The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. One of the first gothic horror stories, still read and debated today. Very scary. If you haven't read it, give it a try. There are also several different DVD editions.

http://yourehistory.wordpress.com/2007/09/09/historical-horror-fiction-the-turn-of-the-screw/

Thanks for mentioning that one, I never read it.  I think I saw a movie of it but I'm not sure.

I love turn of the screw.  the movie version called 'the innocents' with deborah kerr is the best movie version, i think, but there are more recent ones that are good too.

I finnished The Turn Of The Screw.  Yes, the movie was The Innocents.  I thought the book was better.  I don't remember the little boy dieing in the end.  I'm glad I read the book and I'm looking for another classic horror.  I read Dracula and Frankenstiens Monster of course.

Of all the classic horror books Ive read I most enjoyed Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the stories of Edgar Allan Poe.  I'm also reading the Woman in White right now and really like it so far.

I've never read the Turn of the Screw, but I saw the movie version with Colin Firth, and it didn't make any sense at all to me.

Hmmm I had no idea there was a Colin Firth version.  Gonna have to look that up right now!!!

Another author to try is Sheridan Le Fanu. I'm reading Uncle Silas: a Tale of Bartram-Haugh right now, and it's just too absorbing to put down! It is the quintessential Victorian gothic novel! Le Fanu is said to have heavily influenced Bram Stoker's Dracula and to have possibly influenced Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre as well.

Thanks for the ideas!  Sounds like it's best to read Turn of the Screw before seeing the movie?  The Le Fanu book sounds interesting, too!  I've added them both to my reminder list.

The Turn of the Screw movie with Colin Firth does not follow the book at all. And he's only in it for about 15 minutes. The old version 'The Innocents' with Deborah Kerr is way better. 

I didn't sleep for a week after seeing The Innocents with Deborah Kerr.........

It (TOTS) is a very chilling story, perfect to read around Halloween!!

The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorites..

Angelica is good too. Though not around long enought to be consdired a classic.

I agree, Bloomer, Hill House was a chiller.

I have The Turn of the Screw on my TBR at home. I'll also suggest Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey if some of you haven't read it-- Ms. Austen did a clever job of parodying the potboilers of the day.