The Haunting of Hill House Review
The Haunting of Hill House
2018
TV-MA
I’ll start by saying this was one of the best Netflix series I have I ever seen. I have a love/hate relationship with the horror genre to say the least. Yacs says it’s like I’m torturing myself every time we all get together to watch a scary movie. I’m a textbook definition of an easy scare. However, one of the things I hate about horror is a movie or show that relies solely on jump scares and not so much on the story or message. I like a psychological horror that provokes thought and reflection. Both the writing and directing of The Haunting of Hill House absolutely knocked it out the park. I really felt for each character as a child and an adult due the outstanding performances given from each actor. Each episode is like looking at a puzzle that is slowly being put together until you finally see the whole picture at the end. I loved that and the way it was done. You learn what each character experienced in the house and how it affected them later in life. Hill House is methodical and deadly. It is a relentless entity that took its toll on each family member in a different way causing them all to develop unique coping mechanisms to process the torment. They had to face their own personal demons from the past and present in order to move forward. Those demons would only continue to fester inside until that was done. You can’t put your guard down when you watch this at all. That’s when it gets you. I had a few moments that gave me a good scare but there was one that stood above the rest. I was in my bedroom and got caught up in the back and forth dialogue among two of the sisters and then it happened. I literally yelled as if my life was about to end and had to take a moment to gather myself so I could continue. Thankfully, those type of moments were placed strategically so you would (mostly) never see them coming. You must expect the unexpected that’s what made it fun to watch. To mention again the amazing directing, I don’t want to spoil it, but I believe it was in episode 6 that there was an exceptionally long sequence where there were no camera cuts. I’m not sure if that is the correct term but it was impressive. You will know when it begins to happen if you are paying attention. That moment really stood out to me. There is so much more I could say about this series, but I think you should just watch it and see for yourself. My review doesn’t do it justice. Make sure to pay attention to the details and of course the hidden ghosts in the background. I noticed a few in the first couple episodes and began looking for them but there were so many that I missed. Super pumped to know that a second installment is already in the works for next year and will have returning actors from this chapter but a whole new story to tell. It’s predicted to be even more unnerving than Hill House. I don’t know if I can handle much more. 5/5