Watch The Haunted Palace

The Haunted Palace is a 1963 horror movie directed by Roger Corman, and stars the iconic horror actor, Vincent Price. The movie is based on the poem "The Haunted Palace" by Edgar Allan Poe and the novella The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft. The film's title has no connection to the poem and instead takes its title from the collection of Lovecraft stories, The Haunter of the Dark and Other Tales. The movie takes place in the small New England village of Arkham in the year 1765.

The movie begins with Charles Dexter Ward (Vincent Price) inheriting a mansion in Arkham. He travels with his wife Anne (Debra Paget) to the town to investigate his family lineage, only to find that his ancestors were accused of practicing witchcraft and were burned at the stake. While staying in the mansion, Charles uncovers that his great-grandfather, Joseph Curwen (also portrayed by Vincent Price), was a warlock who made a deal with the devil to gain power and wealth. Curwen had created human-like creatures with the help of his assistant Simon Orne (Lon Chaney Jr.), whom he would later use to carry out his evil deeds.

As Charles spends more time in the mansion, strange things start to happen. The villagers become increasingly hostile towards him and strange voices begin to haunt him. Charles starts to suffer from vivid nightmares and has episodes where he speaks in Curwen's voice. Soon, Charles himself becomes possessed by the evil spirit of Curwen, and the town of Arkham is thrown into chaos.

The plot of The Haunted Palace is full of twists and turns, and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The movie uses a gothic style to add suspense and mystery. The eerie atmosphere is heightened by the excellent set design and cinematography. The attention to detail is impressive, and every element of the movie has been carefully crafted to ensure that the audience feels the dread that the characters feel.

Vincent Price delivers a masterful performance as both Charles and Curwen. He provides depth and emotional complexity to his characters, and his dynamic portrayal adds a layer of intrigue to the plot. Debra Paget also delivers a standout performance as Anne, Charles' devoted and loving wife. Her performance provides a sense of grounding and stability to the chaos unfolding around her.

Lon Chaney Jr. plays the role of Simon Orne, Curwen's faithful assistant. Chaney's portrayal of Simon adds a sinister element to the film, and his performance adds to the tense atmosphere that the movie creates. The supporting cast is also impressive, as they all play their respective roles perfectly and add credibility to the overall narrative.

The musical score for The Haunted Palace was composed by Ronald Stein, who is well known for his work on numerous horror movies of the time. Stein's score adds to the gothic ambience of the movie and enhances the viewer's sense of dread.

Overall, The Haunted Palace is a classic horror movie that is a must-see for Vincent Price fans and horror enthusiasts alike. The combination of a strong cast, a gripping plot, and the gothic atmosphere make this movie a standout in the horror genre. The movie stays true to the themes of both Poe and Lovecraft, and provides a chilling experience that will leave the viewer unsettled.

The Haunted Palace is a 1963 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.