Hammer Films options right to base a movie on the infamous Winchester Mystery House

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

You ever been to or heard of the infamous Winchester Mystery House?

Well, Hammer Films thinks enough of the California attraction to base an original motion picture on it. If you’re unfamiliar, the Winchester Mystery House is said to be “the most haunted house in the world.” It’s located near the neck where I grew up, in San Jose, California. Sadly, I’ve only ever driven past it. So sad.

Here’s the official presser from Hammer:

In the first deal of its kind, the San Jose, California based Winchester Mystery House considered the “world’s most haunted house” is authorizing Hammer, an Exclusive Media company, the use of its unique property for a feature film based on its legendary story. Hammer has optioned all rights to develop and produce the feature film with Imagination Design Works (IDW) and Nine/8 Entertainment, it was announced today by Simon Oakes, Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media and President & CEO of Hammer, and Guy East and Nigel Sinclair, Co-Chairmen of Exclusive Media.

The Winchester Mystery House has a startling history and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually. Popular belief holds that Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester Rifle fortune, was convinced she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by “the gun that won the west.” Following a Medium’s advice, Sarah built a massive house in Northern California to appease the spirits. For the next 38 years, she never stopped building believing that if she continued, she would live forever, and if she stopped, she would die. Known as the “house built for the spirits,” there have been many inexplicable ghost sightings and to this day, visitors share their terrifying stories of having been in the presence of these departed souls who continue to roam the grounds of the intricate and enigmatic house.

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 IDW’s Tobin Armbrust. “We are also thrilled, and terrified, that the House has allowed us to film on the premises”.

Sounds pretty rad to me, not only to see an attraction your familiar with become the basis of a movie, but because Hammer seems pretty intent on getting original flicks made (THE WOMAN IN BLACK notwithstanding). 

Whom they hire to write and direct will be interesting to see.