I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

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.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The first thing that strikes me about this studio-bound chiller is its cast of (mainly) British actors labouring under soft American accents. Presumably designed for ease of selling to an international market, it nevertheless seems an otherwise unnecessary distraction and slight deviation from the heady atmosphere of this Milton Subotsky-scripted production. Produced by an uncredited Max Rosemberg, this could be seen as a fledgling Amicus project. Amicus were to become rivals to Hammer's horror output over the next decade.Stunning Venetia Stevenson plays Nan Barlow, whose occasionally wooden performance is recompensed by her extraordinary screen presence. Her prolific acting career would be over the following year, and she remains something of a cinematic enigma. Here, she is joined by a scowling Christopher Lee and Valentine Dyall, as well as a formidable Patricia Jessel in the dual role of Elizabeth Selwyn and Mrs. Newless."I warn you, young feller. They don't like strangers in Whitewood."Douglas Gamley and Ken Jones' music score veers from traditional horror accompaniment, which enhances the gloom, and light jazz, which doesn't; it does, however, lend a sense of laconic style to some scenes, especially those featuring Stevenson.The ending is unlikely given the circumstances and I can't imagine that didn't dawn on the players and those behind the scenes. And yet everything is played very seriously and the low budget is used to fine effect, giving everything an ethereal, not-quite-real sense of displacement.

This one has similarities to Psycho as the heroine of the piece is killed about halfway through the film at a remote hotel, but this is a way different film about witches, devil worship, and not trusting Christopher Lee.You see, at the start of the film we get a quick intro of a witch called Elizabeth Selwyn being burned at the stake while her partner in crime Jethro watches. Turns out though she really is a witch and starts laughing! Fast forward to the end of the fifties, and student Nan Barlow is all hooked on the history of witches by her teacher Christopher Lee, who suggests that if she's so interested in witch burnings, she should head for the New England town of whitewood and check out the history there.This she does, much to the protests of her boyfriend and her teacher brother. Heading to Whitewood, she discovers that the place has a really bad fog problem like some late eighties Italian film director has been let loose on the place, the locals are creepy bastards who love staring at her, and the landlady of the local hotel is a dead ringer for Elizabeth Selwyn! Don't worry though, her name is Mrs Newless, although it's not established if her first name is Htebazile.After meeting a grand total of two friendly people in town (the blind priest and his granddaughter), Nan's in serious trouble from devil worshipper and disappears. It's up to her brother and boyfriend to get to the bottom of what's going before someone else is sacrificed for Satan.Very atmospheric, not to mention foggy, with a lot of visual references to fire, great use of shadow with even a noirish quality to it all, Horror Hotel may not be the most eventful film but certainly has a certain vibe to it all. Loads of echoes of this in future films like Messiah Of Evil and The Devil's Rain. Nice to see Christopher Lee being part of a group of bad guys rather than the main bad guy - it also reminded me a bit of Carnival of Souls too

I'm not going to discuss at length this turkey, with incompetent acting and a ridiculous setting in a town covered with fog where visitors come to stay in a hotel for no reason and like to take strolls along weird looking local people. Just wrote this for one of the stupidest scenes I've ever seen: the good guy is firing bullets right at the chest of the approaching Christopher Lee who continues approaching, unfazed, but when the good guy runs out of bullets and throws his gun at him, Mr. Lee ducks! Uf, 10 lines required! Well, good photography by distinguished British cinematographer Desmond Dickinson. For some reason some great cinematographers were working in low budget horror films in the early 60's, for example, Eugene Shufftan in Eyes without a Face.

Watched this chilling classic on Creature Features WNEW TV in New York back in 1970. The scenery, music and lots and lots of fog create an ambiance of this begrimed wood based town of Whitewood, Massachusetts. Walking the streets of this dark venue are the townsfolk basically made up of homely Witches and Warlocks wandering about. You see this town is cursed by Elizabeth Sellwood who was torched by the townspeople for witchcraft some 300 years ago. In return, (just before Lis is a golden brown), tied to the steak surrounded by her peers,as a loud chant of 'Burn the Witch, Burn the Witch' ensues, Elisabeth Sellwood lets a cry of laughter and puts an eternal curse on Whitewood. This story is explained by Modern day College Professor Alan Driscoll played by veteran actor Christopher Lee. Overly attentive student Nan Barlow played by Venitia Stevenson wants to know more about that New England town. Nan wants to do research and get that illusive A on the paper about witches and curses. I feel a road trip coming. Just got to find that Wamport Road to Whitewood and be weary of Hitchhikers named Keane. Upon Nan's arrival she sees the dark misty streets of a discarded town with it's eerie inhabitants but it doesn't phase her at all. Off to the book shop run by normal folk, mortals. Nan is startled by the stark blind old man who answers the door warning her to leave Whitewood. That was the blind Reverend Russell played by elderly Norman Macowan. His niece Pat, (Betta St. John) runs the book shop. Nan and Pat exchange pleasantries among st the grim town's backdrop. Nan asked to borrow a book on the town's history of Witches, Witch craft and the rituals held on Candlemass Eve. Next off to the Inn where a very stark Mrs. Newless (Patricia Jessel) who has the warmth of an iceberg gives her a room complete with trapped door. Our sad figure in all of this is the maid of the inn, Lottie (Ann Beach) who is mute. Lottie tries to warn the naive Nan about the danger that awaits her with warning notes. But a cunning ,watchful Mrs. Newless threatens her repeatedly. What happens to Silent Lottie, Miss Barlow or Pat or anyone who is not a Witch or Warlock in that town? Watch on if you dare? I can only tell you this . Nan misses a birthday party in one of the great editing scenes of all time complete with a Happy Birthday. A note on the background music which at times had a jazzy feel against the gloomy dark exterior but listening to the Warlock/Witch singers gives the atmosphere an unnerving feeling. Great film to watch on Halloween night.