Every day through October, the Department of Tangents brings you the Daily Horror Film Fest – one short horror film for every day of the month. It might be terrifying, it might be funny. It could be an homage classic monsters or something entirely new. Check back every morning for a new scare as we celebrate horror shorts!

Segundo de Chomon’s 1908 silent film “La Maison Ensorcelee” (a.k.a. “The Haunted House,” “The House of Ghosts,” or “The Witch House”) is considered a comedy by many likely due to its slapstick nature, but also one of the first films to use a haunted house as its setting. There is plenty here to set spines tingling, especially for audiences who might not have been hip to camera tricks at the time.

The stop-motion animation must have seemed amazing – bread that cuts itself, dancing ghosts and balls of fire. The image of the goat man who appears around the :54 is disturbing, slightly bigger than the people in the room falling all over themselves to keep away. For modern audiences, the film may have an uncanny feel, like spending a little too much time in your grandparents’ root cellar or an antique shop where you’re the only customer and the elder gentleman behind the counter is eying you the whole time you’re in the store.

There are a few different viewing options on YouTube, including some with updated music. This one was meant to be viewed in silence, however, at least the first time or two you watch it. Make that your first experience with this short, and then explore after that if you’re curious.

If some of these images seem familiar, you might be remembering them from their short cameo in Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook.