A less than riveting haunted house tale told at a snail’s pace, this British gothic horror does at least feature Sir Christopher Lee.
When a man inherits a large estate, he learns of a cache of wealth that both he and some conspirators are after; the only problem for them is the house may be haunted. Let’s dig into 1974’s “Dark Places”, directed by Don Sharp!
As I See It
British horror, especially from this time period, is known for slow burns. This one will practically sous vide you into a coma.
It’s an age-old tale of nothing is ever free. Edward inherits a sprawling estate and a healthy amount of wealth. A couple of compatriots of the recently deceased are plotting to remove the hidden cash at any cost. Unfortunately for all, the house comes with some haunting occupants. Edward is mentally tormented by the prior owner’s family whom he had a part in murdering as he was philandering.
This horrific past of homicide is too much for Edward to overcome and this “free house” drives him to murder as well, albeit unintentionally.
Though the film is drab and revoltingly slow, the performances are strong. Joan Collins stands out as the talent she is, and Sir Christopher Lee never drops the ball no matter how campy or daft the script is.
Famous Faces
Joan Collins has a long and prolific career in film and TV, but most recently you might recognize her as the platinum-haired Bubbles McGee in American Horror Story.
If you don’t know who Sir Christopher Lee is, you can GTFO.
Of Gratuitous Nature
The pace of this film is so slow it required no pausing for bathroom breaks.
Heartthrob
Joan Collins, who was in her forties at the point of making this film, looked absolutely gorgeous with her raven-colored bee hive.
Ripe for a Remake
Just your typical haunted house story with your typical setup. There’s nothing groundbreaking or interesting enough to replicate.
Spawns
The 2015 Charlize Theron film with the same title is not connected to this movie.
Where to Watch
Other than the mid-2000s DVD, I haven’t found another way to watch this film unless you resort to YouTube.
Overall Rating (Out of 5 Butterflies): 1.5
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