Ep 1. Hell House

A Haunting is a paranormal documentary TV series that focuses on re-enacted accounts of paranormal experiences. The first episode of season one is titled "Hell House," and it recounts the story of a family who moved into a seemingly idyllic home in Pennsylvania, only to find themselves besieged by malevolent spirits.

The episode begins with a couple, Jack and Janet Smurl, moving into a new house with their four children. At first, everything seems fine, but strange things start happening almost immediately. The family hears strange noises, doors and cabinets open by themselves, and strange smells permeate the air. The children start experiencing nightmares, and Janet feels a deep unease in the house.

Soon, the disturbances escalate, with the family seeing apparitions, hearing voices, and feeling invisible presences. One night, Jack awakens to find himself being strangled by an unseen force. The family contacts the church, which sends out a priest, Father Alphonsus, to investigate. Father Alphonsus performs an exorcism on the house, but this only seems to anger the entities inhabiting the home.

The Smurl family's situation becomes more dire as the haunting intensifies. Doors slam shut, objects are moved, and physical assaults become more frequent. Janet is attacked while in the shower, and the family starts to fear for their lives. Finally, they contact the Warrens, a paranormal investigative team who had previously worked on the Amityville Horror case.

The Warrens investigate the house and find that it is infested with multiple entities, some of them malevolent and demonic. The Warrens perform another exorcism, but the spirits seem to be resilient. The episode ends with the family still living in the house, but with the haunting seemingly subdued.

A Haunting's "Hell House" is a chilling episode that proves to be a great start to the series. The re-enactments are well done, and the storytelling keeps the viewer engaged throughout. The episode is not only scary but also thought-provoking, as it raises questions about the existence of paranormal entities, as well as the nature of evil. The episode also does a great job of documenting the toll that a haunting can take on a family, as the Smurls are shown struggling to maintain their sanity in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

Overall, "Hell House" is a must-watch for fans of paranormal documentaries. While some of the scares may seem clichéd by today's standards, the episode is still effective in building tension and creating a creepy atmosphere. The episode stands as a classic example of the type of stories that A Haunting is known for and is sure to please both skeptics and believers alike.