Your probable score
?
![The Fall of the House of Usher](https://www.criticker.com/img/films/posters/80/The-Fall-of-the-House-1960.webp?1723731575)
The Fall of the House of Usher
1960
Drama, Horror
1h 19m
After a long journey, Philip arrives at the Usher mansion seeking his loved one, Madeline. Upon arriving, however, he discovers that Madeline and her brother Roderick Usher have been afflicted with a mysterious malady: Roderick's senses have become painfully acute, while Madeline has become catatonic... (imdb)
Directed by:
Roger CormanThe Fall of the House of Usher
1960
Drama, Horror
1h 19m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 51.57% from 435 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(439)
Compact view
Compact view
Show
Sort
Rated 05 Nov 2010
64
60th
This film has some historical importance. Its modest success started Roger Corman on a classic cycle of Edgar Allen Poe adaptations starring Vincent Price. This one, only the first, isnt half bad, but its not nearly as good as Masque of the Red Death or The Pit and the Pendulum. Still, its highly recommended for Price fans, or lovers of old horror movies. Not a lot of violence, but plenty of mood and suggestion. Vincent Price is effectively creepy.
Rated 05 Nov 2010
Rated 16 Apr 2009
75
54th
Floyd Crosby's lush color cinematography and Daniel Haller's set designs lend this well-dressed low-budget Corman/Poe collaboration (the first of many) a classy, Hammer-like look.
Rated 16 Apr 2009
Rated 21 Sep 2009
75
50th
Not a lot happens during the first half of the movie, and the plot unfolds at a very slow and deliberate pace. Yet the sets and the atmosphere are great, and Vincent Price puts on such a good performance that you can forgive some of the pacing issues.
Rated 21 Sep 2009
Rated 20 Jan 2010
75
75th
Great atmosphere and beautiful set design - I wouldn't mind owning one of those whacked out paintings myself. The story is unusual and interesting and really brought to life by Price's performance as the deranged Roderick Usher. There are certainly worse ways to spend 80 minutes of your life.
Rated 20 Jan 2010
Rated 21 Oct 2023
64
34th
Mostly the ornery Vincent Price show, but it does capture a decadent/decrepit atmosphere at a creeping pace. The evil paintings are a hoot, I like how old horror tends to imply that psychopathy correlates to portrait commissioning.
Rated 21 Oct 2023
Rated 31 Oct 2021
73
33rd
Tough to grade this since not even Richard Matheson can keep this slim tale from dragging in parts. Still, I've read this was Corman's 1st attempt at going bigger w/ budget & aspiration - & it shows. As a period piece he surely had to spend more than he was used to, so he smartly found 1 old house & keeps the action there. There's basically only 3 characters too & they're all played by solid performers. The music score is well above average, but it needs to be to cover for the lack of story.
Rated 31 Oct 2021
Rated 07 Oct 2013
81
64th
Price is always fun and the atmosphere is legitimately creepy.
Rated 07 Oct 2013
Rated 05 Oct 2020
70
43rd
Some very lush production design, that seems to be clearly influenced by Hammer film (tho Corman says he never saw a Hammer film before this). While Price is good in all these Corman Poe-adaptations, this is one of his best. He's very convincing in playing the thin line between pitiful madman and scheming lunatic.
Rated 05 Oct 2020
Rated 01 Nov 2020
62
38th
Vincent Price is good and this does have some spookiness to it.
Rated 01 Nov 2020
Rated 02 Nov 2020
63
28th
It's decent fare, never hits any heights that I thought it might after first 10 minutes. Think more could have been made out of the great creepy set and to bring the house more into the story as a character. The story is quite threadbare, yet the film keeps you engaged in it.
Rated 02 Nov 2020
Rated 25 Oct 2015
86
66th
Roger Corman, one of the kings of the B-movie, hits it big with this adaptation of one of Poe's most famous stories. The gothic scenery looks like something out of a Hammer film, though particularly more claustrophobic and secretive. Vincent Price steals the show playing a man with heightened senses and who, along with his sister, is doomed to an early death. Price speaks with a quiet coldness that is utterly chilling. The finale is tense and riveting. It's a must see for fans of creepy chillers
Rated 25 Oct 2015
Rated 21 Oct 2022
66
32nd
Well, visiting your girlfriend couldn't possibly go more wrong..
