Showcasing the classic gothic romance elements that were then so popular in massmarket paperbacks, this 1972 bantam paperback features a woman threatened and fearful of a house she cannot even see from the position shes standing in. A large smelly lake called a tarn in is front of the house. In the forty years since its release, the legend of hell house has been rendered an ironic curiosity. Hell house, as well as the film the legend of hell house, is both frightening and would recommend reading and then watching the movie in that order. Love this unlikely cover art for hell house, the haunted house novel by the one and only richard matheson.
In the tradition of shirley jacksons haunting of hill house, four people with alleged extrasensory powers are called upon to spend a weekend in a supposedly haunted house. The legend of hell house is a 1973 horror film about a physicist and his. It is an excellent example of a book to screen adaptation that does not go too off the rails in the same manner as that of stephen king and stanley kubricks adaptation of his novel, the shining. As in poes tale the fall of the house of usher 1839, the haunted house in mathesons book. American got haunted house film title card weird stories scary movies horror films thriller science fiction supernatural sci fi. Hell house by richard matheson goodreads share book. Hell house is the sexually awkward tale of a haunted house that cant even bother to be haunted until the book is nearly over. It is also the book that inspired the film the legend of hell house, starring roddy mcdowall, gayle hunnicutt and peter bowles. Very good minus condition with small magic tape repair to base of the spine. Filming location the legend of hell house 1973 youtube. Nov 09, 2010 hell house made a quicker transition from page to screen than most of mathesons novels, adapted by the author himself, and while his produced scripts during the 1970s were almost exclusively.
The legend of hell house is an overlyserious yet silly piece of horror, one that is severely dated. The belasco house has a swimming pool and a steam room. Whats the difference between hell house the book and the legend of hell house the movie. Dec 18, 2017 things really got kicked into high gear with the december 1973 release of the exorcist, followed by the texas chainsaw massacre the following year, and the shining the year after that. The shining, the film not the book, took this device from hell house. Richard matheson scripted from his own novel hell house, published 1970, transplanting his mainebased scenario to england, and considerably downplaying much of the book s sexuality in the process, although what is left sufficiently gets the point across. Previous visitors have either been killed or gone mad, and it is up to the team to survive a full week in isolation. In the tradition of shirley jacksons haunting of hill house, four people with alleged extrasensory powers. The legend of hell house, unfolded at local theaters yesterday, brims with psychic phenomena that, a foreword insists, are not only very much within.
And then people usually skip right up to poltergeist. In the tradition of shirley jacksons haunting of hill house, four people with alleged extrasensory powers are called upon to spend a weekend in a supposedly haunted house, to either prove or disprove the presence of ghosts. Richard matheson adapted the screenplay of the legend of hell house from his own novel. I am legend hell house by richard matheson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Three experts are hired to either prove or disprove the. The legend of hell house 1973 would be his sole feature film in that decade. The legend of hell house is trashy 1970s horror at its best.
Gallery of 17 movie poster and cover images for the legend of hell house 1973. Hell house, which inspired the 1973 film the legend of hell house, is mathesons most frightening and shocking book and an acknowledged classic of the genre. The legend of hell house 1973 page 5 classic horror. A team consisting of a physicist, his wife, a young female psychic and the only survivor of the previous visit are sent to the notorious hell house to provedisprove survival after death. But perhaps one of the best stories and films about a haunted house is 1973 s the legend of hell house. When people think of haunted house stories, the hauntingthe haunting of hill house is usually the first thing that springs to mind. The legend of hell house the film 1973 and the book. For one night, they will investigate the belasco house and learn exactly why the townsfolk refer to it as the hell house. Its story is similar to the 1963 movie, the haunting, except instead of attempting to prove the existence of the supernatural, a team of paranormal experts is employed to. The legend of hell house 1973 original trailer hd youtube. Richard matheson screenplay, richard matheson based on his novel hell. It looms over the rest the way the mountains loom over the foothills. The legend of hell house is a 1973 british supernatural horror film directed by john hough and based on the novel hell house by richard matheson, who also.
