This is a film that doesn't just lean into the "ghost" story tropes, but wallows in them, from starting with just a black screen and the now cliché sound FXs of screens, chains, evil laughter to having a vat of acid, skeletons that walk, secret doors, monster arms reaching for damsels in distress, thunder and lightning, high contrast shadowy lighting, severed heads etc, etc. But the best part of this film is Vincent Price, a great character actor who became firmly associated with the horror genre in the latter part of his career thanks to the films of Roger Corman et al. This film is worth seeing because of him.
There is some nifty camera work, following in front of people as they walk down the corridors without any dolly tracks visible, pre-steadycam, which I was surprised to see in a 1959 film.
There is some nifty camera work, following in front of people as they walk down the corridors without any dolly tracks visible, pre-steadycam, which I was surprised to see in a 1959 film.