Sensationalistic newspaper tycoon Rolf Rudolph Deutsch is on his deathbed. The eccentric millionaire wants proof of the supernatural, ghosts and, more importantly, what lies beyond death so he hires three paranormal experts to investigate the "Mount Everest of haunted houses" to get him some answers.

The house in question is a dark and foreboding place of dubious and murderous reputation. It is secluded in backwater Maine and surrounded by an eternal fog and Bastard Bog. It's owner and architect, Emeric Belasco, was the bastard son of a munitions maker, a giant raging mad man known to partake in "drug addiction, alcoholism, sadism, bestiality, mutilations, murder, vampirism, necrophilia, cannibalism" and other unspeakable things. 

In the early 1900's after his wife committed suicide he sealed his house up from the outside world trapping himself, his cronies and disciples inside. The depravity that happened next can only be left to the imagination. The house was eventually broken into by relatives looking for lost family members but everyone had come to a gruesome end. No one knows for sure how many people actually died in Belasco House but one death cannot be confirmed because no one could ever find the body of Emeric Belasco. 

No one could claim or occupy Belasco House due to all the mysterious and deadly phenomenon that occurred there. It's reputation and body count grew and by the '40s a group of professional paranormal investigators including famed psychic whiz kid Ben Fischer mounted an expedition to study the house. Several days later the entire team had come to a violent end inside the house except Fischer. They found him on the front porch, naked, in a fetal position and he stayed in a coma for six months but eventually recovered. After that disaster, the Belasco House had a new name, Hell House.

Believe it or not that's just the backstory and first few chapters of Richard Matheson's Hell House but it's quite the titillating set up to a truly fascinating book. 

Our meager group faces danger both internal and external. Conflicts arise as bitter "professional differences" won't allow them to agree on the nature of Hell House dividing them into two camps as the possessed house starts to get it's hooks into them both physically and mentally.

Barret is a skeptic on the spiritual aspects of the phenomenon. He believes in the paranormal but only as a science. Good and evil, souls or the afterlife don't enter into it. Barret thinks the house has a great deal of psychic energy stored and "in essence the house is a giant battery the residual energy of which must be tapped by all who enter it." In other words, if you believe the house is haunted then the "residual energy" will manifest itself that way. He also has a plan to rid the house of this excess energy.

Tanner is the spiritual leader of a religious sect and feels the house is a controlled multiple haunting. There is supposedly more than one ghost haunting Hell House but Belasco keeps the other spirits trapped here not allowing them to pass on to either heaven or in most cases hell. She is a mental medium (telepathic and empathetic) and intends to help those pour souls move on and give the house a cleansing. 

Fischer, on the other hand, is both a mental and physical medium (telekinesis) but intends only to put up a strong psychic barrier and wait the week out and collect his money. He has no real intentions of tangling with Hell House again.

Matheson is also able to bring the reader a sense of dread and foreboding with an economical efficiency of words that a lot of writers could learn from. One thing Matheson isn't is verbose. A lot is left to the imagination. He handles action scenes in the exact same way. Keeping things nice and taught as the reader burns through the pages to see what happens next. Florence's initial sitting and summoning of the spirits and later during the poltergeist attack in the dining room where everything turns into a projectile is a great example of this.

If you will allow me a brief interlude here Matheson's economic efficiency is actually displayed better in his book I Am Legend. With a few simple words and descriptions he can make several months pass as Morgan teaches himself the knowledge he needs to fight off the vampire contagion.

In Hell House his characters are likeable, annoying, heroic, sanctimonious, stubborn and more brave then they should be in some situations and also rightly frightened in others. In other words, very human considering the circumstances. The most interesting character in the whole story, however, is the house itself from the moldy steam and pool room and dank cellars to the profane chapel. In a sense the house is Belasco through all it's manifestations and dirty deeds. 

The book is not without it's flaws, though. Matheson seems to enjoy tormenting and degrading poor Florence Tanner a little too much. He really stacks the deck against her and runs her through the ringer. Barrett accuses her of manipulating the house's energy against him. She is savagely attacked by spirits and always seems to be naked when this happens. She becomes obsessed with the spirit of Belasco's son, Eric. I was a little uneasy with the scene where she tries to exorcise Eric's spirit by having sex with it. Then again, he doesn't really treat Edith all that better, either.

