What is "hell house"

n. A haunted house attraction, typically run by a religious group, depicting the torments of the damned in hell.

Hell houses are haunted attractions typically run by Christian churches or parachurch organizations. These depict real-life situations, sin, the torments of the damned in Hell, and usually conclude with a depiction of Heaven. They are most typically operated in the days preceding Halloween.

A hell house, like a conventional haunted-house attraction, is a space set aside for actors to frighten patrons with gruesome exhibits and scenes, presented as a series of short vignettes with a narrated guide. Unlike haunted houses, hell houses focus on real-life situations and the effects of sin or the fate of unrepentant sinners in the afterlife.

The exhibits at a hell house often have a theme focusing on issues of concern to the whole public. Hell houses frequently feature exhibits depicting fundamentalist Christian interpretations of sin and its consequences. Common scare examples include abortion, homosexuality, raving and the use of alcoholic beverages and drugs, and teen suicide. Other hell houses focus on the theme of the seven deadly sins. Hell houses typically emphasize the belief that those who do not repent of their sins and choose to follow Christ are condemned to Hell.

Hell House is a novel by American novelist Richard Matheson, published in 1971.

A hell house is a haunted attraction typically run by American fundamentalist Christian churches.

Hell house may also refer to:

• Hell House, a television show on Investigation Discovery
• Hell House (novel), a horror novel by Richard Matheson
  • The Legend of Hell House, a movie based on Richard Matheson's novel
• Hell House (film), a 2001 documentary
• Hell's House, a 1932 film directed by Howard Higgin and starring Bette Davis.
• "Hell House" (Supernatural), an episode of Supernatural

Hell House is a 2001 documentary that was directed by George Ratliff that focuses on the idea of a hell house, a Christian-themed haunted attraction, in Cedar Hill, Texas. The film follows the youth group of the Cedar Hill Trinity Church, documenting the work involved in creating the hell house, the performances themselves, and the personal lives of some of the participants.