The Haunting of Hill House is a Netflix horror miniseries that is loosely based on the 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson. The show follows five members of the Crain family, whose lives are forever shaped by the ghosts of Hill House.
The story is told through alternating timelines, following the Crain family’s experiences at Hill House in the past and present, with flashbacks to events that happened before the family moved into the house. The show also features a variety of supernatural creatures and ghosts, including the Bent-Neck Lady, who haunts Nell, one of the Crain children.
As with most ghost stories, the question of why these ghosts exist can be a major determining factor as to whether or not they are scary. But the answer is not always as simple as it might seem.
Firstly, the house itself isn’t evil; rather, it acts as a prism that refracts elements of people’s personalities. This means that if someone with an off-kilter personality moves into the house, it will pick up on it and magnify that character.
There are many creepy things to see in the house, from a mysterious gnome to a spectral figure that glides around Nell’s room and steers himself with a cane. But the show’s biggest fear comes from a specter that has been stalking Nell since she was a child, a ghost called the Bent-Neck Lady who is particularly feared by the young girl.
In the beginning, the Bent-Neck Lady is a scary but relatively subtle presence, appearing in small, subtle ways to creep Nell out. But as the show progresses, she begins to take on a more threatening form, with her appearances increasing in frequency and intensity.
She even has a full-on scream at one point. This is a big deal for viewers, as it’s a huge departure from the original book’s narrative.
As a whole, the show isn’t afraid to go over the top, with a series of scream-worthy moments that leave the audience feeling anxious and on edge. In fact, Hill House is a perfect example of how you can take the most basic concepts in horror and make them feel like something entirely new.
While the story itself is very good and the cast is fantastic, the pacing is a little off, with the characters sometimes rushing to get through the story so they can move on. This is especially true when it comes to the flashbacks.
The story moves too quickly, and it’s hard to maintain an emotional connection to the characters when they are rushed to keep up with the ebb and flow of the story. Ultimately, the plot doesn’t really come together until midway through the series.
But there’s still so much to enjoy about this show. The Crain family is a fascinating bunch of characters, and the show is an impressive effort that’s well worth checking out if you enjoy the horror genre. The show is definitely a step up from other recent horror offerings, and it’s one you should consider adding to your list of must-watch shows.