Again, I won't spoil the ending, but it kind of chickens out on whose theory is right. I wasn't completely satisfied with it but that could be due to a let down after such a great build up. I have the same reactions to a lot of good books I read. There really isn't anything wrong with the ending I just don't want them to end hence the disappointment. Still, I highly recommend the book. If you're interested in reading it I suggest you skip the movie review as I will reveal how it all ends. Cool? Cool. 

If, however, I've intrigued you enough that you just can't wait, read on as we take a look at the Matheson's own adapted screenplay for The Legend of Hell House and learn a little bit more about Matheson and his huge body of work.

Second: The Film

The film transplants the action from America over to Great Britain but like in the book we open not in Hell House but in the palatial home of eccentric millionaire Rudolph Deutsche.

Deutsche (Roland Culver) offers to pay Dr. Lionel Barret $100,000 if he can prove the existence of life after death. Barret (Clive Revill) is a physicist and parapsychologist whose spent the last twenty years debunking the paranormal. Deutsche wants him to lead an expedition into the infamous Belasco House thinking his answers can be found there.

Barret is taken aback by this. He thought "Hell House" had been sealed since "the incident" twenty years ago. (His inflection on "the incident" tells us whatever it was it wasn't very nice.) The Belasco family needs money that Deutsche is happy to pay. He wants the answer before he dies. 

The team will be rounded out by Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) a religious mental medium and Ben Fischer (Roddy McDowell) a physical and mental medium and the only unscathed survivor of "the incident." It turns out that twenty years ago during the last investigation into Hell House Fischer barely got alive while the others met their death, disfigurement or were driven completely insane.

Deutsche only gives them a week because his time is short. Barret makes arrangements with the old man's people to have his equipment delivered to Belasco's house and to finish building a machine of his own design that he claims will solve the secret of Hell House. Barret is promised that the machine will be completed and delivered to the house in two days.

The team is rounded out by Barret's wife, Ann (Gayle Honeycutt) (changed from Edith in the novel), who he can't talk out of coming along despite the danger. She wants to be with him when he proves his new theory, besides, they don't believe in haunted houses. Barret warns that this is "Mt Everest of haunted houses."

Deutsche's man drives them to Hell House in his limousine. Along the way they pick up Fischer at the train station and Tanner at her church. The soundtrack turns more sinister as the road is engulfed in fog. The car comes to a halt and the four get out. They enter the main gate and make their way towards the house.

Ann notices that the windows are bricked up and the house is completely sealed up. Fischer says Belasco did that to keep people looking in or out. Tanner is already overcome by the house's evil presence. Barrett scoffs that they haven't even gotten inside yet. Fischer can't believe Barret's incredulous attitude towards Hell House. Doesn't he realize the true danger? He reminds everyone that "this house tried to kill me. It almost succeeded." 

After they get the generator going and the lights on Fischer gives them the nickel tour. He eventually leads them to the chapel. It is a profane place with blasphemous pictures on the walls topped of with a giant *ahem* erotic crucifix hanging over the altar. It gives off such a vile vibe that Tanner cannot even enter. She is soon overcome with the sound of wailing voices and retreats. Ann asks Barret why Fischer isn't affected. He replies that his psychic defenses must be stronger than hers.

Later they all regroup in the dining hall where Fischer gives us a history lesson on Emeric Belasco and his accursed house. Belasco was born in 1879 and built the house in 1919. He was a "roaring giant" and "frightening visage" Fischer quotes from Belasco's wife before she committed suicide. He was an evil man who partook in "drug addiction, alcoholism, sadism, bestiality, mutilations, murder, vampirism, necrophilia, cannibalism and a number of sexual peculiarities." 

Fischer continues that no one really knows what happened to Belasco. He sealed the house up with his cronies and disciples trapped inside. Several years later the house was broken into by relatives but everyone was dead. Twenty-seven in all but Belasco's body was never found. Ann asks how did it end. Fischer replies if it had ended we wouldn't be here now. Barret assures him it is about to end.

