Here at Indie Horror Ireland we’re very fond of our haunted house stories. So today we’ll be counting down our top three titles.
The rules are simple:
- It doesn’t necessarily need to be a haunted house to make the list – just a building or enclosed area where a malevolent spirit wishes a group of inhabitants harm or wishes to manipulate them.
This is our list, and simply our opinion. We’re sure that your list would differ – why not list your own choices in the comment section?
No. 1 – Hell House – Richard Matheson
When asked what out favourite haunted house story is the choice is simple; it’s the one book that Stephen King admitted to being frightened by – Richard Matheson’s ‘Hell House’.
In ‘Hell House’ a team of four – among them a physicist and his wife, a Spiritualist and a physical medium – are hired by a dying millionaire to investigate the possibility of life after death. The best place to do so is in the most haunted house in the world – the Belasco Mansion, Maine.
‘Hell House’ is a fantastic book, I could rarely read an entire book in one session – in fact, I’ve only ever done so twice – but I made an exception for ‘Hell House’. What makes ‘Hell House’ such a frightening book is the simple fact that before any of the characters as much as even step a single foot over the threshold of the aforementioned house you’re already terrified. Matheson achieves this by really bringing the house to life – it feels as though the house was not simply created for the book, that it is not a simple, flat thing – but is so packed with lore, history and intrigue that the book and house spring to life and grip you. In the early stages of the book Matheson showers you with graphic tales detailing the horrific acts, debauchery and inhuman physical and mental torture that the tyrannical Emeric Belasco inflicted on his guests and followers in the house. So much so that as the characters first arrive at the house both their and your sense of dread and fear are palpable. You become almost the fifth member of the expedition.
No.2 – The Shining – Stephen King
After his volatile temper and alcoholism cost him his teaching position in a small preparatory school, fate seems to intervene to give Jack Torrance a second chance to turn his life around. Offered the role of off-season caretaker in the secluded, picturesque Overlook Hotel Jack snaps up the chance in the hope that the role will allow him to focus on his writing and patch up relations with his family. But as winter closes in and the family are cut off from the outside world the hotel comes to life. It becomes apparent that some of the hotel’s colourful ex-guests from its dark history may not have completely checked out.
Another fantastic book – and movie too, despite Stephen King fiercely disliking Kubrick’s film adaption – there’s a lot going on here. We have the effects of isolation, a great insight into a slow deterioration into madness, and Danny’s latent psychic abilities combine to make a thrilling experience. This is a beautifully fleshed-out, well-crafted tale that will have you sleeping with the lights on.
No. 3 – The Haunting Of Hill House – Shirley Jackson
In the hopes of finding evidence of the supernatural, Dr. Montague rents the infamous Hill House for a Summer and sends out invitations to a number of individuals noted for their past paranormal experiences. Only two answer his call – a frail young woman and the heir to the house. Th visitors are soon driven to their wit’s end by ghostly footsteps in the sprawling house at night, and strange goings on. But little do the guests know that this is only the tip of the ice berg. The house is coming alive, gathering its power and it wants to make one of the unlucky inhabitants its own.
This book has had a massive impact – it has been adapted to the screen twice and is regarded by many as the blueprint on which most modern haunted house tales have been set upon. I’ll be doing a deeper analysis on this one in the future.
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