The Haunting of Hill House is a Netflix original based off of the 1959 novel by the same name. While there are significant differences between the book and the Netflix series, both are absolutely brilliant; IMDB gives it a 9.1/10 and Rotten Tomatoes, although originally scoring it a 100%, now gives it a 90%.
The first season has 10 episodes that are approximately an hour each. Because the series did not stay true to the book, it is unknown whether or not there will be more seasons.
The story follows a family who used to live in a twisted, haunted house: hill house. The mother eventually committed suicide in the house and the children were all forced to evacuate and leave her behind. Now all grown up, the five siblings and their father are each affected by their experiences in the house differently.
Nell, the youngest daughter, has been haunted by “the bent-neck girl” since she was six years old and living in hill house. As an adult, “the bent-neck girl” comes back and calls her home to the house. When Nell returns to hill house, she dies.
The first five episodes of the series each focus on a different sibling. The first episode is about the oldest and the fifth episode is about Nell, the youngest. The audience learns what that sibling experienced at hill house, what their life is like today, how they have been affected by hill house and how they respond to Nell’s death.
The story is told by switching back and forth between the past and present; the transitions are seamless and clever. The show also features an eerie soundtrack, unique camera angles, a talented cast and ghosts standing in the background of even the most harmless shots. The ghosts are Easter eggs, waiting to be found multiple times an episode.
The show scares the audience by psychologically unnerving them. It is not a jump-scare-heavy show but there is one jump-scare so unexpected it will make you scream. Each episode creates paranoia and keeps the audience on edge. Each episode also ends with a cliffhanger; keeping viewers captivated and dying to know more.
The last few episodes deliver plot twist after plot twist, up to the very last minutes. Things you thought were true the whole season are proven to be false and vice versa.
Be warned: the finale is a tear-jerker.
I cannot rave about this show enough.
