I recommend most when
watching this film is just pay attention through the whole thing. Let the story and
the characters take you on a chilling ride.
The film also plays off as a mystery. Well if you're an avid horror viewer then it
wouldn't be hard for you to guess the movie and its small twists. Even if it is
predictable it's still very good. Watching this movie is like watching a sick and
twisted evil episode of the twilight zone. Horror Hotel is one of my all time favorite
classic horror films. The story is great, the acting is good and it's just a fun watch.
The film is filled chilling suspense and a mystery which isn't really hard to guess. The
cast of actors and actresses alone is really impressive, who doesn't love seeing
Christopher Lee in horror films? That's just one of the joys in the picture.
Everything else is just as good and it's a film I really recommend watching if you're
into the black and white classics.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall: 8/10
Genres: Horror, Thriller
Rated: PG-13
Country: UK
Year: 1960
Runtime: 76 minutes
Studio: Vulcan
IMDB Page
Amazon Page
Rated: PG-13
Country: UK
Year: 1960
Runtime: 76 minutes
Studio: Vulcan
IMDB Page
Amazon Page
Online since: February 20th, 2006
Review done by: Nightmare Child