Tanner suggests they get to work and offers to do a sitting and try to channel the spirits of the house. She puts herself in a trance and mumbles something about a place of sickness. She claims there is a young man here who is trying to speak. She suddenly seizes up and a demonic voice channels through her spitting venom at the others ordering them "to get out before I kill you all."

Several objects in the room start to vibrate and shake while Tanner is possessed. Barret is astounded. Tanner is a mental medium and shouldn't be able to manifest any physical phenomenon. When Tanner comes out of her trance she claims it wasn't her, it was the spirits of the house.

After that they all turn in for the night. 

An unseen presence makes it's way inside Tanner's bedroom. She tries to communicate with it. She makes a connection and discovers it's Daniel Belasco, Emeric's son. It's a mischievous spirit as it tosses the blankets at Tanner. She asks why doesn't he leave the house and move on and the spirit responds by throwing a tantrum tossing several objects around and then slams the door. It's gone.

The next morning at breakfast Tanner reveals her meeting with Daniel. She's believes that if they can convince him to "move on" the house's power will be lessoned making their job easier. Again Barret doesn't put much credence to Tanner's notions or beliefs and her frustration with him grows. He asks her to perform another sitting under strict scientific study. She agrees.

Tanner is attached to Barret's equipment and he watches and monitors the readings as she once again goes into a deep trance. His machines record a drop in temperature and a rise in the electromagnetic fields. Ectoplasm starts oozing out of Tanner's fingers and starts to take shape. Barret manages to get a sample of it before something brushes past Ann causing her to scream. Tanner's spell is broken and she suffers a psychic backlash but quickly recovers.

Later, in the Barrets bedroom, Ann apologizes for ruining the sitting but Barret was more than satisfied with the results. The sample of ectoplasm fits his theory perfectly. The bulk of it is living matter produced by the human mind. 

In Tanner's room something waits for her under the covers but when she pulls them back nothing is there. The spirit is coy but she's not playing so it leaves the room in a rage again.

That evening as they gather in the dining room for dinner Tanner has had it with Barret's attitude and accuses him of doubt and distrust. She goes on a rant claiming all psychic phenomenon can be traced back to the bible and her power is gift from on High and an example of "God's manifestation in man."

Barret tries to apologize but his coffee cup explodes in his hand. The room comes alive as everything not nailed down goes airborne, most of it directed at Barret. While Fischer and Tanner watch dumbfounded the physicist barely dodges a falling chandelier but takes the brunt of a mirror crashing off the wall. Tanner finally yells for it to stop. 

That's all it takes as the room quickly falls silent. Tanner turns a stink-eye on Fischer thinking the house is using his powers and warns that he should leave. Ann helps Barret up and he accuses Tanner of "trying to get rid of both of us." Tanner denies responsibility but Fischer warns that she, not he, should get out of Hell House immediately.

Back in their bedroom Barret rips Tanner for the attack and calls all mediums tricksters and charlatans. Ann asks how could she have done that. He explains according to his theory that the house is a great power source of residual energy that Tanner was able to focus and direct towards him.

Tanner enters and tries to apologize saying it was Daniel trying to break up the team. It goes badly as Barret claims there is no such person. Tanner storms off determined to prove him wrong.

That night the house goes after Ann. While Barret sleeps Ann watches the shadows of a statue cast on the wall start having intercourse. She can't wake Barret but soon the shadow returns to normal. She fixes herself a drink and starts going through Belasco's library of dirty books.

Later Fischer finds Ann walking about under a spell. She wants Barret, Fischer and Tanner to have one massive orgy. Fischer tries to calm her down but she drops her robe revealing her birthday suit. Fischer slaps her out of it. Ann comes to and realizes she's naked. Fischer gathers up her robe and tells her she was just walking in her sleep.

Meanwhile Tanner's search for Daniel leads her down into the cellar. She hears voices that lead her to a brick wall. She manages to trip the release on a secret passage. It opens and she is overcome and cries out I've found you. Her joy is short-lived as a malevolent wind knocks her back and she screams.

