Hell House

Now a new investigation has been mounted, bringing four strangers to the forbidding mansion, determined to probe Belasco House for the ultimate secrets of life and death. Each has his or her own reason for daring the unknown torments and temptations of the mansion, but can any soul survive what lurks within the most haunted house on Earth?

Richard Matheson’s classic horror novel ‘Hell House’ was first published by Viking Press Inc back in 1971. Matheson had already received much praise for his previous work with novels such as ‘I Am Legend’ and ‘The Shrinking Man’. The novel proved to be such an inspirational piece of horror fiction that it was later made into the film ‘The Legend of Hell House’ starring both Pamela Franklin and Roddy McDowall.

From the very beginning of the novel, the reader is thrown into the eerie premise of the novel, with its classic haunted house plot. The four main characters that are hired to investigate and research the truth behind the house’s paranormal haunting are introduced from the start, with somewhat cliqued characterization and obvious clashes in personality. Yet this does not detract from the enjoyment and the books storyline. The tension slowly builds, as the reader is submerged deeper into the creepy house and the ghostly occurrences that occur within its walls. The story is packed with twists and turns, delivering a fast paced tale that builds towards the final mysterious outcome.

‘Hell House’ is bursting with graphic scenes of sexual deprivation as the house’s influence and history reveals itself. You’ll find yourself trapped within the pages of the novel as each horrific event is followed by another equally horrific event. Each characters sanity will be questioned on many occasion, as the terrible power that is held within the house corrupts and destroys the four inhabitants.

The novel is well written, with a diary like structure to the book that makes it very easy to read in small parts if desired. The tale is by no means a particularly scary tale, but it will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat from the outset. If you enjoy a good ghost story with an element of mystery then this is certainly a book for you.

The novel runs for a total of 301 pages and is released through Tor Books.


good, but not as good as the film.   November 6, 2003
S. Hapgood
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I read this solely because I had liked the film "The Legend of Hell House" so much. I didn't feel though that it was as effective at creating a disturbing atmosphere as the film was. The house itself for instance is different in the book. Whereas in the film it's a cobwebby, gloomy Gothic mansion, in the book it's a luxurious art deco-style palace, complete with swimming-pool and ballroom, like something out of the Great Gatsby. It sounds far more of desirable residence! I also feel the characters were better interpreted in the film. In the book it's hard to really care what happens to them.

Where the book IS better than the film is in the descriptions of Belasco's lifestyle. The film only refers to his dubious antics in a hysterical over-blown way, but in the book you get a detailed description of how he manipulated his guests, and just how horrifying his final house-party was. There is almost something Sadean about the descriptions of the guests descent into a living hell. We could almost do with a remake of the film with those parts added in as a disturbing flashback. What a horror film that would make!


Very good, but perhaps not the classic I was expecting   September 29, 2002
Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae)
8 out of 12 found this review helpful

"Hell House is the scariest haunted house novel ever written. It looms over the rest the way the mountains loom over the foothills."

At least according to a certain Mr Stephen King.

I was very much looking forward to reading this supposed masterpiece, and I was only slightly disappointed. "Hell House"is quite well-written, although not as well as I'd expected, based on my (admittedly not too extensive) knowledge of Richard Burton Matheson.

It is thrilling at times, but never really frightening, and the characters are a little bit cardboard-y. But it is worth the read none the less, just don't expect it to be as scary (or as well-written) as "The Shining" or "Pet Sematary" by the aforementioned Mr King.

If you want pure terror, go for "Pet Sematary". That is, in my humble opinion, the single most horrifying novel ever confined to paper.