Runtime: 112 minutes
Directed by: Robert Wise
Starring: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn, Fay Compton
From: MGM
As The Haunting of Hill House was popular and well-received on Netflix and The Haunting of Bly Manor (based on another famous horror novel) will debut on the platform in about a week, this seemed like an opportune time to discuss what I hear is a loose adaptation of the novel by Shirley Jackson. I have seen some negative reviews for this and those can't be faulted. It isn't a purely haunted house movie like The Conjuring where it's solely some demonic force raising hell and scaring the pants off of both its inhabitants & any interlopers. Plus, there is plenty of narration from one character done as internal monologues.
Rather, this story surrounding a researcher who selects several people to join him to chronicle the events of a house that's always been haunted... it is more psychological and the focus is on a troubled young lady whose mind is further fractured by being at Hill House. It is rather frightening to see someone be in the midst of a mental breakdown, not to mention the implication that the creepy mansion also drove its previous residents mad.
The Haunting manages to be effective for several reasons. It has a quality cast who all perform well, but Julie Harris as Eleanor-commonly referred to as Nell-was the standout as the mentally troubled lady. Personally it was nice to see Lois Maxwell in a small role as someone besides Miss Moneypenny. It was filmed in an off-kilter oft-unnerving fashion, which only heightened the eerie feeling of the mansion we spend most of the movie's runtime in. Finally, both the usage of music-or lack thereof-and sound was important. To be frank, the evil in the house makes its presence known chiefly from such acts as slamming doors or pounding on doors.
Thankfully this movie was a fun ride even with its methodical pace and it subverting expectations somewhat (thankfully not like in The Last Jedi!). I haven't seen any other adaptation of the story... yes I do realize it's likely fortunate that not even a minute of the 1999 remake has been seen with my own eyes!
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