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The Uninvited

Play trailer Poster for The Uninvited Released Feb 10, 1944 1h 38m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
While vacationing on the English coast, composer Rick Fitzgerald (Ray Milland) and his sister Pamela (Ruth Hussey) find an an abandoned 18th-century house and decide to buy it. The owner, Commander Beech (Donald Crisp), associates it with the tragic death of his daughter and is willing to part with it despite his granddaughter Stella's (Gail Russell) objection. The Fitzgeralds move in and soon find themselves, with the help of Stella, battling it out with two very prickly ghosts.

Critics Reviews

View All (21) Critics Reviews
Keith Phipps The Dissolve The Uninvited was...one of the first films to treat the supernatural seriously, and to play ghosts and hauntings as something other than fodder for comedy. Rated: 4/5 Oct 28, 2013 Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times The one thing -- and the only thing -- about this film is that it sets out to give you the shivers -- and will do so, if you're readily disposed. Mar 25, 2006 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out The real strength of the film, though, is its atypical stance part way between psychology and the supernatural, achieving a disturbingly serious effect. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Nadine Smith them. The subtext is louder than ghosts banging at the door, and what’s really haunting Pamela is the truth of an identity she’s too terrified to accept... Oct 26, 2022 Full Review Lindsey Romain Nerdist It's not just the story that makes The Uninvited so memorable. It's the look and feel, the perfect way it captures encroaching dread, and the ghostly apparitions that take the film to the next level. Oct 29, 2020 Full Review Elena de la Torre Cine-Mundial Brought to the screen with mastery... by its director who knows to keep the viewer restless and anxious. [Full review in Spanish] Sep 13, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (210) audience reviews
B. W Simply the best ghost movie ever made. Lots of atmosphere and mystery here. Outstanding cinematography and a creative storyline as well. And the classic tune "Stella By Starlight." Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/17/25 Full Review Brad S. R One of the best haunted house movies and first-rate horror for its era. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/04/25 Full Review g j Gruellingly boring... this was like watching paint dry. Reasonably well shot and acted though, with a few decent set-pieces. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/01/25 Full Review Blu B A Horror Classic. One of the earliest examples of the haunted house/supernatural horror during a time when monster horror was all the rage. It's really well done all around. When it wants to be spooky it really suceeds with great use of simple but excellent special effects, shadows, and atmosphere. Ray Milland does a great job of being the anchor or reason throughout all this as well. The house is a really memorable location as well. The problems this has are all minor. First off the goofy light hearted comedic breaks this has in between kind of feel a bit out of place but add a degree of charm also. Same can be said for the music also when it is upbeat out of nowhere. Second this is more of a Hitchcock style mystery than a Horror movie half the time it feels like. which isn't a bad thing. It just boils down to I wish it was a bit more consistent with it's tone. Something that the likes of The Haunting (1963) & The Innocents (1961) would master a few decades later. Anyone who is a fan of horror, supernatural thrillers, the direcor or any actors in this should check this out. It's really good overall. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Melissa L It wasn't bad, but I expected more from a film that was rated so highly. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/13/24 Full Review Bill B Quaint. More atmospheric than creepy with Milland offering a light-hearted touch. Early Gail Russell entry and she is delightful here. Sad when realizing her fate. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Uninvited

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Cast & Crew

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Lewis Allen

Director

Ray Milland

Roderick Fitzgerald

Ruth Hussey

Pamela Fitzgerald

Gail Russell

Stella Meredith

Donald Crisp

Commander Beech

Cornelia Otis Skinner

Miss Holloway

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The Uninvited

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Movie Info

Synopsis While vacationing on the English coast, composer Rick Fitzgerald (Ray Milland) and his sister Pamela (Ruth Hussey) find an an abandoned 18th-century house and decide to buy it. The owner, Commander Beech (Donald Crisp), associates it with the tragic death of his daughter and is willing to part with it despite his granddaughter Stella's (Gail Russell) objection. The Fitzgeralds move in and soon find themselves, with the help of Stella, battling it out with two very prickly ghosts.
Director
Lewis Allen
Producer
Charles Brackett
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 10, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 10, 2017
Runtime
1h 38m