The Haunting of Hill House

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 12, 2018
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 411 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 333 out of 411
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 411
  3. Negative: 45 out of 411
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Stream On
Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. Gregdel
    Oct 14, 2018
    10
    The bad reviews on this site are complete NONSENSE. This is one of the best horror tv series EVER. Not only horror, but one of the best Netflix show ever. Absolutely incredible. OUTSTANDING performances. Wow! They are all top notch and probably one of the best cast of the year. The story and directing are masterpiece. I’ve never seen a horror show with a compelling story like this. It’sThe bad reviews on this site are complete NONSENSE. This is one of the best horror tv series EVER. Not only horror, but one of the best Netflix show ever. Absolutely incredible. OUTSTANDING performances. Wow! They are all top notch and probably one of the best cast of the year. The story and directing are masterpiece. I’ve never seen a horror show with a compelling story like this. It’s not only scary but truly heartbreaking. The scares are not cheap because the drama and the tension are so well made. GO WATCH IT NOW!… Expand
  2. Bostjan
    Nov 2, 2018
    10
    This is a goddamn masterpiece! The intense and tornado spinning scenes make you wanna scream. This series gets into your head and twists your imagination, challenging it to the very climax. It's worth every second and I strongly recommend it to every horror lover out there. You'll get a taste of something you haven't had before. I rank it 10/10 without any doubt.
  3. Kenmei
    Oct 24, 2018
    8
    While I wouldn't say the horror elements do anything to push the envelope here, the thing that sets this apart is the surprising amount of heart that's within a horror show. This show knows exactly what it wants to do. Unfortunately alot of the time, the horror elements are fairly telegraphed jump scares. There are a couple of elements through the 10 episode series that are pretty wellWhile I wouldn't say the horror elements do anything to push the envelope here, the thing that sets this apart is the surprising amount of heart that's within a horror show. This show knows exactly what it wants to do. Unfortunately alot of the time, the horror elements are fairly telegraphed jump scares. There are a couple of elements through the 10 episode series that are pretty well done. I was more impressed with some of the story elements that come with the horror stuff. One little plot hole at the end put a bit of a damper on things for me but it was a good ride. I'd highly recommend this for people who don't normally do scary stuff. While the cheap jump scares are here, they aren't too terribly bad and the dynamics among the characters in the show are very well done. However, in judging this strictly on its horror elements, there's alot of same-ole stuff in here. Horror buffs looking for something new that's spooky this Halloween might want to go elsewhere if that's all they want in their horror media.… Expand
  4. vmiguel
    Nov 10, 2018
    10
    Eerie, mysterious, exciting, captivating, thrilling, and disturbing. The Haunting of Hill House is extremely monumental, and so well thought out. A must-watch. Phenomenal. Just utterly phenomenal. The suspense, the horror and surprisingly the examination of conscience and mentality. Incredibly well-acted and directed.
  5. Method__Man
    Oct 26, 2018
    8
    Has some wonderful acting, great atmosphere, and good scary moments. Once again troubled by standard horror tropes. For example, if you are told a house is evil, everyone sees ghosts/monsters and tells you this, and your family starts acting possessed. LEAVE THE HOUSE. No one in a real life situation shrugs off events over, and over, and over.

    I rate it high because its good in terms of    Has some wonderful acting, great atmosphere, and good scary moments. Once again troubled by standard horror tropes. For example, if you are told a house is evil, everyone sees ghosts/monsters and tells you this, and your family starts acting possessed. LEAVE THE HOUSE. No one in a real life situation shrugs off events over, and over, and over.

    I rate it high because its good in terms of horror shows/movies, yet it still suffers from some very standard Tropes.

    Still very much worth your time to watch. You wont regret it.    … Expand
  6. CalvinWheatley
    Oct 24, 2018
    8
    I really liked this show and found myself watching an episode or two every night until I reached the end. I will say that I was disappointed with the end and found the last two episodes a bit long and almost boring. That said I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a very entertaining Netflix option.

