House of Horrors (1946) – Reviews

During the 1940s Universal Pictures decided to launch a new series of low-budget films featuring actor Rondo Hatton as “The Creeper” and the best of those films would be House of Horrors. Produced by Ben Pivar and directed by Jean Yarbrough, this film starred the original “Monster Without Make-up” as The Creeper!

Set in the dark and mysterious atmosphere of 1940s New York City, House of Horrors follows the story of a struggling sculptor named Marcel De Lange (Martin Kosleck) who after losing a rich patron due to an unscrupulous art critic named F. Holmes Harmon (Alan Napier), a man who holds significant influence over the city’s art scene and delights in spewing his cruel vitriol in print. This is the last straw poor Marcel who decides to end his life by jumping into the East River, but in a weird twist of fate, his suicide is interrupted by the discovery of a nearly drowned disfigured man. This individual turns out to be the notorious serial killer known as The Creeper (Rondo Hatton) but instead of informing the police, he decides to not only make him the subject of his next work of art but to also use him to murder those critics who have ridiculed him.

“I am the world’s first fully functioning homicidal artist.”

Also on the art scene is Joan Medford (Virginia Grey), an art critic herself but one who actually likes Marcel, unfortunately not as much as she likes hunky commercial artist Steven Morrow (Robert Lowery) who becomes suspect number one when Harmon is found murdered and their well documented public altercation at an uptown art gallery is brought to the attention of the police. What follows is pretty much your standard police procedural, with Homicide Lieutenant Larry Brooks (Bill Goodwin) popping in to interrogate our protagonists in-between murders and a few back-breaking killings by The Creeper, with the movie eventually concluding in a final confrontation between our oblivious heroine, the lunatic artist and his murdering associate.

“You can’t kill me, I have a contract for three more pictures.”

Stray Observations:

• Despite being called House of Horrors this movie takes place within a series of New York City apartments and flats, not a house to be seen. Clearly, the studio was trying to lump this entry in with such films as House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula.
• Artists turning into crazed murderers is a bit of a reoccurring theme in horror films, back in 1933 we had wax museum sculptor Lionel Atwill murdering models for his work in The Mystery of the Wax Museum.
• The deputy coroner has the magical ability to determine if a spine has been snapped just by looking at the victim while they’re still laying where he fell.
• Rondo Hatton’s The Creeper would inspire a famous villain in the original run of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! In the episode “Jeepers, it’s the Creeper.”
• Alan Napier would later earn greater fame playing Alfred in the Adam West Batman series, where he would encounter even more bizarre-looking villains.

“Holy homicide, Batman!”

Rondo Hatton’s portrayal of The Creeper is without a doubt the best part of this movie, Hatton’s physical appearance, which was caused by a rare medical condition known as acromegaly, lends an unsettling authenticity to his characters and this adds to the terror he creates. His imposing presence and the subtleties of his performance make him a somewhat sympathetic villain – that is when he’s not murdering women for screaming at the mere sight of him – and this he makes a rather unique in the annals of Universal Horror. Along with the murderous Creeper we aslo have Martin Kosleck delivering a solid performance as a bitter and insane artist, adding another touch of villainy to this narrative. As much as The Creeper is a murdering monster it’s the unsettling creepiness of Marcel that unnerved me, at least more than the lumbering serial killer who is basically a tool of destruction and only gets agency of his own when Marcel finally gets his karmic comeuppance.

Who knew having a serial killer for a roommate could end badly?

While House of Horrors is considered primarily a horror film it also explores deeper themes such as beauty, acceptance and the lengths one may go to achieve recognition in the art world. To quote Jack Nicholson “I make art until someone dies.” The film does a decent job delving into the psychological motivations of its characters, showcasing the dark consequences of society’s rejection and the potential darkness that lies within every individual. Despite it being considered one of the Universal Horror Movies this entry is clearly more a crime drama than it is a horror picture and Rondo Hatton’s Creeper could easily be compared to the brute Moose Malloy from the Chandler classic Farewell, My Lovely. It also has a very Film Noire look to it that was expertly created by cinematographer Maury Gertsman and along with Hatton’s performance is one the best parts of this film.

“Which one of you guys is Dashiell Hammett?”

In conclusion, House of Horrors is a compelling and atmospheric horror film that may not be as well remembered as other Universal films, but with its excellent performances, haunting visuals and thought-provoking themes, it remains a notable entry in the genre. Fans of classic horror movies will appreciate its chilling atmosphere and the appearance of the unforgettable Rondo Hatton is an added bonus. If you enjoy suspenseful tales that explore the darker side of humanity, one that also has a dash of Film Noire, then this film is definitely worth tracking down.