An acknowledged classic of the psychological horror subgenre. The concept is interesting and original, and there are some genuinely creepy moments, but in the final analysis "Guildea" suffers from a plodding, overly literal execution. Its clinical, yes-this-is-really-happening atmosphere reminded me of Fitz-James O'Brien's "What Was It?", but this story is longer--much longer--and that works to its detriment, too. Had Hichens shaved off fifteen or twenty pages, it would have resulted in a tighter, more fully engaging tale. Still, "Guildea" has stood the test of time for a reason, and anyone with an interest in the evolution of horror literature should seek it out. It's the story of a haunting, yes, but a haunting quite unlike anything you'll find in the standard ghost yarn. ( )

Rien ne ressemble plus à un frisson de plaisir qu'un frisson d'horreur. Des femmes en proie à d'étranges désirs, des hommes habités par des forces primitives et perverses, des lieux maléfiques qui déchaînent les pulsions les plus incontrôlables, des êtres fantomatiques dont les étreintes sont aussi voluptueuses que monstrueuses... Lorsque les maîtres de la terreur rencontrent les meilleurs auteurs du thriller, les ardeurs de l'amour ressemblent à s'y méprendre aux flammes de l'enfer... ( )