'The Old Dark House' is based on J.B. Priestley's 1927 novel, 'Benighted'.
This is one of the most notable early haunted house flicks, and it heavily influenced later films, somewhat pioneering the haunted house film sub-genre and becoming a blueprint for future films.
The film is full of tropes like: strangers trapped in storm, a creepy mansion with secrets, and eccentric characters, flickering lights, cramped interiors, and long uneasy pauses for suspense.
Interestingly, the film has many elements of a Slasher flick.
The film has a surprisingly good pace for modern audiences, more like a 1950's pace than a 1930's pace.
Boris Karloff is in so many films from this era, he is a mainstay like Patrick Wilson in the 2010's, but it is also a bit annoying seeing him again and again.
The film is a comedy, but it's unlikely a modern audience would laugh at anything.
There is no musical score, just the sound of wind and rain from a storm throughout, we recommend turning the volume all the way up and have an eargasm.

Directed by the legendary James Whale, also known for 'Frankenstein' (1931), 'The Invisible Man' (1933), and 'The Bride Of Frankenstein' (1935).

'The Old Dark House' cast features Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton, Gloria Stuart, Ernest Thesiger, Eva Moore, Lilian Bond, and Melvyn Douglas.

There is a remake, 'The Old Dark House' (1963) which is worth watching, but doesn't have the same resonance as the original.

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