The House That Would Not Die (1970)

This one is worth a watch if you like the 1970s made for TV horror and thriller films. It starts getting pretty good after about 10 to 15 minutes into the film, when the first séance is held.Sara and her Aunt Ruth move into a new home and it's haunted by a girl and her father. But why are their spirits still here on Earth? Why haven't they moved on? What do they want? -- The film has your basic haunting questions that makes for a decent TV movie.If you are into ghost and haunting films then you might like "The House That Would Not Die". It's got a pretty good cast and story.7/10

Perhaps the titular house does not want to die, but sadly the same can't be said about my own personal interest and attention span, which didn't live to see the ending of the film. I'm usually a big fan of seventies' TV-movies because they're uniquely atmospheric and suspenseful in spite of their limited budgets, but "The House that would not Die" is derivative (or maybe I've seen too many?) and mostly dull. The lead characters are bland, the story itself is rather clichéd and predictable and the moments of genuine frights are scarce… Very scarce! The opening sequences are nevertheless promising, with ominous pan shots inside the house, ending with a view from behind the curtains as we see the new owners arrive in the driveway. Stylish elderly lady Ruth Bennett and her niece Sara move into the gloomy old Amish mansion and both of them almost immediately find new love interests. Ruth appreciates the charms of her new neighbor Pat, while Sarah meets college student Stan. For some reason I didn't quite understood, they all think it's a good idea to inaugurate their new home through a séance, after which – of course – a lot of strange and terrifying occurrences begin to happen. Both young Sara and neighbor Pat become possessed with restless spirits that previously lived in the house (dating all the way back to the Civil War) and several clues lead to something that is lurking behind the cellar door. "The House that would not Die" is overall very professionally accomplished, but sadly the subject material is just too unoriginal and forgettable. John Llewellyn Moxey directed some of the all-time greatest TV-thrillers (like "Where have all the people gone" and "Nightmare in Badham County), but even he struggles with the insufficient subject matter possibilities. Unless you're on a personal mission to track down all the legendary ABC Movie of the week features, I'd say skip this one.

I just bought this movie since not seeing it for many years, and I must say that it still holds my attention and is an excellent old-fashioned ghost story. I love Barbara Stanwyck in anything she does so I might be prejudice, but she is supported by an excellent cast and the story holds up even today. In this age of graphic violence and blood in movies, it is so refreshing to revisit one of my favorite horror films. The film itself is very atmospheric with genuine thrills and chills. My favorite horror film is the original "The Haunting," but this ranks in my top ten. I did read the book by Barbara Michaels(Elizabeth Peters) and enjoyed it thoroughly - and I must say that I wish the film had stuck more to the book's storyline - but all in all I was pleasantly surprised that I still like "The House That Would Not Die."

For those of us who love intelligent horror films (a very rare genre indeed), this is very high up on my list of 10 best ghost stories [cannot decide between this and 13 Ghosts, The Innocents, the Uninvited, the Haunting (the orginal not the recent remake), A Matter of Life and Death, and the House Where Evil Dwells]. Intelligent ghost movies hardly ever happen on US TV or cinema (only the British really understand ghosts!) but to have a really well-thought out script, great characters and a writer who actually understands the occultism of ghosts coupled with a small cast of superb actors - well, what more can anyone ask??Stanwyck was at her acting peak in the 60s having developed her characterisation of the ideal mature woman - strong, intelligent, well-spoken, charming and able to rise to any occasion. She is always enchanting to watch being one of those master craftsmen (like Katie Hepburn) able to create a scene and simply hand it to the other actors, not unlike the dignity and grace in the lost art of serving tea. Ruth becomes increasingly disturbed by strange sounds in the house until one night she is attacked by her normally gentle niece who appears to be sleepwalking. Despite the gentle mocking of her neighbor Pat, Ruth is determined to get to the bottom of this.The suspicion that the house is haunted leads to a seance by a local psychic whose initial enthusiasm for the old house turns to overpowering fear. The much underrated Kitty Win plays her niece Sara who becomes very convincingly possessed as a result of the seance and the psychic manifestations in the house increase (both of which is a little known danger of genuine seances). But Ruth will not be outdone and in uncovering the history of the occupants of the house begins to piece together the awful truth of a callous murder that took place. But written records only give a version of truth - the real truth can only be told by the participants.What makes this movie so intelligent is that instead of refusing to acknowledge the possession as real and treat Sara as a nut case, Ruth and Stan try to find out what troubles the ghost by letting her speak through Sara. This leads to a unique story development - Sara's ghost is guarding the house from another more malevolent ghost.Finally they piece together where the heart of the house is and that to free Sara's ghost there must be a confrontation with this second ghost to reveal the terrible secret which binds them both to the house. This climax is beautifully done and should go done in the annals of movie history for its insight into the occult dynamics behind many hauntings as well as its sheer dramatic power.If you've ever wondered if there is any power in love or hate, this film will demonstrate it. If you think Bruce Willis' The sixth sense is a great film (it certainly is!), you'll adore this film!