Just what I expected

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

An American writer goes to a remote Welsh manor on a $20,000 bet... to write the all American classic novel in twenty-four hours. Upon his arrival, the writer discovers that the manor, thought empty, actually has several, rather odd inhabitants, who make guest appearances throughout the film, and by George, don't they look familiar?.....Good old Cannon pictures, this is their attempt at making a Hammer Horror film, and they even have the cream of the crop popping up every now and again for a 'reunion' of sorts.If you view the film as if it's a comedy, there is much fun to be had.From every seasoned actor making a wonderfully impacting entrance (all that's missing is some scary incidental music when they introduce themselves), to Peter Cushings wonderful Jonathan Ross type speech impediment.The main story is very Woman In Black-esque, and the makers could have gone either way with this. If they decided to just have the writer on his own, with just the the spirits of the house, it could have been a bonafide spine tingler.But it plays more like an episode of Noels House Party. Every fifteen minutes after the second act, someone polls up, explains why they are there, slightly vex the writer and gradually reveal why they happened to turn up on this particular night.But the final act goes for broke and really shakes things up. If you were really listening to the smug American and the pompous Brit proposition each other, you can see the outcome coming a mile off, but the final third is just so much fun, you can forgive the ridiculous plot holes.It's great to see these four acclaimed horror icons in the same film, and there is a wonderful element of camp about the whole proceedings, but straight horror enthusiasts may not take kindly to the film making light of these legendary actors.Would make a very interesting triple bill with April Fool's Day, and The Game..

"House Of Long Shadows" is a fantastic film with a brilliant cast of horror legends and I just can't believe that this movie isn't more well known, I've personally never even heard of it until quite recently and given the fact that it's directed by the ever brilliant Pete Walker whose other works I've enjoyed (Frightmare, The Comeback, House Of Whipcord). He displays the same elegance and chills in this underrated masterpiece and sad to see that this would be his last horror movie, but well I must say that this was a well and truly fitting end and going out with a bang.This does have that classic old school feel to it and given the fact that this came out in 1983, where horror had moved on to stalk and slash with the likes of Jason and Michael Myers. Well this may have seemed a bit old fashioned, but that doesn't take away the brilliance of this. The plot to this was very good and thought out with an American writer Kenneth Magee takes a bet with his publisher, that he can write a novel within 24 hours and arranges for him to go a secluded mansion called Baldplate Manor in the Welsh country side. But soon as he arrives he is greeted by two creepy caretakers and despite being told that the place is deserted, more and more people start to turn up, namely the previous owners The Grisbanes who hold a dark secret surrounding the place, and soon enough things start to take a strange turn with people ending up getting murdered.Well for starters the mystery element to this is very effective, and the tension that surrounds the mansion is well handled along with perhaps every horror movie cliché known to man thrown in for extra delight and plus featuring the legendary cast of Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Sheila Keith all in one movie, is a pure joy for any movie buff. Once all the guests arrive at the manor then the movie gets going at a very brisk and cracking pace, where event after event is thrown at the viewer, and the shocks and thrills never seem to stop and I loved the angle of which the story takes you, where we find out about the reason why the Grisbanes have returned to free their long lost son/brother from his prison of 40 years for committing a murder of a pregnant girl, then finding that he's escaped and is on a rampage of revenge, where the innocent bystanders get caught up in this terrifying web. The horror scenes are well delivered in this with some shocking twists and turns that keeps you guessing until the very end and with some brilliant and grisly deaths to enjoy along the way, and okay there are two random characters thrown in about halfway through for just pure fodder, but that only adds more fun to this movie.The acting performances, well what can I say from such legends and even the other cast members are well performed. The main character played by Dezi Arnaz Jr really holds his own surrounded by the screen legends and gives a very decent performance as the cynical American writer. Vincent Price gives a wonderful performance as always and may be known for hamming it up at times, but who cares with his brilliant dialogue and scene stealing presence. Christopher Lee, gives a no nonsense presence and pulls it off greatly, with his sharp dialogue and forceful manner, and as the movie goes on, he's given more layers to his character which works superbly. Peter Cushing plays a different type of character than his usual domineering presence in the Hammer films, here he is wonderfully eccentric and lovable and is the perfect foiling against the other two. Sheila Keith whose another brilliant and genius addition to this cast, in full creepiness mode and always a joy to watch in this and (House Of Whipcord, Frightmare and The Comeback), despite not given enough screen time and bows out relatively early, she gives an astounding memorable performance. John Carradine is another pleasing surprise in this, and gives a strong performance. Then finally Julie Peasgood as the love interest Mary, who I found rather likable and despite not being as memorable as the others, she was still a nice addition to the cast.All in all "House Of Long Shadows" is a wonderful throwback to the good old glory days of horror, that's highly entertaining and a hell of a lot of fun, the ending may be a slap in the face to some, but I found it rather fun, although does get rather confusing at the very end, but the other twists and turns that precede this, are brilliantly done and this stands as a brilliant must see for any horror fans.

