ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

ChampDavSlim The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Bumpy Chip It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Leofwine_draca You might be forgiven for thinking this is another Corman/Poe film, but the funny thing is that it's not. The film is instead based on a story by the master of weird monsters, H. P. Lovecraft, called THE CASE OF CHARLES DEXTER WARD. The film is a cracking one too, if you've seen any of the other Poe films that Corman churned out then you'll know what to expect. Ruined and crumbling mansions, cobwebs and spiders, fog-enshrouded graveyards and characters who are unable to tear themselves away from the past, and so remain trapped there forever.Vincent Price stars, as per usual, and gets to grips with not just one personality but two in this film. Yep, there's one body and two personalities struggling to gain dominance over the other. This leads to plenty of mental battles for supremacy between the two, giving Price ample opportunity to be pleasant and friendly and sinister and evil too. It's a great role and Price gives it his best, although he is more subdued here than in his other films, more the victim than the perpetrator. Debra Paget appears in her last film before retirement and is a good damsel in distress. And lo and behold, lurking around in the shadows is none other than Lon Chaney Jr. playing the loyal manservant. Chaney has only a small role with little dialogue but his presence is felt in the nostalgic horror fan's heart.I'm probably biased in liking this film, because I love Lovecraft's stories. Although the film is only loosely based on its sources there are still things cropping up familiar to Lovecraft fans, such as the Necronomicon and also a slimy monster living in a pit. When this monster appears at the end of the film the camera is distorted so that we don't see it clearly, this was probably to hide the budget but it just makes things eerier. The mutants too are scarily effective, especially when they appear out of the mist like ghosts to encircle our heroes. Corman relishes the opportunity to burn down his setting once again, and also includes a twist ending which suggests that the survivors might not live happily ever after. And it's been a while since I've seen any torch-wielding villagers running about and burning things down. On top of all this, there are also a few references to other films like THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY and CITY OF THE DEAD. THE HAUNTED PALACE is an enjoyable and brooding horror with the cast and director on top form, and so makes for rewarding viewing.

mark.waltz Mixing the themes of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, American International's horror unit added one of their better thrillers to their repertoire. Vincent Price is back yet again, delivering yet another melodramatic performance in a dual role as an evil warlock burnt at the stake, leaving a curse that is to be fulfilled more than a century later when his seemingly decent descendant shows up to claim his property. This delights fellow Warrick alone Chaney Jr. who has been taking care of the titled palace all that time in preparation for this day. Price's descendant takes on evil intentions as the evil spirit of his ancestor seeks control in seeking revenge against the families of those who killed him. Debra Paget and Frank Maxwell co-star in this gripping thriller where the upset townspeople rise up against the obvious curse, poised to come through thanks to the return of the stock's kinsman. Paget is Price's wife, desperate to get away from the rising evil, while Maxwell takes the role of the town doctor who is the only one to believe in Price's innocence, much to his regret.Colorfully filmed and hauntingly scored, thus is mesmerizing and totally fascinating. It also has an extremely surprising ending, a far cry from the others from this series. With a fascinating torture chamber set, this shows the evil that men do in not so subtle visuals that may chill you to the bone.

Hitchcoc Once again the wolfy, long-faced Mr. Price is married to a beautiful young woman, Debra Paget. He has returned to Arkham and although "The Haunted Palace" is a poem by Edgar Allen Poe, this is really based on "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" by H. P. Lovecraft. It has referenced to Yog Sothoth and Cthulhu and, of course, that old best seller, the Necronomicon. One hundred ten years earlier than his arrival, Price's ancestor had been burned at the stake for practicing black arts (necromancy) and put a curse on the town and the people responsible for his death. When the new Price arrives at Arkham, the natives tell him to get lost, but he has inherited the palace and feels he at least ought to go there. Once there, however, he sees a painting that is the spit and image of him and the image seems to connect with him, entering his body and becoming the original Price. Soon he is back doing his thing, burning people to a crisp (as he was) and terrorizing the rest of the populace. Poor Paget tries to stand by her man, but since he is Satanic, it's hard to feel romantic. Anyway, eventually the torches and pitchforks come out and the ending is a lot of fun.

wes-connors In the year 1765, men from a small New England town go to the castle of perceived evil warlock Vincent Price (as Joseph Curwen), who has allegedly been abducting their beautiful young women. Later, we learn Mr. Price may be plotting to mate them with otherworldly creatures, in an effort to create a nefarious new race. The villagers burn Mr. Price as he curses them – and their descendants… One hundred and ten years later, the castle's new owner arrives to inspect his inherited estate. He is kinder, gentler Vincent Price (as Charles Dexter Ward), loving husband of very pretty Debra Paget (as Ann). The couple hopes to inspect the premises and put it on the market. It turns out Price is a dead ringer for his wicked great-great grandfather – and the latter's spirit wants to return..."The Haunted Palace" is Corman doing H.P. Lovecraft material with some of the style given his Edgar Allan Poe-inspired movies. Possibly due to exemplary art/set direction, by Daniel Haller and Harry Reif, we linger too long for some shots, but it's worth the wandering camera. Photography by Floyd Crosby (David's father) is colorful and stylish. Corman presents Lon Chaney Jr. (as Simon Orne) well, considering the man was seldom in shape to be working in later years. The camera swerve to introduce Mr. Chaney is a highlight. Price is always fun to watch, and he raises his eyebrows to good effect. TV character actor Frank Maxwell, who ended up in a sweet older romance role on the serial "General Hospital" in the 1980s, gets one of his best parts, as helpful doctor Willet.****** The Haunted Palace (8/28/63) Roger Corman ~ Vincent Price, Debra Paget, Lon Chaney Jr., Frank Maxwell