The 10 episode series premieres on Friday, October 12 on Netflix.
A modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson's iconic novel, The Haunting of Hill House explores a group of siblings who, as children, grew up in what would go on to become the most famous haunted house in the country. Now adults, and forced back together in the face of tragedy, the family must finally confront the ghosts of their past -- some of which still lurk in their minds while others may actually be stalking the shadows of Hill House.
Created, directed and executive-produced by horror mastermind Mike Flanagan (Hush, Oculus, Gerald's Game), The Haunting of Hill House is a complex family drama wrapped in a chilling horror story.
~ As usual with Netflix shows, please spoiler tag discussion for two weeks after release. ~
Cast
· Annabeth Gish
· Carla Gugino
· Elizabeth Reaser
· Henry Thomas
· Julian Hilliard
· Kate Siegel
· Lulu Wilson
· Mckenna Grace
· Michiel Huisman
· Oliver Jackson-Cohen
· Paxton Singleton
· Timothy Hutton
· Victoria Pedretti
· Violet McGraw
Videos
· Official Trailer
· Behind the Scenes
Reviews
GQ said:Here's a fact: There has never been a great horror TV series. Try to think of one. Black Mirror? That's a sci-fi anthology and you know it. Channel Zero? I said great. American Horror Story? How dare you waste my time like this.
Here's another fact: Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House is the first great horror TV show ever. The series, based on Shirley Jackson's novel of the same name, pulls no punches when it comes to not just scares, but also the brutality it puts its characters through, physically and emotionally. It's not for the faint of heart, and it's fucking fantastic.
TVGuide said:It's as though Flanagan has taken Jackson's original work, shattered it and then rearranged the pieces to create a completely original, but equally brilliant tale.
Variety said:A horror series that doesn't immediately make a case for itself; like the best of the genre, it's slowly insinuating, building in power as it tells a story of repressed trauma and family discord. It's an effective scare-fest that is at its best when the tale does more than jolt the viewer.
Slant said:The Haunting of Hill House is less than an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 gothic horror novel of the same name than an echo of it. Few characters and scenes overlap, but the ones that do are notable, not least of which for the way there's both beauty and eeriness in their tension, such as one instance of paranormal handholding. There's no investigation here into the existence of the supernatural—or, rather, its nonexistence—at least not in the conventional sense. Everyone in the present is driven by what they experienced—or didn't experience—in the past, struggling to determine who they exactly are outside of Hill House.
It's a kind of riff on madness in its many forms, a sojourn of loss and regret.
TheVerge said:There are moments in The Haunting of Hill House that are downright terrifying, particularly if watched at home, alone, in a darkened house. It's a real reminder of how underserved TV audiences are when it comes to true, high-caliber original horror. Shows like Castle Rock flirt with scares, and American Horror Story succeeds in upping the weirdness ante every season. But Flanagan's show is genuinely haunting in a way television rarely accesses.
The Haunting of Hill House ultimately comes together in a way that's both scary and unexpectedly moving. In the end, it offers its own fresh twist on ghosts and haunted houses, while leaving plenty of room for future installments.
If Flanagan was setting out to reimagine what a haunted house story could be — whether in tone, medium, or emotional context — then The Haunting of Hill House is unquestionably a success. It's not a perfect journey, and there are plenty of bumps along the way. But it's a series that will stick in people's minds — not because of the familiar things it does, but for all the things it dares to do differently.
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