The Haunting

“An evil old house, the kind some people call haunted, is like an undiscovered country waiting to be explored. Hill House had stood for 90 years and might stand for 90 more. Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there... walked alone.”

I can’t believe director Robert Wise, the same guy who brought you West Side Story and The Sound of Music. I always like it when directors break away from their usual formula and do the unexpected when they succeed, it is glorious.

I loved the eerie music in this, with its simple notes, thuds of piano, and stretched-out instruments benefiting the spooky atmosphere. The black-and-white cinematography, with the darkness, shadows, and camera angles, made everything so unsettling. At the very beginning, we learn about the sinister history of the building. The building is described as pure evil and haunted by its past.

The movie may feel outdated and boring to some, but it’s the things that you don’t see, the dread of anticipation that something horrific will appear out of the shadows, the darkness that surrounds the land for many years, and the lives that were lost are yet to find peace. It’s horror movies like this that stays with you much longer.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Really interesting, beautiful movie. The house in question is beautifully shot, with impressive decoration and some wild camera movements/lens choices that got under my skin. The movie plays throughout with this question of how much we’re watching something supernatural vs. watching a woman (wonderfully played by Julie Harris) have a breakdown, and I thought it really elevated the material into something special. Add in a subtle queer subplot and one or two genuinely frightening jump scares, and it had me hooked.

"The Haunting" is a beautiful Black & White film based on a haunted house and one particularly haunted woman. I really like the atmosphere and the way Robert Wise builds tension and the dread of the unknown to generate frights. I wouldn't say "The Haunting" is a scary movie but it is effective in generating tension and mood. The direction is wonderful and features many memorable shots such as the suicide of the woman who inherited the house and the bulging door. Memorable scenes include the first bedroom scene where Nell and Theo are chilled by noises coming from the hallway and my favorite the second bedroom haunting where shadows and decorative wallpaper had me seeing faces in the walls. I'm not rating this one higher because I didn't take much of a liking to the main character Nell played by Julie Harris. My impression was that Nell was going through a nervous breakdown and I think the movie is as much about her decent as it is an evil house. That said I really enjoyed the character Dr. John Markway played by Richard Johnson. His educated curiosity was infectious and really drove the film. His explanations of the supernatural and how one should deal with them were fascinating. Claire Bloom (is it me or does Kate Beckinsdale look like her) plays Theo an absolutely gorgeous woman whose blessed with a gift of ESP. I've heard it mentioned that Theo is a lesbian who is attracted to Nell but I'm just as inclined to believe that her behavior toward Nell is because she can read Nell's troubled mind and Theo might be messing with her at times. Perhaps she's just not a very nice person or is truly jealous of the attention that Nell receives which is actually mentioned in the film on a number of occasions. And how can I not mention the real star the awesome Hill House. The perfect place to shoot a haunted house movie.

The Haunting is one of the better haunted house movies out there, even after more than 60 years.
The cinematography is clearly inspired by Hitchcock’s 1960 Psycho, and it works OK in order to give the movie a creepy vibe.
A good classic horror movie that fans should not miss.

From director Robert Wise comes the classic horror film The Haunting. Based on a novel, the story follows a researcher who puts together a group to aid him in a study of the paranormal at a house with a sorted history of death. The characters are a little one-note, but the mystery of the house fairly interesting. And Wise does a good job at creating tension and suspense. The Haunting has a few weaknesses, but overall it’s a solid haunting house story that delivers a few chills.

good moments, scary parts too. only the main character really ruins it for me.

I’m sure this film was great for it’s time but it really didn’t do much for me. The haunting/hallucinations were pretty mild, consisting of some noises alone. The lead character wasn’t very likable so I was not very invested in her fate whether it be a haunted house or mental disorder. If you’re into haunting/psychological horror films that lean on a more slow burn this one might be for you.

A delightful horror classic that is captivating and sad, I quite enjoyed the experience.