The Haunting of Hill House (No Spoilers) #Review #Discussion #Horror #Netflix #BasedonaBook #Blogtober #TheHauntingofHillHouse

On By R&R Book ToursIn Horror, Paranormal, TV Shows

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OMG you guys! Are you watching this? This has to be the best adaptation so far!

The Haunting of Hill House dropped its first season yesterday, and though I’m only on episode 4, I am obsessed!

Based on the very famous book by Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House is the family drama of your nightmares!

The Book:

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a “haunting”; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

The Show:

Explores a group of siblings who, as children, grew up in what would go on to become the most famous haunted house in the country. Now adults, and forced back together in the face of tragedy, the family must finally confront the ghosts of their past, some of which still lurk in their minds while others may actually be stalking the shadows of Hill House.

The Haunting of Hill House

I, like most people, love this book. It will forever be one of my favourite classics, as it’s truly a masterpiece of horror and psychological terror. There have been many adaptations over the years, some pretty faithful to the source material, and some that have had spoofs starring Tori Spelling made because of it. This brilliant show is by far my favourite adaptation so far!

The Characters

How clever to create a family instead of a group of strangers, who not just stay in the house for a short period of time, but live in it. Each sibling has the name of the famous characters from the book, including Nell. (Oh Nell… My heart is still pounding over the episode I watched last.) Even the author’s name is used which is a very cool homage, though there is no Shirley in the book.

The mother is played by the beautiful and talented Carla Gugino, who impressed us in Netflix’s adaptation of Gerald’s Game. In the flashback scenes, we are shown a loving mother who is a creative soul, unique, but most definitely devoted to her family. Yet, in the present, she is lambasted as a ‘crazy’ person. Her memory forever besmirched because of their time at Hill House.

Timothy Hutton plays the father “Hugh Crain” and bears witness to nightmares no one could possible conceive of, and yet his children grow up never knowing exactly what he “saw” or what happened on their last night at the house.

Oh but that House!

Speaking of the house, wow! The house is exquisite! Terrifying but beautiful down to the smallest details. Honestly, this show is all about atmosphere, Hill House being the centerpiece but the other locations are just as fitting. Either creepy as befitting the show, or really mundane. All the better to catch you off guard and scare the pants out of you.

Overall, I am loving this and can’t wait to continue my binge. I do have questions as to how they will maintain the longevity of the series, but season 1 is proving to be brilliant and is receiving high praise from critics everywhere.

The Haunting of Hill House is the quintessential Halloween read, and now the series is a must watch for the season.

21 thoughts on “The Haunting of Hill House (No Spoilers) #Review #Discussion #Horror #Netflix #BasedonaBook #Blogtober #TheHauntingofHillHouse”

  2. Awesome post! 😀 I’m currently reading the book for the first time (and loving it). I was curious about the show but wasn’t sure if I was going to watch it or not due to my busy schedule, but now I really want to try to squeeze it in before Halloween. You totally sold me on it. It sounds great! 🙂

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    1. Omg Dani, it’s so amazing! I love that you are reading the book first because even though they’re different, you will really appreciate the show on another level. All the little nuances and details that would be missed. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

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      1. Thanks! 😀 ❤ I've been so busy this month I have a wee bit more to go on the book, but now I'm even more excited to complete it and check out the show. I will definitely let you know what I think when I've finished them both. Hope you have an amazing Halloween!! ❤

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  5. I saw…I think it was the 1963 film. I enjoyed it! I just found out this Netflix series was a thing and now I’m really intrigued however I’m also (obviously) a big baby so I don’t know when I’ll be brave enough to start watching it :). October feels right though! But we’ll see…

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    1. It’s more psychological than anything else. Not going to lie, there are some jump-scare moments but it’s not a gory show. More traditional haunting type stuff. Also the writing and how they adapted it is just so brilliant. Completely different from the films. Put on your big boy pants and hold Kalie’s hand 😉 She will love it and I think you will too. 😁

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      1. Hahaha, that’s exactly how it goes! Every scary movie! She loves the ’63 film so, against my better judgment, I told her how much you love the show last night. I think it’s moving into our viewing rotation… If the story’s good enough, I can deal with the scariness (normally) so you have me excited.

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  6. Reblogged this on Reads & Reels and commented:

    Good morning!

    Well, I finished this last night and I have the worst TV hangover ever! I miss it so much! I miss the characters, I miss Hill House, and I’m so sad I have nothing left to watch.

    This show is just phenomenal! The last episode had me scared and in tears! Everything was wrapped up beautifully, in a perfect, cobweb-encrusted bow. Honestly, I’m completely satisfied with just the one season, and I think at this point going beyond season one, would mean taking the show outside the scope of Shirley Jackson’s book. It can be done, and the writers have the chops to pull it off, but I think you’ll find the conclusion perfect! There are of course, a few easter eggs left for them to continue if viewers are craving more. 😉

    Guys, stop everything you’re watching right now and watch The Haunting of Hill House! You will not regret it!

    A+++

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