Product: 13 Ghosts (1960)
Rating: 5.0
B at its Best
This is a William Castle film, and has his stamp on every scene, from the minimalist set, to the Parker Bros. Ouija board. William Castle shares with Roger Corman the position of Patriarch of the B-film. Not only has Castle made some of the best B-films ever, but he is one of the artists who defined the genre. This is one of his best.The acting in this film is sterling, even though none of the parts is especially demanding (as a B-film is wont), but the child actor in the lead role is exceptional, and the adults guide the audience into taking some of the sillier aspects of the film, such as the ghost-view glasses, seriously.From the opening credits, this film is genuinely creepy. The opening is one of the best moments in B-film, if not in film altogether. If you force yourself to keep a distance, the opening sequence might be difficult to swallow, but why do so? Throw yourself into this film-- it's not hard, and you will have a great time.Some of the film may seem as cheesy as the Jaycee's haunted house to the seasoned horror film-goer, but on the same note, it can delight you and make you feel just like a kid at Halloween.