5. Haunted Houses
Haunted houses have been a staple of horror since the genre was created, with early gothic tales focusing on creepy but ambiguous happenings in old, creaky mansions. And everyone has heard or told ghost stories about spirits roaming abandoned houses. The obsession with haunted houses has continued with modern horror. Films like The Shining, and House on Haunted Hill terrified with depictions of houses so evil they corrupt and/or kill those who reside within. And contemporary ghost stories like Paranormal Activity updated the chills of haunted houses with modern technology (even if it starts to be a little unbelievable that everyone in this family has cameras strewn throughout their house). Now, Lovecraft did not invent the haunted house, but he developed classic themes in this sub-genre and added to them in a manner that has greatly--even if only implicitly--influenced modern horror depictions. Stories like The Unnamable and The Shunned House featured creepy buildings housing horrifying creatures. And others, including Rats in the Walls, Dreams in the Witch House and The Lurker at the Threshold (which Lovecraft left incomplete, and was finished by August Derleth) discuss the corrupting influences of past evil done in a place, which are visited on current inhabitants, often through blood ties. It is easy to see the influence of these works on modern haunted house depictions. The Shinings Overlook Hotel, whose evil past draws in impressionable minds, could readily fit into Lovecrafts world. And the Paranormal Activity movies unseen inexorable horror and multi-generational curse would have pleased Lovecrafts morbid soul. But Lovecrafts stories also go beyond these modern tales, adding nuance and depth to the idea of a haunted house. Dreams in the Witch House depicts a point at which different dimensions intersect, opening the door to supernatural encounters. And The Unnamable is a discourse on the nature of horror presented as a haunted house story, with a satisfyingly shocking ending. Because of these aspects of Lovecrafts haunted house stories, we can appreciate modern horror films even more.