Hell House LLC (film series)
Found-footage horror series about a haunted hotel.
Hell House LLC is an American found-footage horror film series from creator Stephen Cognetti. The franchise includes five movies, all produced by Joe Bandelli, with different casts and cinematographers working on each installment. The first three films center on a fictional abandoned haunted house attraction called Hell House LLC, which was originally known as the Abaddon Hotel. These entries explore the hotel’s backstory and the experiences of the attraction’s staff.
The first film, *Hell House LLC* (2015), is presented as a documentary. It follows a group of Halloween haunted house creators getting ready for the 2009 opening of their attraction, Hell House. On opening night, an unexplained “malfunction” kills 15 visitors and staff members. The movie shows what led up to the tragedy and reveals what actually went wrong, details that had stayed hidden from the public. It became available on video-on-demand services like Amazon Video, Shudder, YouTube, Vudu, and iTunes on November 1, 2016.
*Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel* (2018) debuted on Shudder on September 20, 2018. Its plot follows a group of journalists who gather to investigate the Abaddon Hotel, which has been abandoned again after the events of the first film. The movie expands on Andrew Tully, a character from the original, and his plan to open a gateway to hell. None of the journalists survive the hotel. The only person police find alive is later revealed to have been dead all along, sent out to lure others to the location. *Bloody Disgusting* reviewed the film, calling it a “well-intentioned misstep.”
*Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire* (2019) came out as a Shudder exclusive on September 19, 2019. It is the third installment. The film is styled as a documentary about Russell Wynn, a wealthy, mysterious entrepreneur who wants to turn the Abaddon Hotel into the site of an immersive theater experience called “Insomnia,” based on the story of Faust.
*Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor* (2023) works as both a sequel and a prequel to the 2015 film. It is the fourth entry in the franchise. The cast includes Bridget Rose Perrotta, Destiny Leilani Brown, James Liddell, and Gideon Berger.
*Hell House LLC: Lineage* (2025) is the fifth movie in the series, written and directed by Stephen Cognetti. It was announced in July 2024 with a teaser trailer. Filming started on October 29, 2024, and
- creator
- Stephen Cognetti
- producer
- Joe Bandelli
- first film release
- November 1, 2016
- number of films
- 5
- genre
- Found-footage horror
- notable platform
- Shudder
Lore & Background
The series began with Hell House LLC (2015), shot as a documentary following a group of Halloween haunted house creators preparing for the 2009 opening of their attraction. Tragedy strikes on opening night when an unknown 'malfunction' causes the death of 15 tour-goers and staff. The film reveals the lead-up to the tragedy, details of which remained a mystery to the public. It was released on video on-demand platforms on November 1, 2016.
Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel (2018) centers on journalists exploring the abandoned hotel after the first film's events. It fleshes out character Andrew Tully and his goal of opening a gate to hell. None of the journalists leave alive; the sole survivor found by police is revealed to have been dead all along. Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire (2019) follows a wealthy entrepreneur who wants the hotel for an immersive theater experience based on Faust.
Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor (2023) serves as both a sequel and prequel to the first film. Hell House LLC: Lineage (2025) was announced in July 2024, filmed from October 29, 2024, released in theaters in August 2025, and streamed on Shudder in October 2025. Cognetti stated it may be the final installment.
Reader's Guide
The Hell House LLC series is significant as a modern found-footage horror franchise that expanded its mythology across five films, maintaining a consistent focus on the Abaddon Hotel and its supernatural backstory. The series gained traction through streaming platforms, particularly Shudder, which hosted multiple installments. The first film's documentary style and mystery around the opening night tragedy established a cult following. The second film was criticized by Bloody Disgusting as a 'well-intentioned misstep,' while later entries like The Carmichael Manor and Lineage continued the narrative. The series' legacy lies in its sustained exploration of a single haunted location across interconnected films, with the final installment possibly concluding the story.
Did You Know?
- The series consists of five films, all produced by Joe Bandelli.
- Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel was released on Shudder on September 20, 2018.
- Hell House LLC: Lineage began filming on October 29, 2024.
- The first film was released on multiple platforms including Amazon Video, Shudder, YouTube, Vudu, and iTunes.
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