Haunted House Films - Thoughts on The Uninvited (1944)

Original poster for The Uninvited

I've been wanting to see this film for quite some time but I've never come across the DVD, even at specialty shops. It turns out after a bit more research that there is no DVD, at least a legitimate one, in Region 1 (or possibly anywhere). Something to do with it being a Paramount film sold to Universal decades ago. It's really a shame because it means this classic remains unseen or even unknown by a generation of horror fans. Being as it is an appropriate time of year I thought I'd try and visit some classic and contemporary horror films that I've never seen before (there are some, shocking I know!), and The Uninvited was at the top of the list. I did manage to track down a watchable copy (I'm resourceful like that) and put it through its paces last night. If you'd like a synopsis of the film, check IMDB for a ridiculously detailed one (here). I'm just going to share some (mostly) spoiler-free thoughts.

Born in a decade still primarily obsessed with the classic monster film and tales of the occult, Lewis Allen's The Uninvited must have been something of a breath of fresh air for horror fans of the time. From what I understand, The Uninvited (adapted from the novel Uneasy Freehold by Dorothy Macardle) was one of the first Hollywood movies to tackle the haunted house genre with a story featuring actual spirits as opposed to folks in sheets or masks played for comedy or diversion (think all of the baddies on Scooby-Doo). For what can essentially be considered a fledgling effort into the sub-genre, the results are remarkable. Yes, it does suffer from overly... enthusiastic acting from time to time (the character of the sister is the worst offender), and yes, comedic moments and sometimes inappropriate scoring do distract occasionally, but much of that can be attributed to the era, and despite these issues it manages to entertain.

Winward House

In my opinion one of the most, if not the most, important aspects in any haunted house film is the house itself. In the best haunted house films the house becomes a character, not simply providing a space for the action but developing a unique personality of its own or personifying the emotional state of its owner or vistors. The very fact that most of these houses are named and are continually referred to by name suggests this is an important consideration to author, screenwriter and director alike. In The Haunting (1963 original, NOT the 90s remake), Hill House is devious, both playing with and tormenting its vistors while in The Legend of Hell House (1973), the house embodies pure evil, a twisted creation of its equally twisted owner. Windward House from The Uninvited is far less malevolent than either of these, yet it nevertheless takes on human characteristics, a sad and lonely sentinel keeping watch at the edge of the cliffs (an important location for the film's plot). Although much of The Uninvited was shot on a soundstage with either projected or matte backgrounds, the end result is still impressive, creating a spooky and believable atmosphere, creating perhaps one of my favourite set pieces of the entire genre (see below). I may at some point in the future bore you with my thoughts on the importance of spatial geography in relation to the effectiveness of a haunted house story (lucky you), but I'll spare you that for now and simply say that Winward House works.

Before I ramble on too long, I'll quickly say that the supernatural elements work as well. It would seem some of the ghost effects were added at the last minute at the insistance of the producers, who thought the haunting were too subtle. While you might argue that what is left unseen is often more frightening than what is shown (did Ebert say that? Was it someone else?), the effects are used very sparingly, and I'll be damned if they weren't better than so much of what passes for "ghosts" these days. Hollywood, time to look backwards to see what worked rather than forwards to a future rife with awful CGI scares. Equally as important is the sound; the first time I heard the disembodied sobbing I got a little chill up my spine.

So if you can overlook some of the 1940s conventions (quirky dialogue, music, etc.), The Uninvited has a lot to offer fans of the genre. For it's place as forerunner and inspiration to the works that followed (The Haunting, in my opinion, being the best) alone it's a must-watch, but that it's entertaining and atmospheric to boot make it all the more enjoyable and a perfect distraction for a cold and windy October night. Highly recommended (if you can find it, that is).

NOTE: For some excellent screen captures from the film, check out this link to one of my favourite blogs, The Obscure Hollow. The second shot down, the room with the skylights, is what I was referring to above as one of my favourite set pieces from the genre!