Rated 21 Oct 2022
Rated 29 Jan 2010
74
24th
Some points for atmosphere, but it never really comes alive.
Rated 29 Jan 2010
Rated 17 Feb 2009
67
48th
Middle of the road as far as Corman/Poe/Price flicks go.
Rated 17 Feb 2009
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
45th
Surprisingly well paced considering it's four people in a house talking most of the time. A lot of the finer points seem to be glossed over and I can't decide if that's truly Matheson's doing or Corman's. Still I think it's something even Poe would enjoy. The finale is truly unnerving and some of Price's most understated work.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 08 Aug 2023
60
35th
I've been enjoying the "Poe Cycle" films. Similar to the others, this one does a lot with its impressive sets and Vincent Price (as a soft-speaking fop here). The main problem is that the short story isn't quite enough for an eighty-minute movie so at times the pace seems glacially slow. Creepy without being horrifying. I'm also glad the painter of those surreal pictures was credited!
Rated 08 Aug 2023
Rated 09 Jan 2023
50
5th
Vincent Price is delightful to watch but Mark Damon's performance in the back half is laugh out loud bad
Rated 09 Jan 2023
Rated 10 Aug 2024
40
19th
Awesome gothic scenography can't make up for how dumb, ridiculous and annoying this film is (and Vincent Price as usual succeeds in ruining everything he stars in).
Rated 10 Aug 2024
Rated 13 Oct 2022
60
35th
Pompous is the word that I'd use to describe this movie. There's just not quite enough of a story to justify the length of this movie and what I mostly got out of it was the setting itself, because I do have a great love for a good old-fashioned haunted house. The thrills are scarce and I feel like it works better as a short story for certain, and would need more meat to its bones to really grab you in the film format.
Rated 13 Oct 2022
Rated 15 Sep 2023
75
57th
Corman/Price fun. Price is a delight as always, though the other characters are a lot weaker. The sets and props, etc, are all very well done and make it feel like a bigger budget film than it is. The dream sequence bathed in blues is a special highlight.
Rated 15 Sep 2023
Rated 14 Feb 2024
10
0th
i think they liked succession but srsly?
Rated 14 Feb 2024
Rated 13 Nov 2020
70
55th
70.1.
Rated 13 Nov 2020
Rated 18 Apr 2020
79
74th
One of the best Poe adaptations out there. I'm a sucker for this whole gothic thing when it's done right. Beautifully staged
Rated 18 Apr 2020
Rated 17 Mar 2016
70
58th
I enjoyed this, the first of Corman's dalliances with the work of Poe. A bizarrely blond Vincent Price is again worth the entrance fee alone, with a suitably subdued but very effective performance that places the three other (decent) actors in the background. It's quite a tight film, in terms of length and content, and it feels like some detail has been skipped over. That said, it is creepy and unsettling enough. It looks good as well. A competent and likeable entry in the canon.
Rated 17 Mar 2016
Rated 22 Dec 2015
100
0th
"Just because Corman is incapable, which he is, of making a Bergman film, it's unfortunate that that didn't happen."
http://illusionpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/12/episode-84-edgar-allan-poe-adaptations.html
Rated 22 Dec 2015
Rated 26 Feb 2015
62
58th
Wooden and stylish.
Rated 26 Feb 2015
Rated 26 Nov 2014
6
43rd
Classic, atmospheric Gothic horror with all the expected (predictable?) elements.
Rated 26 Nov 2014
Rated 31 Jul 2014
61
39th
So dusty, there should be a "no asthmatics allowed" warning on the TV guide.
Rated 31 Jul 2014
Rated 22 Nov 2011
65
39th
Hammer always does a pretty good job with the source material, and this is no exception. Vincent Price is especially great, and the movie sports some really haunting imagery in the later parts.
Rated 22 Nov 2011
Rated 08 Dec 2009
43
12th
Decrepit horror tale.
Rated 08 Dec 2009
Cast & Info
Directed by:
Roger CormanCollections
Loading ...
Similar Titles
Loading ...
Statistics
Loading ...
Trailer
Loading ...
PSI
?