This film is a GREAT thrill ride of horror, terror, and a few laughs along the way.  This film begins decades ago at the Vannacutt Institute - a place for the criminally insane.  The hospital was run by a Dr. Richard Vannacutt (Jeffrey Combs) who was a disturbed individual performing some uncommon experiments on these patients in a demented attempt to cure them.  Unfortunately, this opening scene shows us that the inmates break free of their cages, and erupt in a lethal riot.  Much of the staff is killed including Vannacutt as the hospital in locked down.  The infamous "house on haunted hill" is subsequently condemned, and is believed to be haunted by all that died within.

Picking up in the present day, Geoffrey Rush stars as Steven Price (named after Vincent Price, who played this role as Frederick Loren in the original 1958 version).  Price is a master of thrills as he designs and owns multiple amusement / rollercoaster parks all around the country.  Although, when his equally devilish and vindictive wife, Evelyn (Famke Janssen), decides she wants to celebrate her birthday at the 'House on Haunted Hill', Price tries to change the invitations on her, but plans change further due to the dark spirits that lurk inside the house.

When the five guests arrive at the house, they are met by Watson Pritchett (Chris Kattan), whose grandfather designed the house, and whose father helped build it.  After a bit of a scare to jump start them all, Price reveals himself and his intentions in grand fashion - he knows no other way.  If these guests can all survive the night, they will each receive one million dollars each, and if any should die, their money shall be divided up between the survivors.  Obviously, none of them know why they've been invited to this place, and neither do Steven or Evelyn.  The love-hate relationship between the unhappily married Prices is a juicy bit of conflict in the film, and provides a lot of fine material for Rush & Janssen to work with.  Their chemistry is deliciously vile.  Things pick up when the house mysteriously goes into lockdown as it did decades before, and there is no escape.  Many of the guests begin to subscribe to Pritchett's belief that the house is indeed haunted, but Price believes it's all some twisted scheme by his spiteful wife, who he would rather see dead.  When everyone goes investigating into the depths of the house, they discover that nothing but death and unimaginable horror awaits them.  Can any of them survive to the dawn, and what hidden truth has brought them all together tonight?

This movie is genuinely creepy, and at times, can be VERY scary.  It'll get your heart pumping, and have you jolting ut of your seat, at times.  This movie is amazingly well cast and acted.  I've seen a lot of these talents in numerous roles, and have never disappointed. Saturday Night Live alumnus Chris Kattan provides the expected comedy for the film as the half-drunk Pritchett.  The always enjoyable and talented Taye Diggs plays the strong heroic type in Eddie Baker, a former pro-baseball player.  There's also the beautiful Ali Larter from Final Destination fame, and Bridgette Wilson in only her second horror film role.  The wonderfully talented Peter Gallagher (American Beauty, The O.C.).  Capping it off is genre great Jeffrey Combs from The Re-Animator, The Frighteners, & Star Trek: DS9.  The direction of William Malone is superb as he easily gave us the best film from Dark Castle Entertainment.  The score from Don Davis (The Matrix Trilogy) sets an omnious mood throughout that enhances every chilling moment.  The production design is unique, classic, and fabulous creating a dark, creepy envirnoment in the basement scenes, and offering a very classy 1930s or 40s style of design in the main floor of the house.  Finally, the cinematography of Rick Bota (director of Hellraiser: Hellseeker) is stylish and effective.  I highly recommend seeing this film because, even though I've never seen the original House On Haunted Hill, I can that this modern remake must've lived up to any high expectations one might hold!  I give it only 9 out of 10 because the ending does feel as though it comes a little fast, but is still cool, though.  The DVD has some nice features, and is definitely worth your money.  Check it out soon!