The Old Dark House

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The Old Dark House

Released Oct 20, 1932

1h 11m

Horror

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Driving through a brutal thunderstorm in Wales, three travelers take refuge in an eerie house owned by the Femm family. Reluctantly admitted by Horace Femm (Ernest Thesiger), the three sit down to a strange dinner. Horace is neurotic; mute butler Morgan (Boris Karloff) is an alcoholic; and Horace's sister, Rebecca (Eva Moore), raves about chastity. When the storm brings in an industrialist and chorus girl Gladys DuCane Perkins (Lilian Bond), Morgan's lust and Rebecca's ire are ignited.

Critics Consensus

A deft blend of well-chosen ingredients, The Old Dark House is a delightfully scary horror comedy that benefits from James Whale's suspenseful direction.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Spanking digital restoration of James Whale's funniest, most subversive horror film.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 27, 2018

Full Review

David Jenkins

Little White Lies

A chilling romp - expertly orchestrated scares with a humorous camp undertow.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 27, 2018

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

It is performed with tremendous gusto and theatrical dash.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 27, 2018

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

James Whale’s wry send-up of the popular horror plays of the time actually has moments that put today’s so-called horror films to shame.

Rated: A

Nov 23, 2022

Full Review

Nadine Smith

them.

The Old Dark House is much more explicit than horror films in the years to follow, dripping with provocations and innuendos, with a daring sensibility befitting a director whose own personal life flew in the face of convention.

Oct 26, 2022

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Whale combines marvelous stylistic flourishes and witty drawing room dialogue with campy indulgence, creating a film both macabre and sardonic.

Oct 30, 2021

Full Review

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Jess

Excellent film! Spooky old house on a dark and stormy night, filled with an assortment of colorful and creepy characters. Perfect blend of genuine chills and dashes of humor.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/23

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Steve D

Rocky Horror has sucked away it's effectiveness.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

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nick s

Not sure why the reviews are so gushing for this movie. It was neither horror nor comedy. And the slipshod writing felt like it was made up on set. Cinematography and some of the acting were the only highlights. Oh, and the risque 30s outfits.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/02/24

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g j

A very promising and engaging first act abruptly peters out into tedium. Its well acted and well shot, but pretty dull.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

Full Review

S R

Unusual and bizarre, but ultimately harmless. Fun cast and interesting. Saw on tubi.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

Spooky Season is upon us again, rather than starting out this year with a movie I was already familiar with, I thought I'd take the plunge with something completely unknown to me. Having deeply enjoyed James Whale's Univeral Monster movies, I knew I had to give another of his films a go this year and finally settled on The Old Dark House. Dripping with atmosphere and hilariously grim, Whale manages to parody the conventions of the haunted house horror genre as he creates them, in many ways managing to craft a film that puts many modern horror films to shame. Packed to the brim with thrills, chills and gallows humour, The Old Dark House combines Whale's marvellous stylistic flourishes and outstanding direction with witty drawing-room dialogue and campy theatrical indulgence.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/01/23

Full Review

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James Whale

Director

Boris Karloff

Morgan

Melvyn Douglas

Penderel

Charles Laughton

Sir William Porterhouse

Gloria Stuart

Margaret Waverton

Lilian Bond

Gladys

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The Old Dark House: Re-Release Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Driving through a brutal thunderstorm in Wales, three travelers take refuge in an eerie house owned by the Femm family. Reluctantly admitted by Horace Femm (Ernest Thesiger), the three sit down to a strange dinner. Horace is neurotic; mute butler Morgan (Boris Karloff) is an alcoholic; and Horace's sister, Rebecca (Eva Moore), raves about chastity. When the storm brings in an industrialist and chorus girl Gladys DuCane Perkins (Lilian Bond), Morgan's lust and Rebecca's ire are ignited.

Director: James Whale
Producer: Carl Laemmle Jr.
Screenwriter: Benn W. Levy
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 1932, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 2017
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2017
Runtime: 1h 11m

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