'Ghosts of Hanley House' (1968) – Louise Sherrill.

'Only evil spirits come here!'

In order to dispel rumours about incumbent ghostly spirits in a murder house, that is proving hard to sell, a party is organised, and during this inopportune soiree, events soon take a turn towards the macabre, has the killer returned? Or is the fabled haunting absolutely genuine? Ghosts of Hanley House is the kinda swinging supernatural 60s shindig that might have starred Frankie Avalon, if they had the additional moolah, but the stolid cast earnestly do their very best to bring some theatrical pep to the formulaic, but not altogether unamusing haunted house shenanigans! Low budget, not absolutely competent, this modestly obscure indie spook-house is certainly not without interest to those who savour more home-grown B-horror fare.

While the plot fell out of a vintage Count Chocula serial packet, and much of the blocking/lighting/sound recording is strictly bush league, it nonetheless manages to engender a few cob-webby discords. There's one nifty bit when the attractive Sheila (Barbara Chase), saucily clad in her skimpies, distractedly descends the crepuscular stairs repeatedly calling out for 'Dick?' Dick? Dick?', which provided for an unexpected frisson of pleasure! Creakier than Queen Victoria's chastity belt, The Ghosts of Hanley House was imbued with an eerily Ed Woodian quality that mostly held my interest. An unabashed highlight are the film's musical choices, the minimal, echoplexed score proved moodily atmospheric, and the noisome usage of killer garage fuzz guitar was pretty F'n sweet!