    The house itself was AMAZING and I for one would move into that mansion with not    I really liked this show and found myself watching an episode or two every night until I reached the end. I will say that I was disappointed with the end and found the last two episodes a bit long and almost boring. That said I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a very entertaining Netflix option.

    The house itself was AMAZING and I for one would move into that mansion with not hesitation. The ghosts were more entertaining than scary.

    I think the family aspect was also a great part of the show. I loved the "This Is Us" feel and even described the show to friends and coworkers in that manner telling them if they like "This Is Us" they will really like this show. Its really is a family drama in which the family just happens to be haunted.

    What I did not like was all the doubt the adult children seemed to have when they experienced so much paranormal activity. How can people see the things that they see and through out their many experiences still insist they are seeing things? And I found the disrespect for their father quite disturbing as well. The kids were often downright mean to the old man and it was so obvious he loves them so much.

    Anyway... the end results is a very entertaining show with a lackluster ending.    … Expand
  7. BioTofu
    Nov 2, 2018
    9
    Havent read the book but the show itself is great. this is more of a family drama show with ghosts than a full on horror spook fest. people who enjoyed 6th sense and babadook would enjoy this show.
    My favourite episodes are 4 and 5. after that the show started to reveal too many secrets and it started to lose its greatness... I think the show would benefit if it kept some of the secrets    Havent read the book but the show itself is great. this is more of a family drama show with ghosts than a full on horror spook fest. people who enjoyed 6th sense and babadook would enjoy this show.
    My favourite episodes are 4 and 5. after that the show started to reveal too many secrets and it started to lose its greatness... I think the show would benefit if it kept some of the secrets to itself, perhaps cutting 1 or 2 episodes down and let the audience to use more of their imagination. the characters and acting are great, especially the endearing cast of children. i liked how each episodes dedicated to a specific character and shows how monsters are not just ghosts... they can be fear of being alone and ignored, loneliness...    … Expand
  8. gmonster320
    Nov 4, 2018
    10
    Netflix's "The Haunting Of Hill House" may be one of the best TV shows of the year. I watched expecting a haunting house story and instead got an excellent family drama. The child and adult actors, the lighting and cinematography, and the tear jerker of a story line. The flashbacks are also highly effective. My only criticism is that the show is dialogue heavy at times. Given everythingNetflix's "The Haunting Of Hill House" may be one of the best TV shows of the year. I watched expecting a haunting house story and instead got an excellent family drama. The child and adult actors, the lighting and cinematography, and the tear jerker of a story line. The flashbacks are also highly effective. 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. Also, if you're expecting a literal adaptation of Shirley Jackson's book, look elsewhere. Mike Flannagan's story is only roughly based on the novel. Check out the 1963 movie "The Haunting" with Julie Harris and Claire Bloom for something closer. There's also the 1999 remake by the same name but it's a bit of a mess.… Expand
  9. brandonb7
    Nov 29, 2018
    9
    The show was extremely well done, albeit a bit confusing in the beginning with the constant time shifts. One of the few shows I truly wanted to see the next episode immediately to find out what happens. Great acting from a cast of mostly unknowns (except Anthony Ruivivar, he was pretty bad).
  10. nj06
    Dec 10, 2018
    8