Her screams bring the others. They find her in the cellar where she claims to have found Daniel and he attacked her. She shows them two bloody claw marks on her chest. Fischer and Barret enter the cellar and spy the secret room. Inside they find a skeleton chained to a wall. Fischer and Tanner remove the body and bury it outside where Tanner performs the funeral rites in hopes of releasing the tormented spirit.

That night Tanner's dreams turn to nightmares as the spirit of Daniel is still trapped inside the house. He claims that the only way he can be released if she makes love to him! She refuses and a black cat that's been lurking about from the beginning of the movie attacks Tanner and claws her viciously. Tanner retreats to the bathroom where the beast can't get at her.

The next morning Barret's machine arrives. It's a large doohickey covered in knobs and gauges. He is about to explain to Ann what it does when Fischer tells them Tanner's been attacked again. She refuses medical treatment from Barret so they leave.

Fischer again encourages her to leave before it's too late. Tanner feels communicating with Daniel is the key to Hell House. Fischer worries that Emeric might be up to some trick. They laid Daniel to rest so why isn't he at rest? Tanner offers that the house is a controlled multiple haunting with several spirits lorded over by one dominant spirit - Emeric Belasco. "He's like a general, never in a battle but always controlling it!"

Fischer leaves her but finds Ann in a trance again in the dining room. She's feeling a bit randy and claims this is where most of Belasco's debauchery took place. She offers herself to Fischer but sees Barret spying on them from the top of the stairs. She screams and faints.

Barret doesn't hold it against her and blames the house. Fischer warns him to get her out because that wasn't the first incident. He warns Barret that the house has gotten to Tanner and Ann. Barret then turns on Fischer claiming that Deutsche is wasting a third of his money. He accuses Fischer of shutting himself off and being completely worthless to the investigation.

After Barret storms off Fischer takes a seat. He then steels himself and slowly drops his mental guard and opens himself up to the house. He is quickly overwhelmed, screams and drops to the floor in convulsions.

Later, after he's recovered, Fischer again tries to talk Tanner into leaving before it's too late. She says the house has nothing that they can't handle. Fischer says that's a load of bull then recounts the tragedy that occurred twenty years ago. Lillian, a fellow psychic, threw herself off the balcony to her death crushing both her legs. Dr. Graham crawled out of the house to die. Dr. Rand was paralyzed and Finley was crippled and driven insane. 

He admits to her that he is shutting himself off from the house and will do so until he is far away from Hell House and suggests she do the same. Fischer leaves her alone and finds Barret and Ann tinkering with his machine.

Barret explains that the house is like a giant batter of stored energy waiting to be channeled. What the machine will do is, brace yourself, reverse the polarity on the stored electromagnetic radiation and drain the house of energy rendering it harmless. 

Fischer says he's crazy and calls it a pile of junk. He warns that Hell House will allow visitors and only attacks when provoked. Why don't they lay low like him and then tell old Deutsche whatever he wants and then spend his money in good health if not good conscience.

Back in her room Tanner is overcome by the voices again. This time she finally relents and gives her body over to Daniel's spirit hoping the love she gives will end his torment. The spirit then molests and rapes her while she asks God's forgiveness then screams.

The others burst in and find her giggling covered in more scratches. 

Fischer spends the night watching over Tanner. She wakes up but she's possessed by the spirit. She weeps claiming the evil is inside her trying to take over. She switches back and forth between herself and the spirit but Tanner finally manages to assert herself and agrees to let Fischer take her away. 

They announce to the Barrets that they're leaving. Barret tells Fischer that he needn't come back either as he's about to fire up the machine and microwave Hell House clean. Tanner asks him to explain. Barret gladly does (you get the sense that this guy loves to hear himself talk.) He says the body produces an aura of electromagnetic radiation and when we die the aura is still around. 

Tanner agrees saying that is the soul and we use that to get to heaven. Barret disagrees, it has nothing to do with the soul and is only energy and with his machine the energy will be siphoned off thus "destroying" Hell House. Tanner answers that there's nothing left to do then and seizes a fire poker and whacks away at the machine. She knocks Fischer out before Barret can return the favor. Luckily she smashed nothing vital and it will only require minor repairs. Barret claims this proves his theory correct because Tanner tried to destroy his machine because it would disprove her beliefs.

