Monday, May 19, 2025

 The Haunted House of Horror (1969)– Michael Armstrong.

Polo neck-tastic teen idol Frankie Avalon stars in Michael Armstrong's modestly swinging sixties slasher The Haunted House of Horror. The carnage bloodily commences once a group of bored, boozy companions seek supernatural kicks in a spooky derelict building, only to discover that one of them is a crazed, Carnaby Street-clad psychopath! Tigon Films lavishly lurid output, over time, has, quite rightly, become something of a national cinematic treasure. With gaudy soap opera theatrics, and groovily garish schmutter, The Haunted House of Horror is both a thrilling terror-tinged time capsule, and one of the very few day-glo Gialli produced in the UK. Absolutely not to be taken remotely seriously, feverishly playing out like a stab-happy Hanna- Barbera cartoon, The Haunted House of Horror is arguably more fun seen today than upon its initial release. Fans of lively vintage British horror should adore it, those who have had their mind's sullied by a tawdry deluge of jump-scares might, perhaps, be less enthralled. Composer Reg Tisley's memorable theme is terrific, and Silvia's (Gina Warwick) saucily geometric go-go outfit is deserving of a mini-documentary unto itself! Dazzling in its pristine HD restoration, Armstrong's somewhat neglected, not often fondly remembered 60s shocker has happily endured, the heady admixture of frisky fashions, sickly passions, and full-blooded distractions remain utterly irresistible!






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