Watch RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill

RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill is a comedic reinterpretation of the classic 1959 horror film "House on Haunted Hill," featuring the commentary talents of former Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) stars Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson. Rather than a traditional movie, it's an event that took the original film and turned it into a live comedy experience where the trio watch the film alongside the audience, providing a running commentary filled with jokes, satirical observations, and playful banter.

The original "House on Haunted Hill" film, directed by William Castle and starring Vincent Price, is a cult classic that follows the story of an eccentric millionaire, Frederick Loren, who invites a group of strangers to his ominous mansion for a "haunted house" party. He offers each guest ten thousand dollars if they can survive the night in the supposedly haunted mansion. As the night unfolds, guests encounter various spooky occurrences that lead them to wonder if there is a genuine supernatural presence in the house or if it's all part of Loren's elaborate prank.

In RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill, Corbett, Murphy, and Nelson take their seats in front of a live audience and riff on the film as it plays, providing their signature brand of humor and commentary to the proceedings. Their comedic style often involves poking fun at the film's dated special effects, acting choices, and plot inconsistencies, all the while with an affectionate tone towards the source material. The RiffTrax team has a knack for pointing out the absurdities within the dialogue and actions of characters, further enhancing the humor inherent in the horror film genre.

Throughout the event, the RiffTrax crew captivates their audience with a mixture of scripted jokes and off-the-cuff remarks. They blend insight into the era in which the movie was made with modern pop culture references and comedic tangents that relate to the scenes playing out on screen. The live setting also contributes to the event's energy, with audience reactions adding to the ambiance and dynamism of the experience.

Much like their previous work on MST3K, Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson approach the film with a palpable camaraderie and a shared love for riffing, which shines through to the audience. As veterans of the form, they have honed the art of transforming classic and sometimes forgotten films into new works of entertainment, inviting new generations to enjoy these movies in a fresh way.

The formula for RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill capitalizes on the blend of nostalgia and novelty. While the original film carries with it the charms and chills of vintage horror, the RiffTrax adds a layer of modern humor that keeps the audience laughing and engaged. It's an alternate way of movie-watching that repurposes the original content into a platform for social commentary, transforming "House on Haunted Hill" from a straightforward horror movie into a vessel for satire and comedy.

Interactivity is also a feature of this event, where live tweets, shout-outs, and audience participation may play a role, making every showing of the RiffTrax event somewhat unique from the others. This investment in audience engagement sets the RiffTrax experience apart from simply watching the original film at home.

For fans of classic cinema, "House on Haunted Hill" in its original form is a black-and-white testament to the ingenuity and creativity of the genre. With practical effects and suspenseful storytelling, it encapsulates a moment in cinematic history where horror could be both menacing and camp. When laid under the lens of RiffTrax, however, the narrative takes a backseat to the riffers' ability to reinterpret, mock, and celebrate the film in real-time.

A RiffTrax event like House on Haunted Hill, therefore, offers a communal theater-going experience where the joy comes not only from the narrative on screen but from the added layer of commentary and the shared laughs of the audience. It resurrects an older style of movie-making for a contemporary crowd, bridging the gap between the past and present, and between horror and humor.

In essence, RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill is more than just a movie; it's a live theatrical event that repackages a classic film into a comedic romp. It provides the perfect setting for Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson to showcase their signature style of witty critique and to gift audiences with an evening full of laughter, frights, and a fresh appreciation for a genre gem like "House on Haunted Hill." It's a novel reinvention, inviting anyone from die-hard Vincent Price fans to those unfamiliar with the original to experience the fun of horror-comedy through a unique, participatory lens.

RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill is a 2011 comedy with a runtime of 116 hours. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6.