how is this a classic?

Did you even WATCH the movie? If you had you would've had some of those answers already.

1. I don't know if I'd say it was that corny. It was a spooky way to introduce the story.

2. I didn't think anyone really overacted their parts in this, but I'll agree the screaming was horrendous. It seemed as if the director said, "Forget about trying to make how scared you are real. Just scream as loud as you can for as long as possible."

3. The house had lots of doors. It was surrounded by very tall walls that had one entrance/exit - a gate that was locked at night. Of course it begs the question, why would someone build a gate that locks from the outside and does not allow them to leave until the caretakers return in the morning.

4. This was my biggest problem with the movie. It was necessary for them to split up in order for the plot to progress, but, yeah, when one of them said, "We'll all go to our own rooms and whoever leaves theirs, even though we'll have no possible way to tell when that happens, we'll know who the killer is" I sighed. It had to be one of the worst plot devices in a movie I've seen. Then again, this question could pretty much be asked of any horror movie ever: Why didn't they just stay together?

5. I think it was explained that the previous owner had put it there because he was out of his mind. No one ever removed it because no one cared to.

6. I think the final point of the movie was that it left the audience wondering whether or not the house was actually haunted. Things, like the chandelier, left that question open for debate, in my opinion, making the film more than a simple whodunit.

7. Agreed. It was just meant to be scary, I suppose. But the whole scene was awful. The rope stuff made no sense and it was the cause of that terrible screaming scene. Anyways, maybe back in the day it was a terrifying experience. Either way it certainly did not hold up over time.

8. He did explain it. He said my wife and the guy tried to kill me, now they are in the acid, and the justice system will decide whether or not I'm guilty of anything. He didn't care if he was found guilty or not. A jury would figure that out. He just wanted to kill his wife.

9. It doesn't really matter whether or not the police were involved before, as far as this story of the movie is concerned. Who did the previous murders? Doesn't really matter. What mattered was that multiple people had died in the house and some people believed, because of that, that the house was haunted. Were there ghosts or not? The film intentionally left it open to debate. Why the guy stayed there another night was clearly explained - he wanted the money.

10. I could be misremembering it, but I don't think he wanted her to believe it was him. He wanted to scare her. The simplest way was to play on her fears of the paranormal.

11. The skeleton scene was a little cheesy, but, again, I think it was something that didn't hold up great over time. Why we don't see any strings is pretty obvious. Until Price reveals himself to be the one controlling the skeleton the audience is intended to question whether or not the ghost stories are real and if this skeleton is actually the walking dead.

www.savewalterwhite.com

With the movie fresh in memory, here are some answers:

3. It's not as implausible as it sounds. The house was designed to trap them all with barred windows and heavy steel doors.

4. Maybe they would have stayed in one room, but that would not help Dr. Trent's plans. He's the one who suggested they all retire to their rooms, if I'm not mistaken.

5. The acid's there for killin', of course.

8. He'll pay his way out, much how it was implied he did it in the past. Either that, or he's resigned to justice this time. *shrug*

9. Pritchard is probably important for Frederick's alibi in case his murders became known. Pritchard was a drunkard who stayed at the house before and probably witnessed Frederick's previous wife being killed by "ghosts." So he's back to preach to the characters about the ghosts coming, and it works well in Frederick's favor.

And to answer your overall query, the movie is a classic 'cause it has Vincent Price and it's just so badass.

For everyone interested in cult classics this has always been a favorite, those who do not like it are simply not entertained by this genre and obviously not fans of Mr. Price.

Just see it as a comedy. I was laughing out loud with this stupid movie. Funny I gave "four stars" in Netflix. But try to see it as a comedy. Then you will understand. And yes, Vincent Price was quite good in this ridiculous farce.

I agree, this movie is a waste of time. not scary, not an interesting murder mystery, in fact, nothing interesting at all. the remake was actually entertaining and genuinely scary.

plus, as you said, the story doesn't really make any sense.

You are so right. Scooby Doo had tighter plots than this.

I actully saw the remake before I saw this one,I saw HOHH(99) in theatres,but I just cuaght this one on AMC the other day

and I honestly have to say that 99 is a superior film,it does alot better at explaining things, like the house was an insane asylum,so it made sense to have a lockdown device just incase there was a riot or escape or something,and thats exactley what happened,and that fits in with the backstory that explains the murderous ghosts that still reside there,when the dr triggred the device when the patients took control and started a fire,locking them all in to burn alive,and that is alot more disturbing/interesting than "A few people were killed in a random house"

and the remake makes it clear,that the ghost in the house are real,except in alot more disturbing ways,the human murder plot involving Stephen&Evylin Price are there,and the psychatrist that Evylin is plotting with,Dr Blackburn,but during there varios scheming,all parties slowly start to realise,that pritchett is right,and there were alot more sinister forces at work,than them

I can understand those people that dont like remakes,most of the times its just generational differences and people simply wanting different things out of there movies,and in some cases the remake really sucks,but you are really nieve if you cant admit that HOHH99 was a vast improvement from its original,and would be a classic horror film itself if it wasnt for the horrid ending,that cheesy ghost blob thing that killed everyone except Sara and Eddie,completley ruined what was an exceptional film up to that point,at first I thought I wasted my money,but has I reflected on it,and eventually learned to take the ending with a grain of salt, it became one of my favorite horror movies of all time

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"Nobody Panics When Everything Goes According To Plan,Even If The Plan Is Horrifying!!"