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4.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Old Barn remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
You should definitely watch this if you have twenty minutes and like seeing people get scared by absolutely nothing. It is great for a lazy afternoon when you want something light and a bit silly. 🍿
But if you are looking for actual horror or a story that makes total sense, you will probably hate it. This is old-school slapstick through and through.
The whole thing is basically just a group of folks who find a barn and decide it must be haunted. There is no real reason for them to be there, but they stay anyway just to make the movie happen.
Johnny Burke is the main guy here, and he spends most of the time looking like he just saw a ghost, even when he’s just looking at a wall. His face is very expressive in that way only old silent stars could manage.
The barn looks like it was built out of leftover wood and maybe some glue. It has these huge gaps in the walls where you can see the light coming through, which kind of ruins the 'spooky' vibe but makes it look very cozy.
There is so much hay. People are falling into hay, throwing hay, and probably breathing in a lot of dust. I felt like I needed to sneeze just watching it.
I noticed that in one scene, the hay piles actually move before anyone touches them. Probably a stagehand hiding underneath, which is the kind of mistake I love finding.
Vernon Dent shows up and he is always a treat to watch. He does this double-take that feels like it lasts a full five seconds. It’s hilarious because it’s so slow.
The movie reminds me a little bit of Beaches and Peaches because it has that same frantic energy. Everything is moving all the time even when nothing is happening.
There is this one gag with a door that keeps hitting someone in the face. It happens like three times. By the third time, it’s actually funnier than the first.
Thelma Hill is in this too, and she mostly just has to look worried. She’s good at it, but I wish she had more to do than just scream and point at things.
It’s a bit like His Wooden Wedding in the way the comedy is very physical. If you don't like people falling down, you won't like this.
The sound quality is pretty rough since it’s an early talkie. Everyone sounds like they are shouting from the bottom of a well. 🕳️
I think they were still figuring out where to put the microphones. Sometimes a character will walk away and their voice just disappears into the air.
Bud Jamison has a small part and he is great as always. He has this way of looking annoyed that just makes me laugh every time.
The editing is really choppy. One minute they are in the barn, and the next they are outside, and you aren't really sure how they got there.
It’s not a masterpiece like some other films from that year. But it has a charm that you don't see much anymore. It feels like a bunch of friends having a weird party in a barn.
If you enjoyed Oh Teacher, you will probably find this one charming too. It has that same 'low budget but trying hard' feeling.
The 'ghost' is obviously just a guy in a sheet. They don't even try to hide it. It’s almost cute how simple the special effects are.
I also spotted a cat in the background of one shot that definitely wasn't supposed to be there. It just walks across the frame like it owns the place. 🐈
The ending is very abrupt. It just kind of stops when they run out of jokes.
It’s not as polished as Wine, Women and Sauerkraut, but it’s still worth a look if you like the era. It’s just a silly, dusty, noisy bit of history.
I'm glad I watched it, even if I forgot most of the plot ten minutes after it ended. Sometimes you just need to watch a guy get hit with a door.
IMDb —
1924
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