8 Signs Your House Is Haunted, According to Horror Movies

Is there an older person who seems to know way too much about the history of your home? Is he or she always dropping subtle warnings, or catching themselves when they've revealed too much? Whether it's a groundskeeper, a maid, or a nosy neighbor, chances are these individuals are privy to disturbing things that went down in your home.

As seen in: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, The Shining, The Others

You're a rational person, so when irrational things start occurring in your home, you head to the library or start Googling away. What you find isn't exactly comforting — either your property was built on top of a sacred burial ground, or was the site of an atrocious mass murder. You can paint the walls cheery colors and burn all the sage you want, but it's gonna be tough cleansing your house of its dark past.

As seen in: What Lies Beneath, The Amityville Horror, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, The Haunting, The Conjuring, The Pact, The Grudge

Sometimes ghosts can be very literal. If they're actually writing out messages on your wall — typically in blood — telling you to leave, or threateningly whispering suggestions that you vacate the premises, you probably want to heed their advice.

As seen in: The Amityville Horror, Oculus, The Uninvited

Sure, kids say the darndest things, but if your little ones make mention of the creepy creatures they're seeing during the night, telling you about their imaginary friends, or swear they aren't responsible for the mysterious things that have been happening in your home, you may want to believe them.

As seen in: The Others, Poltergeist, The Conjuring, Mama, Insidious

Didn't you just drill that photo that always falls off the wall? And yet, it has somehow shattered once again. If the same objects keep falling over and over again, it's not the wind knocking 'em over. You've probably got a not-so-friendly ghost on your hands, and the spirit isn't a fan of you or your knickknacks.

As seen in: Paranormal Activity, Poltergeist

Ever since moving into your dream home, your spouse has been acting a little peculiar. Normally happy partners suddenly become irrationally angry and suspicious of your every move. They may even take to brandishing weapons like axes, which they probably don't intend to use to chop firewood.

As seen in: The Shining, The Amityville Horror

Do you get the chills when you head to your attic or basement? Do the lights always go out when you're there? These two rooms are always a hotbed for supernatural activity, probably because they're the perfect site for creepy creatures to dwell. Staying out of them might help, but it's only a matter of time before the evil lurking there makes its way to the main floor.

As seen in: The Haunting in Connecticut, Beetlejuice, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, The Conjuring, The Pact

We get it — you love Gothic architecture, old fixtures, or one of the many other charms that come with owning a historic home. But the older your property is, the greater the likelihood that someone died there at some point. Think about it: most ghosts hail from other eras. Can you remember the last time you saw a ghost dressed in contemporary clothing? Exactly.

As seen in: The Haunting, The Changeling, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Cold Creek Manor, House on Haunted Hill, The Awakening