This is curiously obscure for a film distributed by 20th Century Fox. That obscurity is in no way a reflection on its quality, however; if anything, the worst I can say is that there are times when the title betrays production values more closely recalling genre flicks of the 60s. More hard-nosed viewers may find facets like the effects, the painted background showing Skull Mountain, or regular visualization of a skull motif to be outdated and kitschy; I, for one, am delighted by the throwback, reminding of like-minded fare from Roger Corman or AIP. More concretely, while much of the dialogue and scene writing is playful or even ham-handed in keeping with the overall tone of the picture, there are some instances that are weirdly clunky and contrived. Yet while 'The house on Skull Mountain' is filled with some odd touches, by and large it's well made and entertaining. It's hardly any peak of horror, but for those who appreciate all the different flavors that the genre has to offer, this is a good time on its own merits. For my part, I rather like it!
The less than entirely serious tone of the movie is borne out in most regards, from Ron Honthaner's direction and Monroe Askins' cinematography, to some instances of Jerrold Immel's score and definitely the acting. This is hardly to say, however, that this isn't marked by discernible skill and intelligence all around. The cast are enjoying themselves, but plainly just embracing the spirit of the affair; some of Immel's themes very ably lend some real atmosphere to the proceedings. Askins' work is just as solid as that of any of his contemporaries, and if there's any criticism to be made of Honthaner I think it's only that the feature struggles at times with fluctuating tone. I suppose the latter point also extends to Mildred Pares' script, not least with that ill-fitting scene a bit over halfway through when Lorena and Andrew take a daytrip - yet much more than not the writing presents classic, worthwhile material as relatives gather following a death in the family and strange goings-on amass. Add voodoo for flavor, and we have all the ingredients for an eerie lark.
The small cast of characters on hand reinforces the notion, troubling the back of our minds while watching, that plot development is a smidgen forced, and that the story as a whole may be lighter and more abbreviated than it could or should have been. Still, the scene writing is pretty fun as the tale advances, and it certainly comes across that all involved were having a blast making this. Even at their most chintzy I can't say that the characters and dialogue aren't a minor joy. The filming locations are beautiful, and the sets and art direction at large are genuinely terrific, as are props, practical effects, and stunts. Yes, this is the type of horror that's built for amusement over actual evocation of strong feelings, yet it still carries enough of a sinister edge to it - in the greater spectacle of the last act above all - to provide a measure of the earnest genre vibes for which we seek out such films in the first place. The end result may not be perfect, nor perfectly satisfying, but when all is said and done 'The house on Skull Mountain' bears much more strength than not.
I had mixed to low expectations when I sat to watch, and I recognize that this is not exactly held in the highest of esteem. As far as that goes, I can understand how this won't meet with equal favor for all comers, because it does have some faults and weak points, and it's not the most robust and invigorating among its kin. Not every movie needs to be a revelation, however, and this one just wanted to have a good time with the more nefarious side of cinema. I repeat that as far as I'm concerned 'The house on Skull Mountain' is entertaining, with a sufficiently solid foundation to at least partly sate our cravings for horror. It's nothing one needs to go out of their way to see, but if you do have the opportunity to watch and are looking for something comparatively light, I'm pleased to give this my recommendation.
