The Haunting of Hill House
(2018)

A 10 episode series on Netflix
watched 10/17/18

The Haunting of Hill House series is beautifully filmed, expertly acted. There are no weak players in this limited series. Even the children were believable. While the ending is somewhat sentimental, I appreciated the tying up of loose ends. Due to some violence, sexual content and drug use, this is a series best viewed by older teens and adults.This is a series based on a Shirley Jackson (1959) novel. There are also 2 other film (1963 and 1999) incarnations. This series is a vast improvement over the forgettable 1999 version. The 1963 film takes a different route from this series, remains a classic on its own. The set design of the locations used in this series reflects many moods and tones. Hill House becomes an actor. I am guessing that many of the special effects were practical not CGI. That becomes a positive in lending a true feeling of dread or fear. Although this series flirted with being maudlin, it rights itself quickly with the use of flashbacks. However this technique is not overused or misused. Being familiar with the novel and the 2 films, I did see twists coming. However, the dialogue, acting and cinematography was worth the 10 episode binge.

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Posted 10/22/18 on You Tube - Perri Nemeroff's The Witching Hour - published 10/16/18

I have seen the whole series. I am ok with the conclusion, still processing it. Just wondering if the creators of this series made it conclude in that manner to open up the chance for a season 2? The acting is off the charts. It has been a very long time since I read the Shirley Jackson novel that this series is based upon, so I cannot speak to what has changed. However, the 1999 film (called The Haunting) was a disaster, more funny (inadvertently) than suspenseful. The 1963 film (also called The Haunting) was good, but very different from the Netflix series. The 1963 movie is a classic, at least for its time, for being a good representation of suspense and dread.

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Posted 10/23/18 on You Tube - Perri Nemeroff's The Witching Hour-SPOILERS - pub.10/23/18

Thanks to Perri and Haleigh for doing this spoiler ep. My least favorite episode was #9. There was one particular character in that episode with behavior that was deliberately exaggerated, but drove me almost as crazy as the character was. However as a singular entity (the series not me), I enjoyed the entire series. This series was scary and enlightening (with the family conflicts and addiction themes). While I have not read the Shirley Jackson (1950's) novel, this series is a vast improvement over the 1999 movie and extremely different, in a good way,  from the 1963 movie. To make a future anthology have more of a variety, it might treat the central character (the house) as diseased not evil. It is something which can infect people relative to their "immune system" (aka moral center/psyche). There then would be more opportunity for a variety of stories, some ending well, some ending badly.