The Haunting Of Hill House Review: Sure There's A Haunted House But This Show Is Really About Family

I just finished the NetFlix series "The Haunting Hill House". Gotta say, I've become a bit obsessed. Everything about the series is wonderful. The child and adult actors, the lighting and cinematography, and the tear jerker of a story line. The flashbacks are also highly effective. I'm not sure I can do the show justice in describing it since so much is going on, but I'll try.

SPOILER ALERT: If you have NOT seen the entire series, turn back now.

For those that dont know, the NetFlix series is based on a 1959 Shirley Jackson novel by the same name. It is often referred to as the "definitive haunted house story". The new series differs GREATLY from the book. If you want something closer to the source material, check out "The Haunting" from 1963. It stars Julie Harris and Claire Bloom. We wont mention the 1999 adaptation... since it's a bit of a mess.

The book and the NetFlix series open and close with the following paragraph: "No living organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality. Even larks and katydids are supposed by some to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against the hills holding darkness within. It has stood for 80 years and might stand for 80 more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm and doors were sensibly shut. Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone."

Mike Flannagan directs all ten episodes of the series. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors (having also done "Gerald's Game" and "Hush" to name just two movies). He's also married to Katie Siegel (who plays Theo).

At the opening of the series, we meet the Crain family. There's father Hugh, mother Olivia and five siblings. They spend a summer in Hill House. Hugh and Olivia plan to fix up and flip the mansion (so they can build their "forever house"). Things dont go as planned. The family flees in the middle of the night leaving Olivia behind. We dont know the specifics until later. Father Hugh is estranged from the children as a result of his not being honest with them about what happened. They are raised by Olivia's sister. It is later revealed that Olivia committed suicide (but it's not that simple).

There is talk of mental illness running through the family. Is that true or are everyone's issues related to the house? Even in adulthood the kids are a mess. Nell has sleep paralysis. Twin Luke is a heroin addict. Theo can read other people's feelings/pasts by touching them. She uses her powers for good (she's a child psychologist) but also isolates herself from the world. She's not even honest with her potential new girlfriend Tricia. Theo lives in Shirley's guest house.

The two oldest children are the better adjusted but still have problems. Steve wrote a book about Hill House that estranged him from his siblings. He makes a living dealing with/writing about the paranormal but privately says he doesnt even believe in it. His marriage is also on the rocks. Shirley and husband Kevin run a funeral home. She's a control freak. Her husband is loving but Shirley has secrets of her own. Their business is not doing well financially because Shirley keeps giving away services for free. This is wonderful and kind but unfortunately not good for business.

Eleanor (Nell) continues to have sleep paralysis and has terrifying visits from the Bent Neck Lady. We see they started in Hill House when the creature hovered over her bed at night. Truly frightening. Nell's husband Arthur dies suddenly. The coroner says it was a heart attack. Nell knows it was the Bent Neck Lady. Heartbreaking since those two loved each other so much. A distraught Nell reaches out to her family but everyone is busy. She goes back to Hill House. They later find she has hung herself. Nell's death brings the rest of the family (including Hugh) back together.

We never learn the history of Hill House. Per Flannagan, an extensive history was planned but had to be cut due to time and budget constraints. What we do know is Hill House is evil and wants to devour (for lack of a better word) the family. The locked Red Room is the house's stomach. The Red Room becomes anything the victim wants to see in order to lure them in-- tree house, game room, dance studio, reading room, etc.

In one of the most shocking reveals of the series, it turns out Nell IS in fact the Bent Neck Lady. She has been trying to warn herself all those years (even back to childhood). I'm not even sure how that works. Mind blown!

The Dudleys are a quiet couple that have taken care of the abandoned house for years. They refuse to enter the house at night. They have a daughter that they keep away from the world in order to protect her. In another shocking twist, the child who we thought was Luke's imaginary ghost friend. turns out to be a real living, breathing person-- Abigail Dudley. I didnt see that one coming. On the night when everyone fled the house, a crazed Olivia invites Abigail to a tea party where she plans to save (ie kill) Nell and Luke. In Olivia's mind she is protected the children from the evil's of the outside world. But we, as viewers, know that the evil here is greater than what's out there. Olivia has spiked the tea with rat poison. Abigail is the only causality as Hugh rushes in to save the other two children and then leaves the house for good.

Theo's monologue is one of the most heartbreaking of the series. After touching Nell's body she says she was overcoming with a "nothingness". She could not feel anything (positive or negative). She questions if this is what it's like when we all die...that we're alone and surrounded with nothingness. I sure hope not. That is horrible. Anyway Theo is able to shock her system back into feeling by attempting to kiss Kevin. The shame of what she had done to her sister was able to get her back on track. Shirley eventually forgives her (since as we mentioned previously she has her own regrets). Side Note: Why is Katie Siegel not a bigger star? She is excellent both here and in "Hush".

In the finale everyone heads back to the house. Luke plans to burn it down and then commit suicide. The house is of course going to defend itself. The four living siblings are locked inside the Red Room (but Luke is very near death). He has injected himself with rat poison. Nell appears and tells everyone that she loves them and nothing they could have done would have changed what happened.

Olivia doesnt want to let any of the children leave the Red Room. She still think she's protecting them. We know that the house wants to eat them. Hugh makes a bargain with her. He will stay so she isnt lonely. We dont realize Hugh is a ghost when he tells Steve he must protect the house (and make sure no one else enters it). Hugh, Olivia and Nell will exist there together forever (and I assume are happy from what we can see).

We learn years ago, Mr Dudley made Hugh promise to not destroy the house so they can visit ghost daughter Abigail. Years later he even brings a dying Clara into the house so they can all be together. We never know for sure but I suspect Mr Dudley is the illegitimate son of William Hill (who built Hill House). Remember his story about his mother (who was a housekeeper at Hill House) losing her mind and frolicking through the woods? Sound familiar?

If you havent figured out by now, ghost are everywhere in Hill House. Besides Olivia, Abigail, Nell and eventually Hugh there are lots more people who have succumbed to the house. The most prevalent are the Bowler Hat Man (William Hill who incidentally walled himself up in the house), Poppy Hill (who murdered her three children), and Hazel Hill (the old woman in bed). Director Mike Flannagan says there are 8-10 hidden ghosts per episode. Wow! Check some more out here Steve has a monologue about ghosts in which he says "Ghosts are guilt. Ghosts are secrets. Ghosts are regrets and failings. But most times, most times...a ghost is a wish." OK, but what if a ghost is just a ghost? That seems to be the case here.

And in the finale scene of the series, the remaining Crain children are together to celebrate Luke's two year sobriety anniversary. Shirley appears to have ironed things out with Kevin. Steve and Leigh are back together. Theo and Trish (ship name "Thish") are together. She moves out of the guest house and throws away her gloves. It also looks like they have rings so they may be engaged/married. I'd like to say they all live happily ever after but I'm not so sure it's that easy. Anyway, I'm glad they are able to have some happiness in their lives.

Grade: 5 Monsters (out of 5). EXCELLENT! I was amped up for a chilling haunting house story but instead got an excellent family drama. My only criticism is that the show is dialogue heavy at times. Given everything else "Hill House" does right, I can live with a few extra sentences. After ten episodes, I have become very attached to the Crain family and am sorry to see them go. Any chance, we can see them in a different capacity in season 2? Maybe Theo could solve crimes with her psychic powers?