While Barret and Ann fix the machine Tanner comes too and sneaks off. She finally enters the chapel and is overcome with wailing voices of torment. She presses on towards the altar reaching out further with her powers but the giant *ahem* erotic crucifix breaks away from the wall and lands on and crushes her. Before she dies Tanner realizes the truth behind Hell House and in her own blood scribbles a B inside a circle. Her screams bring the others but it's too late and they don't know what to make of her cryptic message.

They return to the machine and Barret switches it on. A steady hum grows louder and he orders everyone out of the house. While they wait outside the hum continues to grow in intensity and we hear the wailing of the spirits inside as they try to seek shelter from the radiation.

Enough time elapses and the machine completes its cycle and the three survivors return to the house. Barret asks Fischer to open up and check the house. Fischer can't believe it. He senses nothing. The house is clean. He calls Barret a genius and runs off to test the rest of the house.

Barret tells Ann to go and pack while he gets some final readings from his equipment. All seems well until his equipment starts ticking. Barret watches in amazement as the levels start going off the charts. The last words he can get out is "I do not accept this" before his sensors explode peppering his face with shrapnel. 

Ann returns and finds his equipment in ruins but no sign of Barret. She hears noises that lead her into the chapel where she finds her husband's dead body crushed under a chandelier. She screams and runs out right into Fisher. The entire house is clean except for the chapel. There is still an evil presence there. Ann begs Fischer to just leave with her but he gathers the strength to confront whatever is in the chapel for Tanner, Barret and himself.

Fischer enters the chapel and is assaulted by the wailing voices but makes his way to the bodies of his fallen comrades. He finally deciphers Tanner's message. She realized it too late but she and Barret were both wrong. It wasn't a multiple haunting or residual energy just one foul entity behind Hell House - Emeric Belasco. 

Fischer probes further and sees a pattern emerging. His old colleagues were crippled before being killed or driven mad. The crucifix crushed Tanner's lower body and the chandelier nearly severed Barret in two. It was all done to protect Belasco's secret and hidden shame. 

He challenges Belasco to try and destroy him. Ann pulls him away from another falling chandelier (how many of the damn things are there?) Fischer gathers himself and attacks Belasco again asking why did you never leave this house? Why were you always hiding in the shadows? He kicks it up a notch calling Belasco a son of a bitch and taunting his mother. 

Belasco keeps knocking Fischer back with a psychic blow but each one is less powerful then the one before. Fischer is relentless and reveals that Emeric Belasco was no "roaring giant" at all. He was a dried up husk of a man not even five-foot tall. The house lets out one final scream and then all is silent until the stained glass window behind the altar shatters.

They find a door behind the window. Fischer and Ann enter a secret room and find the preserved body of Emeric Belasco. Fischer claims that the truth lies somewhere in between Tanner and Barret's theories. Belasco was an evil spirit who refused to move on. A man of incredible ego who even chopped his own legs off to wear prosthesis to give him a larger appearance. Fischer notices the walls of his tomb were lined with lead and that's why Barret's machine had no effect on him in here. He would have remained in her protected for all eternity if they hadn't discovered the real truth.

Fischer escorts Ann out of the chapel. He comforts her saying he never would have beaten Belasco without her husband's machine weakening him first. He turns Barrets machine on again. This time there is nowhere for Belasco to hide. As it starts to hum they quietly leave Hell House for the last time.

The End

Richard Matheson detests genre labels. He's not a horror writer or a science fiction writer just a writer plain and simple. His motto is "a good story is a good story" and why categorize it beyond that?

According to all my research, I don't think Matheson was ever truly happy with any big screen adaptations of his novels. His first crack at a screen play was for his novel The Shrinking Man only because he wouldn't sign the rights over to Universal unless they let him write the screenplay. They accepted the screenplay but tinkered and changed a few things. Matheson was okay with it but you get a sense that it bugged him.