The Old Dark House(1932)
1932 · James Whale · 70 min
In a remote region of Wales, five travelers beset by a relentless storm find shelter in an old mansion.
Drama · Horror · Thriller
6.7310 votes
TMDB score
2/5
Intensity
0/5
Gore
2/5
Stays with you
How The Old Dark House scares
It starts small and simple: a handful of stranded travelers knock on a door during a storm, and from there the movie just slowly builds unease inside one house for the rest of its short runtime. There's barely any action or violence, just odd family members, strange looks, and a mood that gets stranger the longer you stay inside. It plays more like a spooky, slightly funny stage play than a modern scary movie, with tension coming from awkwardness and dread rather than shocks. Good for viewers who like old-school gothic mood pieces and don't need blood or jump scares to enjoy a creepy night in a strange house.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, The Old Dark House rates psychological 3/5, visceral 2/5, gore 0/5, lingering effect 2/5, and overall intensity 2/5.
- Psychological: 3 of 5
- Visceral: 2 of 5
- Gore: 0 of 5
- Lingering: 2 of 5
- Intensity: 2 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 20 of 100 — leans Slow burn
Supernatural vs Real-world: 85 of 100 — leans Real-world
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 20 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A slow, moody gathering-in-the-storm start gives way to gradually creepier encounters, with a flurry of tension near the end before settling into a calmer close.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3.
How scary is The Old Dark House?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, The Old Dark House rates 2/5 — moderately scary, building its fear through slow-burn dread rather than shocks. It works on both fronts, unsettling the mind while going for the body. Expect it to be restrained with gore and fun-first. Some of it will follow you to bed, but it lets go within a day or so.
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