"The Legend of Hell House...brims with "psychic phenomena" that, a foreword insists, "are not only very much within the bounds of possibility but could well be true." Perhaps. But it's an unconvincing legend on screen despite this sober note and a pseudo-scientific approach to ghouls, poltergeists and the like. And if John Hough, the director, and his small, willing cast maintain mild tension during their harried visit to this haunted "hell house," the few chills they provide are of little help...the young, decorative Pamela Franklin, as a "mental medium, and Gayle Hunnicutt, as the physicist's well-endowed wife, add an unusual, titillating facet to this film genre when they occasionally serve as sex objects for those dastardly ghouls. The rampaging spirits, however, are hard to believe, and we must agree with the realistic, unflappable Clive Revill when he exclaims: "It's impossible, I can't accept this.""
- A. H. Weiler, The New York Times

"Richard Matheson's disappointing adaptation of his own rather disappointing novel...Trivialising the theme, saddled with some terrible dialogue, needlessly tricked out with a lot of countdown-style dates, it founders into innocuous routine. Pamela Franklin, however, gives a convincing performance as the 'mental medium'."
- David Pirie, TimeOut Film Guide

"Adapted by the legendary Richard Matheson from his novel Hell House, this unnerving combination of old-fashioned haunted house tricks with modern scientific jargon and (comparatively mild) sex and violence makes for a memorable, atmospheric experience.... Apart from one misstep involving a cat attack (almost as goofy as the one in Dario Argento's Inferno, 1980), the manifestations are well handled and often frightening, such as the ectoplasm appearance. Though all four performances are excellent, Franklin and McDowall (who gets some of the choicest, most quotable dialogue) stand out with two of the best performances of their careers, delivering an avalanche of potentially difficult lingo with committed gusto."
- Nathaniel Thompson, Mondo Digital

"Richard Matheson's scripting of his novel Hell House builds into an exceptionally realistic and suspenseful tale of psychic phenomena. John Hough's direction maintains this spirit as his cast of characters arrive at the deserted Hell House with an assignment from its present tycoon owner to learn the truth about survival after death, a secret he believes the house with its terrifying history may hold."
- Variety

"...in spite of some atmospheric sequences, the film doesn't overcome the script's failure to establish the necessary conflict between science and occultism, relying instead on a mechanical succession of spectacularly staged shocks. As a result, the impact of the climactic revelations about the mad millionaire's perversions are an anticlimax because they are inadequately prepared."
- The Encyclopedia of Horror Movies

"What works best in The Legend of Hell House is director John Hough's depiction of the house's interiors. Every room is moodily lit and characters often take to wandering into pitch-black areas. The director lets the tension build only to provide very little payoff. The movie has several entertaining scenes of dining room tables dancing and flatware flying about, but the overall pace of The Legend of Hell House is as deadly as the ghosts onscreen."
- Scott Weinberg, Apollo Movie Guide

"The Legend of Hell House is a haunted house movie, make no bones about it. It does not saddle itself with anything that does not directly relate to the flow of the story. It wastes little time in getting things going and leaves it to the characters to define themselves rather than do so through needless exposition scenes. There are no romantic subplots, inane one liners littering the script or big action scenes. In essence, it is the exact opposite of what a modern haunted house film can be. That is not to say that is does not have faults. Despite the excellent acting, writing and look of the film, it never really manages to deliver in the scares department. ... Regardless, the film is definitely worth checking out and lack of chills or not, still ranks near the very top of haunted house flicks."
- Shadow's B-Movie Graveyard Movie Reviews



"The Legend of Hell House is a remarkably effective little thriller that provides the bulk of its chills in the first two thirds - the final third is bogged down with the inclusion of a ghost eradicating machine and a semi-goofy final confrontation with the individual behind the malice. A prime example of suggestion over showing, the movie concentrates on the actions of the spirits - opening/closing doors, moving objects, possession - rather than the age-old standby of translucent figures in whiteface. As a result, the audience is treated to a series of hair-raising events that may be the work of the deceased, or might simply be manifestations of the mediums' subconscious. Add to the mix crack performances by all involved, including what may be the Rod's best role, and you've got a can't-miss gem."
- Andrew Hershberger, Mania.com

"The Legend of Hell House was the single best work that Hough ever turned out. There is a certain tendency to rely on shock effect and the film never quite has any scenes as startling and effective as the famous door battering in The Haunting [1963], but Hough creates a tense and uneasy atmosphere from the very beginning. There is a wonderfully eerie scene where ectoplasm emerges from Pamela Franklin's fingertips during a séance, the scene being all the more remarkable for the tone of scientific detachment taken throughout – Clive Revill commands the spectral force to leave a sample of ectoplasm in a jar and not too surprisingly it veers off and does so. Alan Hume's photography – with shots reflected off rotating records and entire rooms seen in the curved reflection of a polished silver teapot – is marvelously stylish."
- Richard Scheib, Moria: Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review

"John Hough's The Legend of Hell House is hardly a great work of art, but it is an eerie and intriguing tale of the supernatural... Perhaps the most effective elements of The Legend of Hell House are the director's presentations of the characters' personalities and of their interactions with one another. Florence is naïve and idealistic. Fischer is reserved and fearful of the dangers of his environment. Mr. Barrett is cynical and very professional, and his wife is both devoted to him and concerned about the others. The conflicts that arise between these individuals occur because of their different natures and so have a sense of veracity that greatly adds to the tension the director evokes."
- Keith Allen, Movierapture.com

"Overall, The Legend of Hell House is a great production. When considering the competition of the seventies, it may not rank among the best that decade had to offer, but it is still worlds better than the most recent entries. The cast did an exceptional job. Each character stood out and was significant to the plot."
- Melissa McGahee, Scared Stiff Reviews

"While The Legend of Hell House was never quite good enough to enter the upper echelon of classic spookers, it does remain a fascinating film; possibly for what it may be, rather than what is has long been perceived as.""
- Steve Langton, The Spinning Image