Classic Book Review: HELL HOUSE by Richard Matheson

The psycho-sexual, and emphasis on sexual, haunted house horror tale. A classic that follows the movie, 'The Legend of Hell House', very closely except 'the naughty bits' are cut out. Of course, Matheson also wrote the screenplay. Check out both.

Richard Matheson and James Gandolfini

Two giants have passed in less than a week. Artistically both are icons that can never be replaced.

My first exposure to Richard Matheson was "Little Girl Lost" from 'The Twilight Zone' a marvelously simple and devilishly creative story that later was mimicked in the movie 'Poltergeist'. It was my first 'Twilight Zone' and man was I hooked. His writings are many, famous and inspirational; like his contemporaries Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch, and Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson was a hero of mine. I am thankful for what he has left us and am sorry there won't be anymore.

James Gandolfini was an actors' actor. He was complex, varied and made it look easy. He will be remembered primarily for being Tony Soprano, but he was much more. Look at his stage and film work and you find an actor that dominated a role with grace and intelligence.

They both are missed already.