Horror at home: 'Hell House' movie series casts NEPA locations in starring roles

Oct. 29—For Stephen Cognetti, it's fun to feel frightened.

As a filmmaker in the horror genre, it's the Waverly Twp. resident's ultimate goal to offer that experience to audiences.

Now, just in time for Halloween, fans can catch "Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor" — Cognetti's latest installment of the "Hell House LLC" franchise — when it hits the streaming services Shudder and AMC+ on Monday, Oct. 30.

Filmed at Fern Hall Estate in Clifford Twp. and other locations in Northeast Pennsylvania, the standalone film in the "Hell House LLC" universe follows a group of internet sleuths staying at the fictional Carmichael Manor, where the unsolved Carmichael family murders took place in 1989.

The visitors of Carmichael Manor find out there's a lot more to the story, Cognetti said.

"When you make a horror movie and it's coming out on Halloween Eve, you just hope that everyone gets a good scare," he said. "That's what's fun about horror novels or movies, it's just the adrenaline rush of being scared, and it's fun. If you can make a good scare and people enjoy that about the film, then we did our job well."

Cognetti, an Abingtons native and 2000 graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, studied film at Temple University and lived in New York City before moving back to Northeast Pennsylvania with his family in 2016.

Fascinated by the idea of a Halloween haunted house tour gone wrong, Cognetti had written and directed "Hell House LLC," released in 2015.

"It took off, and it became kind of like a cult favorite for horror and the season," he said. "It went really well with horror fans."

Sequels "Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel" and "Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire" followed. All three films can be found on Shudder, AMC+ and other streaming services.

Similar to the original "Hell House LLC" trilogy, Cognetti took inspiration from true crime and set up a fictional documentary in the latest film using interviews and found footage to piece the story together.

Once Cognetti titled the script, he faced the challenge of finding the perfect setting for Carmichael Manor. Luckily, he came across Fern Hall Estate outside of Scranton and it matched his vision.

Melanie C. Balfour, who owns the historic property with her husband, Adrian, said in real life, guests come to experience Fern Hall Estate's natural beauty and architecture, as well as its Merino sheep farm.

"I think it's cool that it can play act in this other scenario, and still be this beautiful place that it is, with its real history," she said.

Another film, "The Eagle and the Albatross," used the property in the past.

Other sites for Cognetti's film included Circle Drive-In in Dickson City and Keystone Antiques in Fleetville.

Local people from Northeast Pennsylvania also served on the film's cast and crew. Robert Savakinus of Carbondale, a filmmaker known for works that showcase the region like "Scranton's Championship Season," held the title of production manager and had a small role.

He hopes the newest film in the franchise leaves audiences wanting more "Hell House LLC" and wondering what else the area where it was filmed has to offer.

"It shows the opportunities that filmmakers see in our area, that we have such unique locations, attractions and good local talent as well," Savakinus said.

"The Carmichael Manor" includes references to the "Hell House LLC" trilogy, but fans don't need to watch those films first to understand what's happening.

"If you haven't watched the original trilogy, I think you're still going to have a fun time watching this and being scared," Cognetti said.

He called the Scranton area a good hub for film production because of its proximity to New York City and major airports for those flying in from Los Angeles, but also said it's just exciting to feature sites in his own backyard.

"I love being able to film in Scranton and the surrounding areas, and I want to continue to do that," he said.

For more information about "Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor," visit terrorfilms.net.

Contact the writer:

bwilliams@scrantontimes.com; 570-348-9100 x5107;

@BWilliamsTT on X.