The Tingler

The Tingler is a 1959 Vincent Price horror film directed by William Castle. The story is that a few seats in some theaters were rigged to give a little "tingle" to the person sitting in it during the film. Special effects, up close and personal. The film begins with this warning by Castle:

I am William Castle, the director of the motion picture you are about to see. I feel obligated to warn you that some of the sensations —some of the physical reactions which the actors on the screen will feel— will also be experienced, for the first time in motion picture history, by certain members of this audience. I say 'certain members' because some people are more sensitive to these mysterious electronic impulses than others. These unfortunate, sensitive people will at times feel a strange, tingling sensation; others will feel it less strongly. But don't be alarmed; you can protect yourself. At any time you are conscious of a tingling sensation, you may obtain immediate relief by screaming. Don't be embarrassed about opening your mouth and letting rip with all you've got, because the person in the seat right next to you will probably be screaming, too. And remember this —a scream at the right time may save your life.

I always enjoy Vincent Price, and this movie is no exception. It's perfect for the Halloween horror movie season. "Scream! Scream for your lives! The Tingler is loose in this theater!"

Moria calls this "William Castle’s greatest moment of triumph" and says the movie is a cult classic. 1000 Misspent Hours says, "this is the movie for which producer/director William Castle is best remembered" and that it "is Castle’s magnum opus, marking the pinnacle of his career, both as a director and as a huckster". Stomp Tokyo says it's genuinely scary and original and says, "the movie is well enough made and the cast talented enough to provide a pleasurable experience". Classic-Horror.com closes with this:

Nowadays, despite being stripped of the interactive elements of the viewing experience, watching The Tingler is still great fun, thanks to the kooky plot, great cast, some wonderfully bitchy dialogue, and a gleeful streak of ghoulishness that I think perfectly reflects the character of the film's director.