The legend of hell house 1973 classic horror film board. Oddly it doesnt mention either rosemarys baby or the exorcist. Previous visitors have either been killed or gone mad, and it is up to the team to survive a full week in isolation, and solve the mystery of the. If you want to contrast how male and female authors write the same story, you could hardly find a more perfect example than richard mathesons hell house, as compared to shirley jackson. I have always enjoyed a good haunted house story and hell house is exactly thata good haunted house story. I have quite a library of my own on the subject, including a signed book by harry houdini. This is a first edition, first printing of mathesons horror novel hell house. The characters in the book refer to the titular house as the everest of haunted houses. The legend of hell house 1973 physicist lionel barrett and his wife lead a team of mediums into the belasco house, which is supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a sixfootfive serial killer. Oct 29, 2019 and if you put richard matheson and roddy mcdowall together, you get the campy 1973 classic, the legend of hell house.
In light of legendary horror author richard mathesons passing, i decided to revisit one of his oldies. Id seen this creepy flick several times at driveins and on tv years ago. See more ideas about film, horror films and house fan. I enjoyed the movie, and the book, but i think it has more than a feel of the haunting. The legend of hell house 1973 pg 1h 35min horror 15 june 1973 usa physicist lionel barrett and his wife lead a team of mediums into the belasco house, which is supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a sixfootfive serial killer. Matheson wrote the screenplay, which was based on his. The legend of hell house 1973 the legend of hell house 1973 lunkenstein. But when deutsch, a wealthy magazine and newpaper publisher, starts thinking seriously.
That sentiment is equally true for this novel as it pertains to haunted house stories. The legend of hell house 1973 plot summary 3 physicist lionel barrett and his wife lead a team of mediums into the belasco house, which is supposedly haunted by the victims of. Richard matheson screenplay, richard matheson based on his novel hell house. Years ago a group of people went to the house to investigate.
Things really got kicked into high gear with the december 1973 release of the exorcist, followed by the texas chainsaw massacre the following year, and the shining the year after that. Hell house remains very straightfaced in its execution. Matheson based his screenplay for the legend of hell house 1973 on his own novel hell house. The story was also adapted as a comic book miniseries, richard mathesons hell house, written by ian edginton, with art by simon fraser. Dec 19, 2017 the mansion does indeed exist, some of the external scenes were filmed at wykehurst place, bolney, west sussex, england, uk. Part mystery and part horror movie, it entered theaters a year after the exorcist 1973 and the same year as the wicker man 1973.
Differences between the legend of hell house book vs movie page 1. Pamela franklin in the legend of hell house 1973 roddy mcdowall and. A malign spirit preys upon the vulnerabilities of those who enter belasco house, a haunted mansion called hell house. Matheson wrote the screenplay for the 1973 film adaptation, the legend of hell house. Theater engagement quiz study question 1 the hell house. Hell house seems to have been mathesons rewrite of shirley jacksons haunting of hill house. Hell house, while not a transformative experience, was certainly a gripping one. The legend of hell house 1973 physicist lionel barrett and his wife lead a team of mediums into the belasco house, which is supposedly haunted by the victims of. Hell house takes place during christmas week 1970, and the book was published in 1971.
The legend of hell house is a 1973 british supernatural horror film directed by john hough twins of evil. In fact it is one of the best that i have ever read. It was adapted to film as the legend of hell house in 1973 a dying millionaire offers a huge reward to a group of researchers to provide him with definitive proof that there is life after death. The film stars pamela franklin, roddy mcdowall, clive revill, and gayle hunnicutt as a group of researchers who spend a week in a purportedly haunted english mansion in. The action is presented in brief episodes, each identified by the day, hour and minute. In 1973, the novel was made into a film the legend of hell house, starring pamela franklin, roddy mcdowall, clive revill, and gayle hunnicutt. Signed and inscribed by richard matheson on the title page. An ingeniously devised ghost story, the legend of hell house will thrill and delight veteran horror fans from the first creaking door to the very last slithering shadow. Hell house is a horror thriller novel written in 1971 by richard matheson. The character has the same name in both the book and the movie. Wonder how many old ladies picked this up thinking it was your standard goth romance, but then ended up on a tour of real horror and perversion not even. Matheson adapted the book for the screen as the legend of hell house in 1973. Sam and dean investigate a house haunted by the ghost of mordecai, a man who killed his six daughters during the 1930s.