    I am basically incapable of watching shows and movies with supernatural, ghost, horror, and similar themes. My main problem with these genres is that most such shows and movies require a bigger suspension of logic and disbelief that I posses. I am less bothered by the supernatural itself, than I am put off by bad writing, even worse editing, cliches, never-tied lose ends, and similarI am basically incapable of watching shows and movies with supernatural, ghost, horror, and similar themes. My main problem with these genres is that most such shows and movies require a bigger suspension of logic and disbelief that I posses. I am less bothered by the supernatural itself, than I am put off by bad writing, even worse editing, cliches, never-tied lose ends, and similar features all too commonly found in much of the work in this realm. Having said that, this Halloween I decided that I will try to watch one show or movie in the spirit of the season. A neighbor recommended The Haunting of Hill House, and I actually ended up watching the entire season of it. To my own surprise, I loved this show. It really worked for me. Acting, production, story, are all excellent. The music is gorgeous and the whole mood of the show is right on target. The ending is somewhat anticlimactic, incomplete and messy, but I didn't even care, because the whole experience was nearly perfect for the occasion.… Expand
  11. Edgarbaro
    Nov 6, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I haven't seen a show as moving as this in a while.
    Beyond the horror theme, this is a history that touches you in different ways,
    Incredible performances and a great casting choice.    … Expand
  12. GrantD243
    Dec 2, 2018
    9
    The Haunting of Hill House is a much more emotional horror show than I expected. There are scares, and it does feel creepy most of the time, but it builds up to an emotional payoff rather than a horror payoff. It's well crafted and it honestly is way better than I ever expected it to be.
  13. Flug
    Oct 25, 2018
    9
    I give this score, not for the horror that I actually felt, but the story that was told. Many other complain that the family is in denial for an unreasonable amount of time, but this is an element that gives the show the allowance to explore what is normally reserved as literary themes. The show becomes less scary as you continue to watch because you gather more and more information aboutI give this score, not for the horror that I actually felt, but the story that was told. Many other complain that the family is in denial for an unreasonable amount of time, but this is an element that gives the show the allowance to explore what is normally reserved as literary themes. The show becomes less scary as you continue to watch because you gather more and more information about the house. However, this is not an isolated case as the television series "Lost" suffered from the same issue: as we learn more about the show our imaginations are limited, and our imaginations know what scares us the most. The horror undertone and excellent theme exploration make "The Haunting of Hill House" a memorable series and one that I will gladly rewatch to further analyze themes and even foreshadowing of which I missed in my first viewing.… Expand
  14. KidKrausz
    Nov 2, 2018
    10
    An absolutely phenomenal show! The attention to detail throughout each episode is outstanding! I am currently watching it for the second time through, and much like Sixth Sense there are constant hints given throughout that you wouldn't catch upon your first viewing. I recommend this show for anyone who likes horror or well written drama. The pacing is a little slow at first, but it buildsAn absolutely phenomenal show! The attention to detail throughout each episode is outstanding! I am currently watching it for the second time through, and much like Sixth Sense there are constant hints given throughout that you wouldn't catch upon your first viewing. I recommend this show for anyone who likes horror or well written drama. The pacing is a little slow at first, but it builds up to the final episode. I promise that your patience will be rewarded!
    "and whatever walked there, walked alone."    … Expand
  15. chuajohn05
    Nov 10, 2018
    9
