Let me start off by saying that I love the work of Stephen King. I have read every novel and collection that he has released and enjoyed many of his adaptations but this story lacked one thing. ORIGINALITY! All Stephen King has done is update the The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson for the special effects crowd and that had already been done by Liam Neeson and gang a couple of years ago. The main characters in both Robert Wise's 1963 adaptation and Stephen King's current spook house story are not really likeable. The only character of a heroic nature in Rose Red is the character played by Julian Sands and he does not live to see the end. His character was the most enjoyable and interesting. The Amityville Horror was much better than this claptrap. I did like the Winchester House angle and perhaps if they told that house's story, the movie would have been much better. I would also have presented more demonic forces and perhaps possession. In addition, the beginning of the film was overdrawn and we do not really get to see the house until nearly 90 minutes into the movie. This might have made a good 4 hour miniseries but 6 hours was a little tedious. For better chills, rent 1945's "The Uninvited", 1963's "The Haunting" by Robert Wise, Richard Matheson's "The Legend Of Hell House" with Roddy McDowall, "The Amityville Horror, or even Stephen King's (not Kubrick's) "The Shining". All provide better chills and more originality.

This movie is much better than what the other reviewers would have you believe. While it is a sequel, it stands on its own as sort of a revenge flick with Frank (Henry Fonda) terrorizing and delivering retribution to John Carradine's Robert Ford, the man who shot Jesse James. It is also the screen debut of the beautiful Gene Tierney. Compared to the special effects laden trash spewn out by Hollywood today, this has excellent characterization, excellent plot and excellent acting. It is definitely worth the price of admission. Fritz Lang did a great job of depicting his vision of the Old West and while it may not be the greatest Lang film such as his 1931 classic, M, it is still a classic nonetheless.