This is not shown lionel is attacked by a black, sludgelike substance after edith leaves him alone in the steam room and she accidentally locks the door. An ingeniously devised ghost story, the legend of hell house will thrill and delight veteran horror fans from the first creaking door to the very last. Adapted from the book hell house by the original author richard matheson. Hell house by richard matheson overdrive rakuten overdrive. Richard matheson adapted his 1971 novel hell house for the screen but then said he didnt really like the resulting movie.
Hell house by richard matheson, first edition abebooks. The legend of hell house 1973 horror movies would become increasingly gory and ghastly throughout the 70s, leading into the slasherera of the 80s. This edition from 1973 includes the two essential horror buzzwords of the era, possession and occult and even by 73, two years after its original publication in hardcover, hell house was considered a. The legend of hell house the film 1973 and the book hell. Differences between the legend of hell house book vs movie. Hell house, which inspired the 1973 film the legend of hell house, is mathesons most frightening and shocking book, and an acknowledged classic of the genre. Hell house is the scariest haunted house novel ever written. True false question 7 augusto boal wrote what book in 1973 that argues for the direct participation of the audience in theatre, rather than their traditional role as passive spectators. This movie is an adaptation from a novel called hell house, written by the impressive and late richard matheson, who was responsible for giving us the stories of i am legend, what dreams may come, and stir of echoes to name a few. The legend of hell house 1973 directed by john hough. Now, the house is about to be examined again, this time by a small cast of characters.
The legend of hell house is a 1973 horror film about a physicist and his wife who lead a team of mediums into the belasco house, which is supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a sixfootfive satantist. Piecebypiece the terrifying secret of hell house is unraveled, leading the survivors to the films final, shocking climactic revelation. In the tradition of shirley jacksons haunting of hill house, four. Hell house is a novel by american novelist richard matheson, published in 1971. I think he was being a bit hard on himself and the producers. This edition from 1973 includes the two essential horror buzzwords of the era, possession and occult and even by 73, two years after its original publication in hardcover, hell house was considered a classic novel. Three experts are hired to either prove or disprove the possibility of survival after death by doing experiments in a notorious haunted house. Sure, it hasnt aged gracefully, but the atmosphere and the awesomeness of roddy mcdowall brings this film up to a nearrecommendation. Jan 02, 2014 roddy mcdowall, plays a member of a team of experts hired to investigateand hopefully neutralizea malevolent paranormal presence that has occupied an infamous house for decades. The legend of hell house, at the leading edge of this wave, was relatively tame compared to many of the movies that would follow, and in fact was rather tame compared to the book. The film stars pamela franklin, roddy mcdowall, clive revill, and gayle hunnicutt as a group of researchers who spend a week in a purportedly haunted english mansion in which previous investigators were killed.
Six months before exorcist came the legend of hell house, which in many ways stands as the dividing line between new and old horror. The novels hell house and the exorcist came out the same year but it was the exorcist that had a major impact on the zeitgeist. For one night, they will investigate the belasco house and learn exactly why the townfolks refer to it as the hell house. Whats the difference between hell house the book and the. The haunted house story was adapted into the british film the legend of hell house 1973, starring pamela franklin and roddy mcdowall, for which matheson himself wrote the screenplay.
The legend of hell house 1973 the legend of hell house. Hell house is a horror novel by american novelist richard matheson, published in 1971. Im a huge matheson fan and i dont want to call hell house a ripoff of the haunting of hill house, but. In other words, if you come to this book expecting a traditional ghost story, you will be surprised and all the more frightenedto discover that the tradition is. The background and emotional baggage of the books central characters is simplified and the sex is toned down but. Dec 17, 2017 the legend of hell house is a 1973 horror film about a physicist and his wife who lead a team of mediums into the belasco house, which is supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a sixfootfive satantist.
When the investigators enter the house for the first time, they have trouble trying to get the power to work and need to locate a generator to turn it on. Check out this original trailer for the legend of hell house. Hell house was written by richard matheson, published in 1971. Thankfully, there is no hint of the camp selfparody elements that had crept into the william castle and hammer films of this era. It was adapted to film as the legend of hell house in 1973. Jun 01, 2015 richard matheson scripted from his own novel hell house, published 1970, transplanting his mainebased scenario to england, and considerably downplaying much of the book s sexuality in the process, although what is left sufficiently gets the point across. Barrett has been hired by a wealthy, dying man to investigate one of the most haunted houses known to man.