The Fall of the House of Usher

The huge success of this elegant tale of foreboding horror, based on an Edgar Allan Poe story of substance (unlike later interpretations such as The Raven), cemented director Roger Corman's artistic style. Not only did the movie spawn a series of opulent Poe adaptations, but it was also responsible for developing Vincent Price's "Master of the Macabre" persona, which would remain associated with the actor for the remainder of his career. Price is superb as the white-haired, hypersensitive recluse Roderick Usher, who buries his sister alive because of a demented obsession with his ancestors. Lavishly produced and visually gorgeous (thanks to the atmospheric photography of Floyd Crosby), Corman's gothic creepfest is still scary after all these years.