I wanted to look at how we perceive haunted locations nowadays compared to years ago.

We all know what the house will look like don’t we – an old, gothic mansion squatting at the top of a long, narrow driveway that has become overgrown by nature and forgotten by the populace. Perhaps an iron gate that hangs precariously off its hinges and creaks loudly as the visitor forces their way inside the grounds. Grotesque statues stare blindly down on the cowering guest as yes, you guessed it, a flash of lightening lightens up the dark, brooding sky as night swiftly falls, entombing the idiot who decided to check it out at such an ungodly hour in darkness!

Hammer films used this picture regularly as it had the desired effect; it scared the viewer, getting them ready for what was about to pounce onto the screen. I find varying degrees of the same old picture in books, leaflets, films, plays, record sleeves, T-shirts. If it’s supposed to be ‘spooky’ then let’s go with the ‘spooky’ house.

Hmmm, possibly too cliché for me?

So, has the ‘haunted house’ look become passé as the next generation comes striding in with their cargo of electrical gadgets that have made them fearless and impassive as they kill zombies and fellow humans left right and centre on their tiny screens?

Consider if you will, ‘The Shining’ by Stephen King. This film was brilliantly acted and the fear oozed from me as I watched it, but this was no gothic mansion or tumbled down Victorian house, this was a huge, fairly modern hotel. The sheer expanse of it was what, for me, made this more terrifying than a gothic, claustrophobic house could ever be. The long, open corridors, the grand dance hall, the very reception hall was open, leaving you in no doubt, there wasn’t anything hiding behind a door or chair, yet you knew they were NOT alone, you just couldn’t see it all the time. The echo of the tennis ball bouncing off the wall, only enhanced the fact of complete isolation and space – spooky!

Another concept I find frightening is – the ‘ordinary’ house that looks like everyone else’ yet inside manifestations of all kinds are going on, such as, walls oozing green gunge and blood, a poltergeist having a full on temper tantrum and making mincemeat of your furniture. A ghostly apparition that glides down the average stairs and stands over the quivering occupants, perhaps pointing in that obvious fashion they like to do? Even more terrifying would be the disembodied voice that yells at the owners to ‘GET OUT!’ but of course, they can’t, they have nowhere else to go. For many, this is more disturbing than the original concept of the haunted house. Your everyday Joe who cannot just pack up and move, they have put their heart, soul and last bit of cash into the building. There is nothing sinister about their surroundings other than the possible decor!

Looking further into that notion – how spooky is a ‘bungalow’ or a modern high rise flat? Perhaps a caravan is rocking all by itself or a picturesque cottage sitting silently in a beautiful, colourful garden is the host of some malevolent force? You see, it’s hard to digest that spirits/ghosts can ‘haunt’ absolutely anywhere but I have heard of hauntings in all of these types of homes. It seems new or old, it is not the building as such, but the energy contained within it. So, a gothic mansion may be preferable to your modern home as it helps keep the fear at bay, but the truth is, nowhere is safe!

P.J Roscoe – Author of ‘Echoes’ winner of the e-book category in the Paris book festival.