Do you know about the haunting story of the Winchester Mystery House? The San Jose, California house that is believed to be haunted by spirits and has been declared the “world’s most haunted house” will be brought to the screen in a new horror film by Hammer Films, the production company that brought you “The Woman in Black.” Hammer, an Exclusive Media company, has optioned all rights to develop and produce the film in conjunction with Imagination Design Works (IDW) and Nine/8 Entertainment
The Winchester Mystery House was built by Sarah Winchester, the heiress to the Winchester Rifle fortune. She was convinced she was being haunted by the ghosts of the people who were killed by Winchester rifles (“the gun that won the west”), and, at the behest of the a medium, Winchester built the sprawling home in an effort to appease the spirits. However, for the next 38 years, she never stopped building her home because she believed that if she continued, she would live forever, and if she didn’t she would die. Today, this house is known as the “house built for the spirits,” and there have been many ghost sightings and terrifying stories to not only fuel visitors’ nightmares, but to create a film masterpiece.
“The Winchester House has a rich and compelling history. The story behind how it was built has attracted a great deal of attention over the years and we are excited to bring that mythology to film,” said Tobin Armbrust, the president of worldwide production and acquisitions for Exclusive Media. “We are also thrilled, and terrified, that the House has allowed us to film on the premises”.
Brett Tomberlin, president of Imagination Design Works, said, “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Exclusive Media to bring the story of the Winchester Mystery House to a global audience. For many years, the mystique and history of this unique venue, and its owner Sarah Winchester, could be experienced only by those visiting the site. Now, with a film shot in and around the House, Sarah’s spirit will be brought back to life, and the audience will see first-hand this stunning and bizarre house”.
If you can’t wait for the film and you want to be scared as soon as possible, Imagination Design Works, Inc. organizes their famous “Fright Nights,” a special ticketed event held at the Winchester Mystery House during the highly-appropriate month of October.
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Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, 571113