    The Haunting of Hill House (2018) is without a doubt a thrilling series to watch. From the story itself it's a big change from the novel summary I read when I watch the first episodes that is executed well retelling from new horror figures they made. Characters have a major change from the novel but they have similar personalities taken from the originals. I can say that they made theThe Haunting of Hill House (2018) is without a doubt a thrilling series to watch. From the story itself it's a big change from the novel summary I read when I watch the first episodes that is executed well retelling from new horror figures they made. Characters have a major change from the novel but they have similar personalities taken from the originals. I can say that they made the adaption from the book did have a different approach so that viewers won't expect anything from the original. Like how The Walking Dead made the series adaption, they wanted a new approach that they won't get too much materials from the comics. Moreover, that's the same for what they wanted to do for The Haunting of Hills House series adaptation so viewers won't expect anything at all from the original platform.… Expand
  16. Stevesucks
    Nov 19, 2018
    10
    I loved the show it had you on the edge of your seat wondering what would happen next!!!
  17. declanmore
    Oct 21, 2018
    9
    The entire series is an almost perfect horror except for the last episode which makes you feel something has gone wrong or you've been robbed.
  18. Phenominal
    Oct 27, 2018
    10
    Please ignore the severely negative reviews. If anyone thinks this show deserves less than a 7 they are insane. Do not bother watching if you are not at least slightly intelligent, as the show requires some critical thinking. Scary for the first half, and thrilling in the second half, it is one of the greatest television experiences out there. When it is all said and done, pleasePlease ignore the severely negative reviews. If anyone thinks this show deserves less than a 7 they are insane. Do not bother watching if you are not at least slightly intelligent, as the show requires some critical thinking. Scary for the first half, and thrilling in the second half, it is one of the greatest television experiences out there. When it is all said and done, please discuss it with others, debate on the meanings of things and watch it a second time. Everything in this show was carefully crafted to have a purpose and a meaning. It truly is a cinematic marvel.… Expand
  19. s666a
    Oct 23, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not usually a horror fan, but this series is extraordinary! Trust me on this guys when I say, you're gonna find this series unexpectedly amazing.… Expand
  20. sincred
    Oct 20, 2018
    9
    Yo no me puedo considerar un amante a las series o películas de terror pero esta serie me atrapo en un suspenso absoluto que duró durante los 10 capítulos, Lo mas que puedo decir sin hacer algún spoiler es que cuando sacaran la segunda temporada.f
  21. Ascospore
    Oct 18, 2018
    8
    The Haunting of Millhouse is high on terror but more subtle with horror, which means it has to be clever to be effective, and overall it is. Also some great kids performances (i.e. not annoying), which must have been equally difficult to execute.
  22. Moomster
    Oct 19, 2018
    9
    I am really liking this series. It is much better than AHS, which I find tedious to watch. The story is intriguing, the acting is phenomenal, particularly the child actors.
  23. scott0505
    Oct 17, 2018
    10
    I can't express how good this series is. It's been days since I finished Season One and I'm still thinking about it. Truly an engrossing story that pulls you in. Watch it.
  24. Arek2909
    Oct 19, 2018
    9
    For me this is the best horror TV-Show I´ve ever seen. It´s a bit sad that the final episode is a little bit boring. But overall it´s for me a 9/10 and one of the best new TV-Shows this year.
  25. muldjord
    Oct 21, 2018
    7
    There's a lot to like about this show. The characters are interesting for one. And it's all well-acted for both adult and child actors. The story is intriguing for the most part. Unfortunately the show also comes with a big caveat, which is the ending. It's one of those shows that keeps building on the unknowns in the story. And you sortof expect a big reveal in the end for everything toThere's a lot to like about this show. The characters are interesting for one. And it's all well-acted for both adult and child actors. The story is intriguing for the most part. Unfortunately the show also comes with a big caveat, which is the ending. It's one of those shows that keeps building on the unknowns in the story. And you sortof expect a big reveal in the end for everything to make sense. But to me, the last episode was just one big "what the hell is going on!?".

