The Haunting of Hill House - Review

“Ghosts are guilt, ghosts are secrets, ghosts are regrets and failings. But most times a ghost is a wish.” – A review of The Haunting of Hill House. 

I love gothic horror. Give me terror, give me psychological horror, give me things that go bump in the night, and I am a very happy person. Whether it’s a book, game, film or TV series, I am always excited at the prospect of being scared by a piece of media. It’s the same kind of fear that comes from a roller coaster; you know you’re safe really, but the adrenaline is pumping, and you just can’t look away. As I write this, we’re getting closer and closer to Halloween, so it feels like the perfect time to revisit The Haunting of Hill House.

The Haunting of Hill House was adapted from the Shirley Jackson novel by Mike Flanagan in 2018 for Netflix. The adaption pays homage to the brilliant original text whilst being unafraid to put its own spin on the events that unfold as it combines some intense psychological terror with some genuinely moving and intimate family drama. I adored the book, and I am so pleased with the way in which the series respects the original text.

The show follows the Crain family, who had a series of spooky and mysterious experiences in their childhood home, Hill House. It follows two timelines; one explores the past and the terrifying events that occurred, whilst the other examines the consequences of the family’s trauma in the present day. A central theme throughout is the link between the supernatural and personal, as ghostly occurrences combine with very real issues such as loss, grief, guilt and addiction. Blurring these lines adds an element of believability, increasing the emotional impact of moving scenes and the feeling of terror in scary scenes.

Hill House itself is an oppressive location which really can be counted as a character in its own right. It has a true sense of unease, as the production design is full of small, subtle details and hidden spectres, amplifying the feeling that something is just wrong with it. Despite its size it has a feeling of claustrophobia, as if entering it would be the last thing you ever did, and that tense feeling of dread is something that continues throughout the show.

The house is strongly symbolic of unresolved family trauma, but this is not where the symbolism ends. Supernatural moments are strongly symbolic of pain, ghosts becoming metaphors for very real human suffering. This is so clever; the audience is invited to view the supernatural as both very real, literal threats as well as symbolic figures, adding more emotional weight to the series.

As the show focuses on the family as a whole, there is not one main protagonist. Instead, each character has their own development, backstory and depth, making the journey of the family as a whole feel more real and personal. Each actor delivers a nuanced and compelling performance which successfully and often emotionally captures the juxtaposition between the shared trauma and love between the family members. I became genuinely emotionally invested with all of them, and I cannot speak highly enough about the talented actors involved in the show.

I really enjoyed this series. The blending of terror and trauma created something deeply settling and spooky but also genuinely quite moving and engaging. This is the kind of show you’ll likely start and binge watch – Hill House will invite you in but will not easily let you go.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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