contains spoilers the main character serf a the narrator in the poe story . unfortunately and in that short story and the character be a man while but and in this version of the story and the role be give to a young woman . she be a former lover of roderick and instead of a childhood friend . except for that one difference while and and a few modern contrivance ( like the isolation tank ) and the story be incredibly faithful to the poe story well and and the family curse be change here too . but and more on that later . the role of the narrator be to act a an observer through which we see the story unfold . this help u build empathy with the character and without all the messy foreshadowing and flashback that would have happen and have we see the movie through roderick or maddie eye . give that perspective and i think the acting be very good while and and i think the casting be brilliant . austin nichols play the role of roderick to a tee embody the twisted perception and hyper sensitivity ( suffer from neurasthenia ) and and photo sensitivity brilliantly . in the roger corman version while which i think be the definitive telling of the poe story and vincent price never could have ( nor should have ) do as well . and and izabella miko be an absolute delight . not just for the eye and because there plenty there to see while but and she also build the suspense incredibly well a jill michaelson . a the event unfold around this young woman while and and a roderick and mrs. thatcher ( play brilliantly by beth grant ) begin to manipulate her reality and she react honestly and credibly . the usher family secret be a curse indeed . a jill say and they be all one line . brother and sister a parent of the next line of twin and and all suffer the same family curse . however and the secret be reveal when jill take down the family picture parent have twin and those twin have twin and those twin have twin . all you have to do be listen to the name a she read them off . however and a roderick book unfolds with the movie and we find out that jill be there a a surrogate for maddie and who go insane because of the incest . and and roderick and thatcher be try to keep her hidden while she not dead at all . in this telling and she be try to prevent the curse from go on wow and what a twist on poe and with re curring theme of be bury alive . okay and now watch the rest of the movie and because the last 15 to 20 minute make it all worthwhile .