    The show jumps in time - a lot! You basically have time, hallucinations, actual ghosts and real-world happenings all mixed together, sometimes in the same scene. And thaty makes it really, reeeeeeeally hard to grasp what is what. And this made it impossible for me to follow the ending. I simply had no idea what the show wanted to be real, and what it wanted to be something else. Resulting in total confusion and no real answers.

    I had to look it up on the internet when the show ended. I don't expect everything to make sense to me right off the bat. But here it was just complete nonsense to me. It was frustrating.

    You might fare better though. I would still recommend the show, since it has some really cool stuff going on. And if you, like me, feel like the ending is nonsense - know that you can look it up afterwards and make sense of it. And that sortof makes up for it.    … Expand
  26. Yurchik
    Nov 4, 2018
    4
    A very long season with a banal end. I only watched because of Carla Gugino!
  27. CasandraComplex
    Oct 21, 2018
    8
    I was reluctant to watch this series because well, to be quite honest, the poster image gave me the impression that it was going to be a cheap scary show for millennial's starring millennial's. That and Netflix for some reason has a way of describing their shows that makes them all sound the same and incredibly stupid. After reading some reviews (from users on this site) I thought that II was reluctant to watch this series because well, to be quite honest, the poster image gave me the impression that it was going to be a cheap scary show for millennial's starring millennial's. That and Netflix for some reason has a way of describing their shows that makes them all sound the same and incredibly stupid. After reading some reviews (from users on this site) I thought that I would give it a go. Boy was I glad that I did! It's been decades since a movie or a show has actually made me scream out loud with fright and this series managed to do it twice to me which is a huge feat because nothing scares me anymore and horror shows have become so formulaic. The atmosphere, the music score and the various scary monsters were phenomenal. Some more effective than others but that's to be expected because everyone has different triggers. I don't want to give away too much but what really made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up was the incredibly accurate depiction of someone experiencing sleep paralysis combined with night terrors because I for one, a man of 50 years, have experienced those very things all of my life. Very well done!
    My only caveat is that the tone of the series made a dramatic shift towards sentimentality at the very end which kinda killed the whole scary atmosphere. I suppose I could forgive that because they had to tie it all up in a bow. I was wondering how they intended to make more than one season out of it unless they are going the route similar to American Horror Story which makes every season stand on it's own.
    Absolutely worth watching and I challenge you not to binge watch the whole dang season because I sure couldn't resist.    … Expand
  28. GarethB
    Oct 22, 2018
    8
    A tense horror/thriller where most of the scares come from the interaction of the family from the situation they were thrown into. Scares come in the more obvious ways and from the baggage you take with you to watch the show. Well shot and well acted and made me think a lot.
  29. sortiz1965
    Oct 25, 2018
    10
    Incredible show with a wrenching emotional pull. I cared deeply about all of these characters, both their child and adult versions. The show makes you constantly wonder what is real and what is a figment of someone's imagination as they cope with the demons that assail them. And the ending will stay with me for a long time. I have not seen a show this good in a long time.
  30. IPBelde
    Oct 25, 2018
    10
    Possibly one of the best horror TV shows to ever be made. Sets an example for other shows in terms of writing, story telling, and production which gives way to excellent acting. There is virtually nothing to reproach the show of, TV at it's best.
  31. kborders
    Nov 6, 2018
    10
    I am not typically a horror show person but I wanted to watch something different so I started watching The Haunting of Hill House. WOW! What an absolutely great show! We finished all of season 1 in a week. Outstanding cast and great story. At times, I was terrified, sad, and happy all at once. We can't wait for season 2!
  32. thedarkbird
    Oct 21, 2018
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Minor spoilers, nothing story breaking.

    This series fails because the characters are so in denial about what is happening that it becomes very tiresome very quickly. To the point that it is just plain annoying.

    Imagine moving into a house with your family and from that point on everybody is starting to see, hear and dream ALL the things you've ever seen in a haunted house film. Would you believe that your family is suddenly struck with some collective mental illness out of the blue? Because, if I were to experience the things portrayed I would be out of that house in a matter of a day.

    Instead, this family denies anything and everything they experience over a year (!) - and there's A LOT seriously wrong stuff happening - to the point it is so absurd that it kills the show. It's comparable to being in a Richter 9 earthquake watching buildings collapse and conclude it was probably all in your head. The next day it happens again and you STILL think it's in your head. Umm... right.

    Because they're so absurdly in denial the dialogue suffers from it as well. This especially shows during the funeral episode when the whole family is re-united. Any family would sit together at that point and agree: 'Hey, you know, that house really was **** up haunted, wasn't it?'. But no, they go on and on fighting each other, ignoring once again the elephant in the room. At that point I was really tired of it.

    Is everything bad? No. It's good production value, good atmosphere, nice house, good sound design, good camera work and some very scary scenes (even though it gets a bit repetitive). But overall it fails and is probably not worth your time.    … Expand
  33. rock-n-reviews
    Oct 14, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This review contains only a couple of minor spoilers!

