Later film creations confused blood-and-guts for creepiness, and I can scarcely think of a modern horror film to match those early ones for atmosphere.Įverything Lovecraft did later with atmosphere and pseudo-realism started here.

And frankly, for atmosphere and creepiness, the early ones were the greats. The scenes played out like an old black-and-white horror film, creepy music and all. Let’s say right here Hodgson does spooky atmosphere as well as anyone, and the fact this book was first published in 1908 doesn’t make a bit of difference. The fishermen grab the book and make a run for it. There is a scary lake, unexplained noises and jumpy vibes. The ruin is situated in sinister abandoned orchards and gardens, perched on a lip of stone hanging over a deep chasm filled with a torrent. The House on the Borderland purports to be a diary found in an old Irish ruin by two vacationing fishermen. Lovecraft later followed the same dead-pan this-is-real tone Hodgson first used. Finding a recent re-issue of the book, I decided to re-acquaint myself. Like Hodgson’s The Night Land, lingering first impressions were powerful. I had a vague and garbled memory of Hodgson’s 1908 ground-breaker The House on the Borderland from so many years ago I can’t say how far back it was, except I suspect I was twenty pounds lighter than I am now and still a red-head. Some time back I made a resolution to read or re-read many of the great classics in science fiction, fantasy and horror. The House on the Borderland Author: William Hope Hodgson

The house of the borderland