I remember seeing this movie way back and really liked it. It's one of the better haunted house stories around. This is some good work in creating a creepy atmosphere here.
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I agree. I cant figure out all the terrible reviews. Must not be gory enuff for em.
shareYes, unfortunately if it's not blood & guts, then most of todays audience won't appreciate it.
I'd enjoyed this when I had seen it, it was atmospheric & creepy & alot of fun to watch. Easily among the better suspense/horror entrees of its genre.
I had a ton of fun seeing this in the theatre, and it still works for me on video today. Audiences don't "get" anything subtle nowadays. If it's not exploding, bleeding, stretching or morphing, they think it's nothing.
shareI agree, this is one of my all time favorite movies, and it works great as a double feature with The Changeling!
shareI think The Hearse has some of the best atmospheric settings of any horror movie ever. I was 7 when this came out in 1980 and I still remember VIVIDLY how I ran for my life whenever the movie trailer came on TV.
lordinfernus: I agree with you on The Changeling. The TV trailer to it had the exact same effect on me as The Hearse. Although many disagree with me, I consider The Changeling to be the "King" of horror/scary movies.
Yes, I mostly agree. Great setup and atmosphere though it loses its way somewhat towards the end. The Changeling and The Haunting (the original 1963 version) are also pretty creepy films.
I do enjoy a horror movie that has a sense of restraint. This is generally a movie that could choose to be gory or otherwise graphic, but instead chooses to keep that stuff very controlled. The Haunting, The Changeling, The Hearse and even my new favorite 80's horror flick, Hell Night, all exercise a sense of restraint, and show extra power and style, I think, because of this.
shareOh, it's great, you guys endorsing this film as well as The Changeling. Great double feature, with The Haunting, I just received both films today on DVD from DeepDiscountDVD, great place to buy older movies, and free shipping! I also bought The Burning, Student Bodies and Scared To Death (really should have been titled Bored To Death!)
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rodd: Hooray! I couldn't have said it any better. People today don't "get" anything with atmosphere and mood. That's why all the remakes that are released these days are just crap!
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That's so very true! This film does an excellent job of creating an aura of suspense instead of pandering to those with short attention spans. It's not the best horror film I've seen, but for a low-budget B-movie, it deserves a higher rating than 3.4. What a find!
shareThis is probably Crown International Pictures best release ever.
I recall it was pretty well-received in 1980 upon release and did good box office. A lot of this has to do with the fine atmosphere, good plot development and pretty good characters, and especially the work of Trish Van Devere here. She really made this film her own in all ways, and deserves at least half of the credit for making this a good one to watch.
Much better than many of the modern gore-quota designed horror films.
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It was a very interesting movie although I wouldn't call it great. It definitely had it's moments. Trish Van Devere was wonderful as Jane Hardy
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I have seen worse horror movies that are more well-respected. To be honest, I prefer a film like this to The Exorcist, which to me gets really grating - it's well done, but I prefer atmosphere to shock value. This was in the tradition of Carnival of Souls, which I love.
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Agreed. This film was quite enjoyable, with a pleasingly subtle and restrained spooky atmosphere. Moreover, Trish Van Devere was fine in the lead and Joseph Cotton was a hoot as an obnoxious alcoholic lawyer.
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Yeah, there is good atmosphere here, and this is overall a pretty decent little horror flick. Trish Van Devere is appealing in the lead role.
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