The Haunting- Cult Film Review

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is probably the most famous haunted house story ever written. I had heard great things about the classic 1963 film adaptation directed by Robert Wise, who is also known for his impressive work on beloved films such as West Side Story (1961) and The Sound of Music (1965). I found myself wondering, it couldn't really be that scary, could it? As the dark autumn nights began to draw in, I thought it would be the perfect time to finally give it a watch and see for myself what all the excitement was about.

At the very beginning, we learn about the sinister and unsettling history of the building through a dramatic and captivating narration, “An evil old house, the kind that some people ominously refer to as haunted, is like an undiscovered country waiting to be explored by brave souls. Hill House has stood for an impressive 90 years and might very well endure for 90 more. Silence lay steadily and ominously against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there…walked alone, isolated in its own chilling presence.”

Wow, what a way to get you into the fright night zone!

We are introduced to supernaturalist Dr. Markway who wants to investigate the paranormal activities within Hill House. He has a list of 6 volunteers drawn up who each have their own backstory as they investigate the haunted house, however only 3 turn up though as the others were scared off by the reputation of the place.

The characters are the usual ragtag crew:
- Eleanor Lane, the anxious and highly strung spinster sister, who feels like she is a burden upon her married and settled sister. She is an empath and feels presences. She is called to the house as she had an experience with a poltergeist when she was 10 years old.
- Theodora, a sassy and confident young woman who doesn't put much stock in the spooky, has ESP powers but is a mean card shark as well as a bit mean.
- Luke Sannerson, a confident and cocky bachelor, who will inherit the house from his aunt when she passes and is just in this game for a lark. He is an unbeliever.

The film continues to be remarkably impressive and captivating even 60 years after its initial release.

This is the first time I have ever seen the film, and as is usual with cinema of a certain vintage, it is a deliberately slow-paced affair that gradually cranks up the tension in a most effective manner. The black-and-white cinematography is truly superb, making the most of the shadows and employing interesting and creative use of camera angles that collectively contribute to making the entire viewing experience unsettling and unnerving. Hill House itself is beautifully gothic on the outside, but the set designers have really outdone themselves with the exquisite detail they have placed in the set dressing, reflecting a high level of craftsmanship. The intricately carved wooden details found on the furniture, beams, and staircase add to the rich baroque gothic vibe, while the thoughtfully chosen creepy statuary, haunting paintings, and chintzy decor evoke a Mrs. Havisham feeling of faded past glory that has begun to fall into disrepair over time.

The sound design is suitably eerie and the effective foley work adds door slams, thuds and creaks that will add that extra chill to proceedings. The actors give it their all and I especially enjoyed seeing Russ Tamblyn who I only knew and loved as Dr. Jacoby from Twin Peaks. He plays the arrogant and self-assured nephew well but this isn't to detract from the other actors, Julie Harris, Claire Bloom and Richard Johnson all do a great job in what is essentially a story told with a tiny cast of just 4 main people.

Sure, it doesn't have the special effects or jump scares that many horror films use now but it does have an excellent central conceit and a suite of actors and actresses who give it their all. The final 15 minutes, when the shizz hits the fan and the door starts to pulse to the rhythm of the houses heartbeat is extremely well done and, like The Woman in Black, the less is more economy of design works in its favour.

Even after approximately 60 or so years since its initial release, the film remains well worth a watch and continues to deserve its esteemed status as a gothic horror classic.