The Old Dark House (1963 film)

The Old Dark House is a 1963 comedy horror film directed by William Castle for Hammer Films. A remake of Universal's 1932 film of the same name directed by James Whale, the film is based on the 1927 novel by J. B. Priestley originally published under the name Benighted, and the new screenplay was written by Robert Dillon. The film was made in 1962, but was only distributed in the U.S. in 1963. It was not distributed in England until 1966. The opening title art was drawn by legendary macabre cartoonist Charles Addams, whose signature is painted by a hairy hand.

The film is set in Dartmoor, Devon. A London salesman plans to visit his roommate and his roommate's family at an old mansion, but arrives shortly after the roommate's death. He is invited to spend the night with the family, but the family members are then killed one by one. They were all heirs to the family estate, and one family member wants to be the sole surviving heir. They resort to familicide to get their inheritance.