    A fan of black and white horror movies I am well acquainted with Robert Wise's 1963 "The Haunting", which to this day stands out to me as a classic of the haunted house horror genre. Netflix's "The Haunting of Hill House" retains a lot of what makes that movie so great while also branching out on its own and introducing diverse and interesting characters. While there is a definite difference of rating (the movie had a G rating while the show has a MA rating) and the show opted to go into the realm of color tv (who can blame them at this point) I consider both to be entertaining and chilling in what makes classic horror effective (terror, atmosphere, and good ol' jump scares). There's even familiar nods to the movie- the iconic spiral staircase, a scene where two people are scared out of there minds by the walls seemingly coming alive and starting to shake, etc. (I am sure there are more I missed). Where the Netflix series really stands out to me is by tying all of the horror elements to PTSD, making you question whether these horrors are really just confined to the house, the people who lived in it, or both. The characters are somehow trying to live out their lives to the fullest and keep their sanity after the history and tragic memories of living in a haunted house. Each character believes different things about what happened there, and each is damaged in their own way. It feels somewhat reminiscent to TV shows like LOST in a way. What I didn't care for is the way the show goes out of its way to try to earn its MA rating, introducing scenes, swearing, and innuendos that I think are unnecessary (but thankfully rare). Perhaps what parents may be more concerned with in determining if this should be viewed as a family (or whether anyone should view it) is the psychological weight that trauma of past events can have on people. PTSD is very real and can be a constant challenge to overcome for many people; this show goes pretty deep into this reality and for some it could possibly hit a little too close to home.    … Expand
  34. inktomi
    Oct 18, 2018
    10
    Spoiler Free Review
    I am a real person, a consumer, not someone who gets paid to do this review. I’ve watched every minute of this series. Read the book and saw the past movies that were made after Shirley Jacksons classic, “The Haunting of Hill House.” Out of all the iterations, I feel that this is the best of all of them besides the original book, which the series was based on.
    Mike    Spoiler Free Review
    I am a real person, a consumer, not someone who gets paid to do this review. I’ve watched every minute of this series. Read the book and saw the past movies that were made after Shirley Jacksons classic, “The Haunting of Hill House.” Out of all the iterations, I feel that this is the best of all of them besides the original book, which the series was based on.

    Mike Flanagan’s version of Haunting of Hill House is well worth your time. The writing is terrific as well as the cinematography. The music score is spot on and every actor is believable in their roles. The series allows you the time to get emotionally invested in the characters.

    Every member of the Crain family get’s an opportunity to tell their side of the story from their own point of view in an episode. So sometimes you will see the same scene more than once, played out from a different angle. I thought that was genius. There are always more than one side of a story.
    And all the stories, either being tied to the main story arc or part of one of the characters background are woven together as well as Hill House was built - “walls continued upright, bricks met nearly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut” – Jackson (1959).    … Expand
  35. DBM2018
    Oct 26, 2018
    1
    Gave it three episodes, which was generous and a waste of time because this show sucks. Boring melodrama, unoriginal haunted house plot, played out tropes. Bad writing. Worse acting. Netflix original programming continues to disappoint. Peons love this show. I'll stick to top shelf drama series, why waste time on mediocre tripe?
  36. MarceloPaz
    Oct 15, 2018
    10
    Wow this series managed to deliver a great story, the ending was different from what I imagined, I was certainly positively surprised at everything. If there is a second season, I would like you not to lose focus because this is sensational
  37. cottemann
    Oct 14, 2018
    10
    A perfect horror and drama piece. So many horror films and shows forget that the original objective of horror is not only to scare but also serve as a cautionary tale. This blends the two aspects beautifully. It uses horror elements to serve as a metaphor for how people internalize and externalize shared and personal trauma. Each character is unique and well acted. It's been a long timeA perfect horror and drama piece. So many horror films and shows forget that the original objective of horror is not only to scare but also serve as a cautionary tale. This blends the two aspects beautifully. It uses horror elements to serve as a metaphor for how people internalize and externalize shared and personal trauma. Each character is unique and well acted. It's been a long time since I've seen a show that was executed perfectly on so many levels. My advice is go into this not expecting anything. This show really opens up when you don't try to confine it to a genre. Definitely a show that I will be reflecting on for years to come and I hope to see more from the cast and crew but definitely do not want a sequel. Which sounds weird but understandable once you reach the end of the show.… Expand
  38. jacobsmith14433
    Oct 15, 2018
    9
    So, Let me start by saying I would give this show an 8.5, however, I have bumped it to a 9 as I finished the show recently, and my impressions of the last two episodes may be negatively skewing it lower.