QUESTION:What do you get when Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christpher Lee, John Carradine and Dezi Arnas Jr. come together under one roof??ANSWER: A wickedly awesome horror'esque movie! House of Long Shadows is one of my favourite movies. It is impossible to discuss about this film without acknowledging the most amazing cast ever.So many greats in the horror industry, it's a horror fans wet-dream to see them all together. This movie is full of intense stares, drawn out moments of suspense and a great story line to work from! We have Vincent Price, a true master at his craft.If anyone out there doesn't think they know who Price is, you do. Throw on the Thriller track or watch Alice Cooper: The Nightmare. Price has a mass of horror movies behind him such as The Raven, Tales of Terror, The Fly. It's an endless list. For a younger generation he is the creator of Edward, not the Twinkle-Bitch from Twilight, the masterful Edward Scissorhands.Synonymous with Sherlock Holmes, Peter Cushing is a man who has a filmography that is for everyone. Flicks like The Satanic Rites of Dracula and The Creeping Flesh put this actor into the horror movie spotlight. Cushing can be one scary Mother F'er when he wants to be.Christopher Lee's work spans decades and he is still receiving excellent rolls and has a great continuing career. Best known for playing Dracula, in the Hammer classics, Lee has starred in The Face of Fu Manchu, Curse of The Crimson Altar and Dracula a.d. 1972 a true renaissance man. Honorable mention to the trilogy LOTR. This guy has eyes that can freeze the warmest of hearts! John Corradine did the voice for the Great Owl in the epic Secret of Nihm. He carried his roles like a pro, Corradine was someone often over looked, yet made a statement with his work. Any guy who worked on the project Vampire Hookers is good in my books.John Corradine did the voice for the Great Owl in the epic Secret of Nihm. He carried his roles like a pro, Corradine was someone often over looked, yet made a statement with his work. Any guy who worked on the project Vampire Hookers is good in my books.Then we come to Dezi Arnas Jr. What can I say? He was on The Lucy Show and Matlock. He is not well known in the horror genre, but does have his place in the entertainment industry. Still, kind of scary. No? House of Long Shadows begins with Dezi's character Kenneth Magee making a bet with a friend for a mass amount of money, $20 000 to write a masterpiece of a novel within 24 hours. Kenneth sets off to a Welsh manor to write.Upon his arrival Kenneth learns that the Manson is not empty but a strange and eerie family reunion is to take place.As more of the Grisbane Family arrive, their skeletons bust out of the closet. We learn of Roderick, a brother to the family who's been locked up for forty years because of his gruesome acts as a child. Kenneth tries to write his novel but is distracted by a fellow American sent to deter him from finishing his task.This movie has everything that newer releases are lacking. Don't doubt that it's because of the amazing cast. House of Long Shadows has, but the Directing by Peter Walker (Die Screaming, Marianne & Schizo) really pulled things off. The feeling was dark and gritty, the use of the long narrow hallways and portraits on the walls were great backdrop.The special effects, awesome. There is a death scene in it that is so well done and still gives me chills thinking about it. That said, there wasn't a need for over kill on the gore because of the strong storyline and freakishly excellent acting.This movie has a dollop of Scream 3, a dash of April Fool's Day and finally topped off with the atmosphere of the old Hammer films as the cherry. House Of Long Shadows is an homage to the actors and what they, as a whole, stand for in the horror genre.Geeker.http://iamgeeker.wordpress.com/

An 'old dark house'-style horror/thriller, House Of The Long Shadows takes place in a seemingly deserted Welsh manor where American novelist Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnaz Jr.) attempts to write a Gothic novel in just twenty four hours after making a bet with his publisher Sam (Richard Todd). Shortly after settling in, a series of strange visitors arrive at the house to disturb his work...Many Pete Walker fans seem to consider this, his final film, to be a something of a disappointment, one that sees the director toning down his usual level of gruesome violence and wanton sleaze whilst failing to capitalize on the combined talent of four of the horror genre's greatest actors: Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and John Carradine.I may be a little biased (this was one of the first horrors that I ever saw at the cinema) but I think the film deserves a bit more respect: the basic plot might be well-worn—yet another retelling of The Seven Keys of Baldpate—but it is a lot of fun, with Walker achieving a suitably creepy ambiance, some effective scares and one or two delightfully grisly moments. And as far as the old-timers' performances are concerned, they are perfectly nuanced for such a tongue-in-cheek chiller, with Cushing in particular being vewy funny!I can even easily forgive the film's more preposterous moments, since most of them occur as part of Midnight Mansion, the Gothic novel hurriedly penned by novelist Magee over the course of the night. If I had to write an entire book in such a short space of time it would probably stretch plausibility a bit as well.