| abstract
| - In Mark Z. Danielewski's enigmatic novel House of Leaves, an individual named Johnny Truant discovers the manuscript of his recently deceased neighbor Zampanò. The manuscript is an academic work concerning an unusual documentary called "The Navidson Record" (made even more unusual by the fact that Zampanò was blind). Within "The Navidson Record", the focus is on subject Will Navidson and his family's residence in The House (sometimes known as the "House of Leaves") on Ash Tree Lane.
- Johnny Truant finds Zampanò's notes about The Navidson Record, an unusual documentary film about the account of photojournalist Will Navidson and his time at a most unusual house. He notes the unusual condition of Zampanò's apartment, such as being completely black and lined with measuring tape as if to always check on the size of the interior. He then takes it upon himself to be the manuscript's editor, incorporating his own notes and elements into the narrative. Navidson, his partner Karen Green, and their children move into the House as an attempt to become closer as a family and to ease Karen's tensions caused by Navidson's lengthy absences. It seems like the best life until Navidson notices the unusual differences in measurement of the interior compared to the exterior. As time goes on, the house's interior continues to expand from a mysterious new door in their children's bedroom to a series of labyrintine passageways that form under the house and extend seemingly forever into darkness. Navidson becomes more and more intrigued and obsessed with photographing and videotaping the expansion, aided by his estranged twin brother Tom and friend Billy Reston. Their first recording becomes the infamous "The Five and Half Minute Hallway". Determined to investigate further, Navidson hires renowned wilderness explorer Holloway Roberts and his two man crew Wax and Jed. The explorers make their way into the labyrintine passageways but Holloway's resolve crumbles as he starts to believe that his group is being stalked by a monster. He shoots Jed, believing him to be a stalking beast, and then is driven to further insanity by the House, attempting to kill Navidson and Reston when they descend. Reston saves Navidson and Holloway's men and gets them back to the surface (although Jed dies from his wounds and the rope supporting Navidson breaks). The House then entraps Holloway in a series of locked-in corridors, breaking him down to the point of committing suicide. A recording made by Holloway before his death, later found by Navidson, shows the House engulfing Holloway's corpse in darkness, either consuming him or simply burying the body in the expansion. Navidson is later saved by Karen conquering her claustrophobia. In the climax of The Navidson Record, the House comes to life and violently tries to kill the Navidsons by swallowing them. Tom manages to save Navidson and Karen's children but is killed when the house swallows him (described in a manner such as the floor becoming a treadmill). Ultimately, Navidson descends one final time and manages to escape mostly intact (save frostbite damage). In spite of all the physical and psychological damage caused by the House, Navidson and his family become much closer, thus showing how the House perversely fulfilled their desire.
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