The 7 Finest And 7 Most Disappointing Vincent Price Movies
Vincent Price wasn’t just an actor, he was an icon whose voice and every raised eyebrow could send shivers down your spine. For decades, he reigned over the horror genre like royalty draped in velvet, starring in Gothic masterpieces and delightfully campy comedies alike.
Some films captured his brilliance and became timeless classics, while others… even legends have their off days. Step into the world of Vincent Price and see which performances still haunt the silver screen today.
1. House Of Wax (1953)
Picture this: a talented sculptor loses everything in a fire, including his sanity, and decides to turn his wax museum into something truly terrifying. Price brings Professor Henry Jarrod to life with such intensity that you’ll never look at wax figures the same way again.
What makes this film extra special? It was Hollywood’s first color 3D movie from a major studio, which was mind-blowing for 1950s audiences.
Price’s performance is both sympathetic and chilling, showing why he became the undisputed master of horror.
2. The Fly (1958)
Science experiments gone wrong have never been more horrifying than in this sci-fi classic. Price plays François Delambre, who watches his brother’s transformation into something unspeakable after a teleportation experiment backfires spectacularly.
Though he’s not the main victim, Price’s emotional performance anchors the entire film. His character’s horror and grief feel genuine, making the movie’s shocking moments hit even harder.
The film became so iconic that it spawned remakes decades later!
3. House On Haunted Hill (1959)
Imagine getting paid to spend one night in a haunted mansion, sounds easy, right? Wrong!
Price plays Frederick Loren, an eccentric millionaire who throws the world’s creepiest party, complete with coffins, skeletons, and secrets lurking in every shadow.
His performance oozes charm and menace in equal measure, keeping audiences guessing whether he’s the villain or just misunderstood. The film’s gimmicks, including a flying skeleton that swooped over theater audiences, made it an unforgettable experience!
4. The Pit And The Pendulum (1961)
Edgar Allan Poe’s nightmarish tale gets the Vincent Price treatment, and boy, does it deliver! Price portrays Nicholas Medina, a man haunted by his wife’s mysterious death and the dark secrets of his family’s Spanish Inquisition past.
His descent into madness is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. The film’s Gothic atmosphere, combined with Price’s ability to show vulnerability and terror, creates something truly special.
Director Roger Corman and Price formed a dream team that would collaborate on multiple Poe adaptations!
5. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Revenge has never looked so stylish or bizarre! Price becomes Dr. Anton Phibes, a disfigured musical genius who eliminates doctors using elaborate death traps inspired by the biblical plagues.
Yes, you read that correctly, and it’s as wild as it sounds.
Price barely speaks throughout the film, yet his physical performance and presence dominate every scene. The movie blends horror with dark comedy and art deco aesthetics, creating something completely unique.
It’s campy, clever, and showcases Price having an absolute blast!
6. Theatre Of Blood (1973)
What happens when a Shakespearean actor gets terrible reviews? If you’re Edward Lionheart, played brilliantly by Price, you murder your critics using deaths from Shakespeare’s plays!
It’s theatrical, over-the-top, and absolutely perfect for Price’s talents.
Each kill is more inventive than the last, from drowning someone in wine to feeding them a pie made from their beloved poodles. Price clearly relishes every moment, delivering Shakespeare’s lines with passion while committing gloriously gruesome murders.
It’s horror, comedy, and Shakespeare all rolled into one magnificent package!
7. Witchfinder General (1968)
Straying from his usual Gothic horror roles, Price delivers one of his most chilling performances as Matthew Hopkins, a real historical figure who terrorized England during the Civil War. Unlike his theatrical villains, Hopkins feels disturbingly real and genuinely evil.
The film doesn’t shy away from showing the brutality of witch hunts, and Price plays Hopkins with cold, calculated cruelty rather than his typical flamboyance. Critics initially dismissed it, but time has proven this to be one of Price’s finest dramatic achievements, showcasing his serious acting range!
8. The Las Vegas Story (1952)
Before Price became horror royalty, he tried his hand at film noir, and the results were… underwhelming. This casino-set mystery pairs him with Jane Russell, but the chemistry fizzles faster than a bad poker hand.
The plot meanders through predictable twists without generating any real excitement or tension. Price does his best with weak material, but even his considerable charm can’t save a script that feels half-baked.
Critics at the time agreed, this one belonged in the bargain bin rather than the spotlight!
9. Scavenger Hunt (1979)
Sometimes even legends make questionable choices, and this ensemble comedy definitely qualifies. Price appears in a small role in this supposedly wacky treasure hunt film that mistakes chaos for humor and noise for wit.
With an all-star cast competing for an inheritance through ridiculous challenges, you’d expect comedy gold. Instead, you get comedy rust.
Price’s talents are completely wasted in a forgettable role that gives him nothing interesting to do. The film bombed with critics and audiences alike, proving that star power alone can’t fix a fundamentally flawed script!
10. Dr. Goldfoot And The Bikini Machine (1965)
Spy spoofs were all the rage in the 1960s, but this attempt at camp comedy crash-landed harder than a malfunctioning jetpack. Price plays Dr. Goldfoot, a villain who builds robot women in bikinis to seduce wealthy men.
Yes, really.
The concept might have worked as a short sketch, but stretched to feature length, it becomes painfully repetitive. Price hams it up enthusiastically, but even his commitment can’t salvage the weak jokes and nonsensical plot.
It’s so bad it’s almost fascinating, like watching a cinematic train wreck in slow motion!
11. The Story Of Mankind (1957)
How do you mess up a film with Vincent Price, the Marx Brothers, and Hedy Lamarr? By giving them a script that tries to cover all human history in 100 minutes and fails spectacularly at every turn.
This ambitious disaster attempts to put humanity on trial, with Price playing the Devil arguing against mankind’s worth. Despite the intriguing premise and talented cast, the execution is baffling.
Scenes jump randomly through time without coherence, and potentially great performances get lost in the confusion. It’s a masterclass in wasted potential!
12. Scream And Scream Again (1970)
Uniting horror legends Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing sounds like a dream come true for genre fans. Unfortunately, this science fiction horror hybrid keeps them apart for almost the entire film, robbing audiences of the legendary team-up they deserved.
The convoluted plot involves organ harvesting, superhuman creatures, and political intrigue, but never quite gels into something coherent. Price has limited screen time, and when he does appear, he’s stuck explaining the confusing plot rather than doing anything interesting.
Such a missed opportunity!
13. The Last Man On Earth (1964)
Based on Richard Matheson’s novel “I Am Legend,” this low-budget adaptation has Price as humanity’s sole survivor fighting vampire-like creatures. While it gained cult status over time, initial reception was ice-cold, and it’s easy to see why.
Budget constraints show everywhere, from the limited sets to the unconvincing monster makeup. Price delivers a solid performance, capturing loneliness and desperation effectively, but production problems drag the film down.
Later adaptations with bigger budgets would tell the story more effectively, though Price’s version has its atmospheric moments!
14. Maniac (1934)
Often cited as one of cinema’s worst films ever, this early exploitation flick barely features Price and is terrible in ways that defy description. The plot, involving a mad scientist and brain transplants, makes zero sense even by 1930s B-movie standards.
Price had an extremely minor role early in his career, and he probably hoped everyone would forget about it. The acting is atrocious, the plot is incomprehensible, and the production values make student films look professional.
It’s so spectacularly awful that it’s achieved infamy, which might be worse than being forgotten entirely!
