The House of Usher

• Director: Alan Birkinshaw
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Horror
• Movie Type: Gothic Film, Costume Horror
• Themes: Woman In Jeopardy
• Main Cast: Donald Pleasence, Oliver Reed, Romy Windsor
• Release Year: 1989
• Country: US
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• MPAA Rating: R

Plot

Without a doubt the weirdest adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe tale in recent memory, this lurid production features a raging, leering Oliver Reed as Roderick Usher, who treats his nephew (Rufus Swart) and the man's bride-to-be (Romy Windsor) to some genuine family hospitality by raping her and burying him alive. It seems Roderick intends to sire a child with the poor girl in order to continue the Usher bloodline -- apparently oblivious to the fact that her marriage to his nephew would have accomplished the same thing. As if Reed's lecherous advances weren't enough, we are presented with a one-armed Donald Pleasence, who likes to threaten our heroine with a power drill attached to his stump! This film is not only an abomination to the memory of the great author, but a sick joke by comparison with Roger Corman's excellent 1960 adaptation. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Cast

Norman Coombes - Mr. Derrick; Carole Farquhar - Gwen; Philip Godewa - Dr. Bailey; Donald Pleasence - Walter Usher; Oliver Reed - Roderick Usher; Anne Stradi - Mrs. Derrick; Rufus Swart - Ryan Usher; Romy Windsor - Molly McNulty; Gianna Pisanello

Credit

John H. Stodel - Associate Producer, Dianna Cilliers - Costume Designer, Alan Birkinshaw - Director, Michael J. Duthie - Editor, Gary Chang - Composer (Music Score), Leonardo Coen Cagli - Production Designer, Joseph Wein - Cinematographer, Yossi Wein - Cinematographer, Avi Lerner - Producer, Harry Alan Towers - Producer, Michael J. Murray - Screenwriter, Edgar Allan Poe - Short Story Author

the fall of the house of usher and other tales by edgar allan poe