House Of The Long Shadows (1983)

A young novelist (Desi Arnaz Jr.) makes a bet with his publisher (Richard Todd) that he can write a best seller in 24 hours. To this end, he will spend those 24 hours in a secluded old mansion in Wales. But things don't turn out quite as he planned when a ghoulish family reunion interrupts his solace. Based on the 1913 novel SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE by Earl Derr Biggers (creator of Charlie Chan) and the play by George M. Cohan which was adapted from the novel and directed by Peter Walker (DIE SCREAMING MARIANNE). This is the seventh film adaptation of the Biggers novel and Cohan play. Three silent versions (1916, 1917, 1925) and three sound adaptations (1929, 1935, 1947). This version keeps the structure of the novel and play including its "twist" ending but jettisons the plot in favor of a far more violent horror movie narrative. It sweetens the deal with the participation of three horror movie icons: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. It doesn't make it a better movie than its predecessors, just a more interesting one. Alas, interesting doesn't translate to quality and its rather sad to see such genuine icons of the genre exploited in this way. With John Carradine, Sheila Keith and Julie Peasgood.