Horror-westerns are relatively rare, so it nice to see this one. I'm not a particular fan of Keene and his RKO product; frankly, these films don't have the raw quality of the Monograms and other poverty row studios. But I liked the use of a real abandoned town and mine, more realistic than the usual sets. And I particularly liked the extensive use of the Bronson Canyon cave. as the mine interior. See Wikipedia for a list of the films shot there. I learned to love it as the entrance to the underground city of Murania in The Phantom Empire. I eventually had a chance to visit and walk through it. Quite a thrill. Another well used spot is the entrance to the Tibetan valley in The Werewolf of London. I believe it still exists, even though the Iverson Ranch was turned into tract homes many years ago. So, if you're a fan of interesting locations, this film is worth the watch.
Review of La vallée des fantômes
