Horror Movie Review: Elvira’s Haunted Hills (2001)

Elvira’s Haunted Hills is a 2001 American comedy horror film directed by Sam Irvin and written by Cassandra Peterson and John Paragon. It is the second film starring Peterson in the title role (credited as Elvira), after the 1988 theatrical release Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.

In 1851 in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, Elvira and her maidservant Zou Zou (Mary Jo Smith), on their way to a can-can revue in Paris, get kicked out of an inn for a slight monetary discrepancy.

After making their way out of the village, they are rescued by Dr. Bradley Bradley (Scott Atkinson), who takes them to stay at Castle Hellsubus, in the hills high above the village. While there, Elvira meets the residents—and discovers that she happens to resemble the deceased former wife of his Lordship the Count Vladimere Hellsubus.

Elvira’s Haunted Hills is a very strange movie. Not to say it’s not entertaining but I feel that Elvira is simply underutilised in this film. It’s ripe for so many more gags. It’s set in an extremely conservative time period but no one ever says anything when she tests their sensibilities. They simply find her annoying but not offensive. Again, there’s an out of place sexually charged performance, which no one really reacts to. If she’s not offending them, what’s funny?

I feel they made a big mistake lowering the rating for this one. Elvira is not a PG character. I could watch basically the entire movie with my kids in the same room, until the ending.

Additionally, Elvira has another weak love interest that randomly ends. Why is she attracted to these boring, regular men?

Haunted Hills pays a lot of homage to Vincent Price era movies, which I’ve not seen a lot of so perhaps certain aspects were lost on me. But I could tell the effects were intentionally crappy and cheap.

The story was alright but predictable. It was just really, really silly and the screaming gag wears thin. But they clearly weren’t trying too hard so it’s difficult to be mad about it. If you like Elvira then you’ll find enjoyment here but it certainly doesn’t reach the heights of the first instalment.