| La Maison ensorcelée | |
| Director: | Segundo de Chomón |
| Distributor: | Pathé Frères |
| Runtime: | 6 minutes |
| Country: | France |
| Language: | Silent film |
La Maison ensorcelée (literally "The Ensorcelled House" from French, English: '''The House of Ghosts''',[1] also known as The Witch House) is a 1906 French trick film directed by Segundo de Chomón. The film features stop-motion animation and is considered one of the earliest cinematic depictions of a haunted house premise.[2] [3]
Two men and a woman stop at a small house in the woods. Inside, they experience numerous instances of paranormal activity, including disappearing furniture; a stereotypical ghost; movement of cutlery and food on their own; ball lightning; unexplained tilting of the entire home; and a grotesque being with claw-like fingers that attempts to eat the trio.
The film inspired director Jennifer Kent, and was included in a scene in her 2014 horror film The Babadook.[4] [5]