If October entertainment should come with a little unease, Redlands theater has an appropriately haunted option this month.

The Haunting of Hill House is part of the local October calendar, bringing Shirley Jackson’s celebrated ghost story to the stage.

The story centers on investigators who enter a notorious mansion and discover that the house may be far more dangerous than strange noises and old legends.

Live theater is particularly well suited to this kind of suspense.

A darkened room, carefully timed sound and the audience’s imagination can do more than elaborate effects.

The production also gives residents an alternative to the usual October routine of pumpkin patches and costume parties.

It is seasonal entertainment without requiring a haunted maze or a drive to a major theme park.

The October 10 performance appears on the Redlands October events calendar.

That makes it easy to pair the show with dinner downtown or another daytime event.

The appeal is the contrast: Redlands can feel sunny all afternoon, then become considerably more mysterious once the house lights go down.

Anyone planning to attend should confirm the latest performance information and ticket availability with the presenting venue.

For horror fans and theater fans, Hill House earns a place on the calendar.