Horror Origins, Volume 1: The Exorcist, Hill House and Mothman

The discussion begins with Elizabeth Bathory, whose historical record and later reputation remain subjects of debate, then turns to The Exorcist and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. It also considers the story attached to Bathsheba Sherman and the house later associated with The Conjuring, along with the Cecil Hotel’s difficult history.

The final subjects are Slender Man, a modern internet character; West Virginia’s Mothman; the mirror legend commonly called Bloody Mary; and the folklore and social history reflected through Candyman. Together they show how horror transforms source material, but the episode does not treat fiction, legend and documented events as interchangeable.