The Fall of the House of Usher

Starring: Herbert Stone, Hildegarde Watson, Melville Webber
Directed by: James Sibley Watson, Melville Webber
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Short, Horror
Length 13 minutes
1928

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A traveler arrives at the House of Usher and walks into a living nightmare.

Review:
Tim: I am simultaneously impressed and disappointed with The Fall of the House of Usher. On the one hand, I have to commend the visuals of this 13-minute short. The movie, which was one of the first low budget, independent movies in America, paints a phantasmagorical scene of madness and evil. Watching this movie is like stepping into a nightmare. The filmmakers used what looks to be every filmmaking trick known to man at that point in this film. It is almost one continual trick shot after another. While it doesn't always make sense or flow well, you really do feel the nightmare and madness plaguing Roderick Usher. So, regarding the visuals, I am impressed.

The story felt very lacking though. I've read Edgar Allen Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" a few times, and I like it. It is a short story, and one that seems perfectly fitted to a short film of 13 minutes. However, I also felt like this was a bit of loose adaptation. The story is surprisingly simple, and yet, this movie doesn't do a fantastic job of portraying it. Yes, all the pieces are here, but it fits together differently (and in a less effective way). I was surprised more scenes didn't take place between the traveler and Usher. I thought there would be great dramatic moments in those interactions, yet this short passes them by. That was a missed opportunity.

I'm not sure how I feel about this film containing not a single line of dialogue. The only letters we see flash around the screen in a creepy way, which caused me to wonder if they were spelling what I thought they were, or if I had myself gotten sucked into the nightmare. I think this film sacrificed the story for the visuals (something that movies would continue to do for the next 100+ years).

So, while I did not love the independent 1928 The Fall fo the House of Usher (there is a feature-length French film of the same year, from the same year), I have to admire the boundaries it pushed in effects. It certainly created an uncomfortable, creepy atmosphere. In that way, it succeeded. As far as plot, though, it leaves much to be desired.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: N/A