FlashCallahan An American writer goes to a remote Welsh manor on a $20,000 bet... to write the all American classic novel in twenty-four hours. Upon his arrival, the writer discovers that the manor, thought empty, actually has several, rather odd inhabitants, who make guest appearances throughout the film, and by George, don't they look familiar?.....Good old Cannon pictures, this is their attempt at making a Hammer Horror film, and they even have the cream of the crop popping up every now and again for a 'reunion' of sorts.If you view the film as if it's a comedy, there is much fun to be had.From every seasoned actor making a wonderfully impacting entrance (all that's missing is some scary incidental music when they introduce themselves), to Peter Cushings wonderful Jonathan Ross type speech impediment.The main story is very Woman In Black-esque, and the makers could have gone either way with this. If they decided to just have the writer on his own, with just the the spirits of the house, it could have been a bonafide spine tingler.But it plays more like an episode of Noels House Party. Every fifteen minutes after the second act, someone polls up, explains why they are there, slightly vex the writer and gradually reveal why they happened to turn up on this particular night.But the final act goes for broke and really shakes things up. If you were really listening to the smug American and the pompous Brit proposition each other, you can see the outcome coming a mile off, but the final third is just so much fun, you can forgive the ridiculous plot holes.It's great to see these four acclaimed horror icons in the same film, and there is a wonderful element of camp about the whole proceedings, but straight horror enthusiasts may not take kindly to the film making light of these legendary actors.Would make a very interesting triple bill with April Fool's Day, and The Game..

GusF The 24th and final film starring both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, the two of them team up with two other Old Masters of Horror, Vincent Price and John Carradine, for this hugely enjoyable black comedy. Considering that the film was made by Cannon Films, a studio not remembered for the quality of its output, my hopes were not particularly high, to be perfectly honest. However, this is a very clever film which nicely parodies the Gothic horror subgenre while also paying tribute to it. It has some extremely frightening visuals and a great atmosphere. I can't imagine that the film was very expensive, considering that it shot almost entirely on location, but the direction is great and it looks suitably murky. This is already my favourite of the horror comedy films that I have seen.The four main stars all give great performance but the lion's share of the best lines go to Vincent Price, who does not turn up until 38 minutes into the film in spite of being first billed. My favourite line is certainly "Don't interrupt me when I'm soliloquising." Must find a way to find that into a conversation! Price was not known for underplaying his roles but this is the most subtle performance that I've seen from him except for Matthew Hopkins in "Witchfinder General". Sheila Keith is great as the sinister Victoria Grisbane, being every bit the match of her better known co-stars. She was a last minute replacement for the very ill Elsa Lanchester, another horror legend best known for her role in "Bride of Frankenstein" in which Carradine also appeared.Desi Arnaz, Jr. is surprisingly good as the de facto leading man Kenneth Magee, a young, cynical novelist who makes a bet that he can write a novel along the lines of "Wuthering Heights" in 24 hours, but the aforementioned actors are the real stars of the film in spite of their smaller screen time. Magee is a slightly bland character but this works as a nice contrast to the eccentricities of the Grisbanes and the insane situation. However, Julie Peasgood is a very weak leading lady as Mary Barton. She becomes more tolerable as the film progresses but she is still outacted by everyone else in the film, including Arnaz. Louise English, who appears in the smaller role of Diana Caulder, would have been a better choice. The film also has a great extended cameo from the underrated Richard Todd and a briefer one from Norman Rossington.The film features the familiar but, for my money, always fun plot of a relative being locked up for years and then running amok. Given the affectionate parody nature of the film, I'm guessing that it was not a coincidence that much the same storyline was previously used in "The Oblong Box" (starring Lee and Price) and "The Ghoul" (starring Cushing). However, it is pulled off with great flair and a playful style. There are a few twists towards the end of the film and, while I did see two of them coming, they are again executed very well. The third one was particularly clever and I could not help but grin from ear to ear.

lindee This film to me was like a tribute to Hammer,it's a pity you can't get hold of it on DVD if you get a chance to watch it and,if you were a Hammer horror fan enjoy,cause I believe if Boris Carlos was still alive when this film was made he would have appeared in it too. When Desi Anaz,decided,to up sticks and go to this house to get some inspiration for writing,his novel he thought it would be a relaxing vacation,I won't spoil the film too much but there is a great twist at the end,which make you feel like applauding the actors who were in the 60's and 70's king of horror. So if one of the film networks ever show it try not to miss it.

gavin6942 An author named Kenneth McGee (Desi Arnaz, Jr.) whose career is on the decline wagers his publisher $20,000 that he can write a novel comparable to "Wuthering Heights" in 24 hours. To do so, he is holed up at a manor in Wales.Can you beat this cast? Vincent Price as Lionel Grisbane, John Carradine as Lord Grisbane, Peter Cushing as Sebastian Rand and Christopher Lee as Corrigan. This is the final film in which both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing appear.The lead actor, Desi Arnaz, is pretty awful. He delivers lines that seem like they should be humorous with a straight face, which makes no sense -- is this humor delivered poorly, or serious lines botched before they even reach the man's tongue? I am not sure which, but he talks in such a tone and pace that I cannot believe any real person would talk in such a way.The copy I watched was of a very poor quality, or at best of "modest" quality. It was full screen, seems to be a VHS transfer, and had Swedish subtitles ingrained into it. That is not how I prefer to enjoy a film.The story is bizarre and sloppy, in some ways reminiscent of William Castle's "Old Dark House". Only not as entertaining. Mike Mayo says it is a variation of the Edgar Wallace story, the "tightest" of those he knows of. I find nothing tight about this film, and am unclear how much is Edgar Wallace and how much is writer Michael Armstrong. Armstrong freely admits to adapting the tale from the novel "Seven Keys to Baldpate" by Earl Derr Biggers and the dramatization by George M. Cohan.This all comes from director Pete Walker, whomever that is. This was his final film. The gore only comes in during the final twenty minutes, and it is not much. Would I recommend this movie? Maybe if it was cleaned up, just to see the cast. The film itself is nothing special.