The Haunting [1963 film]

Forget the remake! The 1963 film version of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House is the one to watch. It's in black and white, there's very little in the way of special effects, yet the movie is an ice-cold finger running down one's spine over and over again.

The house that Hugh Crane built ninety years before the movie opens had its 'fatal accident' before the family was moved in. The second one followed some years later. The movie leaves out Hugh Crane's other daughter, so Abigail is the one to inherit and live there until her death. Her heir is the next to die. Now the house is uninhabited. It is cared for by the Dudleys, who are careful to leave before it gets dark.

Dr. John Markway wants to rent Hill House and investigate it show more to see if it's really haunted. He has invited several persons who have been linked to the paranormal in the past to join him. Mrs. Sanderson, the current owner, is a hard sale, but Dr, Markway may lease the house if he includes Mrs. Sanderson's nephew and heir, Luke Sanderson, in the group.

As it turns out, only two persons have accepted Dr. Markway's invitation: Eleanor Lance and Theo (short for Theodora). Theo is a psychic, confirmed by investigation. Eleanor is our heroine. In her early 30s, Eleanor has spent over ten years caring for her invalid mother, who recently died. Eleanor really wants to go to Hill House, but is having trouble leaving the home of her married sister. Carrie is nasty about it. Her daughter, Dora, will prompt some viewers to think she needs a spanking. Carrie's husband, Bud, is sympathetic, but Carrie obviously wears the pants in that family.

Eleanor sneaks away and obtains the car she owns with her sister. She's the first to reach Hill House. Mr. Dudley is prejudiced against 'city folks'. Mrs. Dudley is creepy. Luckily for Eleanor, Theo soon arrives It's easy to see that Mrs. Dudley is put out that Theo would rather chat with Eleanor than listen to the creepy spiel.

Dr. Markway is obviously well-educated and cultured. He's very interested in discovering a haunted house, but he doesn't seem obsessed. Luke Sanderson is a devout skeptic who doesn't want Hill House to be haunted - that would lower its property value.

Hill House has a built-in peculiarity that means anyone attempting to stay in it should memorize the map. (I wonder if its effect would be less on those who have no sense of direction.) If it's not haunted, it's giving a spectacular imitation, starting the first night there. The more we learn about the house, the more we suspect that everyone should spend their nights in their cars outside the gate. Eleanor is the one most affected by the house. It's unnerving to watch her fall under its influence.

Things get shaken up when Grace, Dr. Markway's wife, arrives. Unlike the book, the film version doesn't believe in ghosts. She's afraid her husband is going to ruin his academic reputation. Will Hill House teach her to fear it?

I have been watching this film for over fifty years, since I was ten or eleven years old and I love it. The closing narration still gives me the shivers. It's my go-to Halloween movie. show less

A group of strangers investigates a haunted house.

2.5/4 (Okay).

It's exceptionally good at being creepy, but spends a lot of time with awful character stuff.

My favorite haunted house movie.