Vincent Price helped shepherd myriad low-budget horror movies in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming an icon of horror camp and the over-the-top spooky sensibility that helped provide a visual vocabulary to his era. Chief among his projects is the delightfully campy mystery of the supernatural film House on Haunted Hill.
Released in 1959, the horror film has been a beloved one to rewatch in the intervening decades. It garnered such a reputation that it was even remade in 1999, but with less acclaim surrounding it. The story of a man inviting a collection of people to his spooky manor with schemes afoot is a timeless one that is also loose enough to remake with an exciting cast in 2021.
Frederick Loren: Lakeith Stanfield
In the original movie, Frederick Loren (Lakeith Stanfield.
Stanfield definitely has the range; thanks to turns in Atlanta's "Teddy Perkins" episode that might make him the best choice to fill Price's shoes.
Annabelle Loren: Tessa Thompson
The fourth wife of Frederick, Annabelle Loren (Carol Ohmart), is similarly involved in some cockamamie affairs, but her put-together demeanor occasionally betrays the slyness lurking beneath the surface.
This is an element that Tessa Thompson would be able to replicate. In Sylvie's Love, she has ambition. Combine them both and it would make for a solid lead horror turn for Thompson.
Lance Schroeder: Bill Hader
On Bill Hader portrayed Price in a recurring sketch. It wouldn't be right to compose a modern Price reimagining without ensuring that Hader would be involved in some capacity.
Plus, a turn in the sequel to It shows that Hader has dramatic chops to go with his comedy prowess. He'd be a solid selection for the role of Lance Schroeder (Richard Long), a curious test pilot who keeps his head on his shoulders.
David Trent: Saoirse Ronan
Turning the duplicitous Dr. David Trent (Alan Marshal) role into a more prominent one would suit the story well. It would allow for the motivations of all characters to be more fully fleshed out.
As such, this nuanced take would also be best-suited to an Little Women star.
Nora Manning: Han Ye-ri
Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig) is a character who initially seems innocuous, but she soon shows that she's not quite as out of her element as others are. This is the kind of role that's ripe for an actor on the precipice of stardom. Lee Isaac Chung film, and this would be a quick way for audiences to see more of her.
Watson Pritchard: Walton Goggins
As the pseudo-narrator of House on Haunted Hill, Watson Prichard (Elisha Cook) is the first character audiences are introduced to. He sets the unsettling, albeit slightly goofy, tone for the movie from the jump.
Putting aside the obvious resemblance between Cook and Walton Goggins, it's also a ing role that Goggins is perfect for, as he'd be able to flex his scene-stealing capabilities.
Ruth Bridgers: Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley has a storied career that has also become well-associated with the role of Game of Thrones. She'd be a great fit for the columnist Ruth Bridgers (Julie Mitchum) role, which calls for a more experienced performer.
Fairley is capable of maintaining a stoic demeanor, while also conveying abject dread beneath the surface. She'd be a logical successor for Mitchum's measured, underrated turn.
Mrs. Slydes: Katie Parker
Mrs. Slydes (Leona Anderson) is one of the caretakers of the house, along with her husband, Jonas (Howard Hoffman). Together, they provide an unsettling, ghostlike presence to the film, occupying classic haunted house archetypes.
They're also unusual-looking people. Katie Parker has experience in both iterations of Mike Flanagan's Netflix Haunting anthology. In these roles, she's able to put on appearances that make her unrecognizable, and doing so again for the ghastly Mrs. Slydes would be suitable.
Jonas Slydes: Hedo Turkoglu
Hedo Turkoglu might be best known as a former All-Star forward for the Orlando Magic, but, if Boban Marjanovic can be a scene-stealer in a middling basketball stars to hit the big screen.
No matter what form House on Haunted Hill took in a remake capacity, Turkoglu would be an outside-the-box casting decision for Jonas Slydes. But, getting creative with it always seems to be the best strategy for remakes.
