I saw the movie version of this,
The Legend of Hell House, when it first came out in the early 1970s and remember it being a very good ghost story although I don't remember details of the movie.
The story is about a group of people consisting of a physicist, Dr. Barrett; his wife, Edith; and two mediums, Florence Tanner, and Benjamin Fischer, who agree to investigate the notorious Belasco House at the request of a rich man, Deutsch, who promises them each $100,000. Deutsch is dying and wants to find out if there is in fact life after death. Fischer had participated in a previous investigation of the house and was the only survivor. The house belonged to "Roaring Giant" Emeric Belasco who promoted orgies in the house and had mysteriously disappeared after a massacre occurred there in the 1920s. Florence believes that there are many ghostly entities in the house but Dr. Barrett believes that all the disturbances are merely electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and can be explained and removed by a machine he has built. But who is right? Are the ghosts and hauntings real or only leftover impressions caused by the EMR?
The novel has several very intense scenes where the investigators are attacked by the spirits or poltergeists. When the house was previously investigated, several people ended up dead or insane. I think Belasco was probably based on the real-life
Aleister Crowley, who was considered the "wickedest man alive" during his lifetime. Overall, this was a pretty good supernatural thriller but it seemed to go over the top in some places and I would only mildly recommend it.
This is the best horror novel that I have ever read and I see why it is considered a classic. The horror is great, especially because of the vivid descriptions. I enjoyed the characters, but the scientist who didn't believe in ghosts got on my nerves. It wouldn't be a problem in real life, but it bugged me because it is in a ghost story. There is quite a bit of sexual scenarios caused by the ghost who haunts the house so for that reason and the violence, it is definitely only a book for adults and mature teens. I was always wondering what would happen next, such as what ghostly happening would happen next.
I was torn on this book. The atmosphere of the house and the things happening kept giving me goosebumps but when it came down to the characters interacting, I would cringe every time. Out of the 4 characters in the house, 3 got on my nerves. Only Fisher was tolerable for me. Most of the scary scenes were scary enough but some just didn't do anything for me. Then near the end the incident with the hand and Edith (if you read it you'll know what I mean) actually had me laughing. I pretty sure I wasn't supposed to find it amusing. It was still a good read. I was hoping for so much more though.
A story well told. It will get your imagination rolling into high vear.
I thought it was a really good read, similar to the writing style of the Exorcist. Used alot of language related to the paranormal investigation techniques. Although the cover depicts it's a story about demonic possession, it's actually a story about a haunted house. It's a classic and has obviously inspired similar stories such as Flesh Gothic.
I read this one to get me in the mood for Halloween, and it was really good!
They don't make them like this anymore! Loved every creepy moment of it.
A rich guy hires a scientist to research a haunted house. The scientist brings his wife, and two spiritualists. Then the house takes hold of its temporary occupants. Many other books have the same theme, but Richard Matheson wrote this in 1970. Matheson sucessfully wrote many Twilight Zone and Kolchak television episodes. Very atmospheric, great character development, strong storyline. This haunted house tale does not disappoint. Warning: explicit sex, graphic violence.
Truely scary and just as good as the Diary of Ellen Broderick or Rose Red!