    Let's begin with the premise of the show, to which I will be lovingly comparing it to the hit 2004 TV show "Lost" and an incredible tour de force recent film "Hereditary". We begin by    So, Let me start by saying I would give this show an 8.5, however, I have bumped it to a 9 as I finished the show recently, and my impressions of the last two episodes may be negatively skewing it lower.

    Let's begin with the premise of the show, to which I will be lovingly comparing it to the hit 2004 TV show "Lost" and an incredible tour de force recent film "Hereditary". We begin by being introduced to the show's main characters. A family of seven, five children and two parents. The show starts in 2018 and we are introduced to a grown up version of the family. We instantly make our snap judgements of the characters, usually negative in most cases. And then in the style of lost, we experience the story of each character (with one episode being allocated to one member) in a double flashback fashion. First we are told the story of the children whom lived at Hill House many years ago. And then we are told a more recent story of the character that leads them to present day.

    I want to say that this version of story telling is not unique to "The Haunting of Hill House", however, it might be that it is the best implementation of it I have seen to date. Utterly gripping. The show sells us this incredible multi-faceted mystery, that intertwines throughout the years, and where none of the family are on the same page. And it does a wonderful job of tying up all those narratives, all those moments that you just let go as a "glitch in the system" but then later it would call back to it and you would understand a mystery you didn't even know existed. With that, it is important to recognise the fantastic job the show did of revealing the "HOW" of the show. How everything tied together.

    My main criticism of the show, however, stems with the "WHY" of the show. It truly sells itself as a mystery, with so many plots and sub-plots going on, that surely the "why" of it all will blow us all away. Unfortunately, as the remaining minutes of the last episode dwindle into single digits, it becomes overwhelmingly clear that the show-runners have not deemed it important to include a "why". Part of me understands that in 2018 with typical outrage culture and online keyboard warriors, that including a "why" is a huge risk. Lost will forever live on as a burning bright example of how to remembered for nothing but your unsatisfying "Why".

    Enter "Hereditary" and its unabashed and shameless "Why". This ladies and gentlemen is how you tell your "Why". Sure, it was risky, and many probably left the cinema thinking it was silly. But they absolutely committed to it. They devoted one of the best scenes of the film (of any horror film) to walking us through the meaning of the journey. The Haunting of Hill House would have been a perfect 10 for me in this genre, if something of this nature was included. I am hoping it is because there will be a season 2, and they didn't want any finality to their product, so they can keep coming back and back until the well is dry.

    I'll finish by giving the due respect to all of the performances in this show. They were outstanding. If you catch yourself thinking "there is something off about the performance here", then trust me, it is intentional. If you try not to think too hard about the revelations, then this will be a wonderful way to spend 10 hours.    … Expand
  39. wollam11
    Oct 18, 2018
    8
    A very solid first three quarters. The last quarter leans on poetic waxing. A solid series with notable acting from Henry Thomas, Timothy Hutton, and Michiel Huisman.
  40. GeekOnFire
    Oct 30, 2018
    6
    Incredible series, full of rebound and horror, very well done. You will be at the edge of your couch throughout ... 9 episodes since the 10th, and last, totally ruin the show. Totally disappointing, cheesy, limit insulting for the audience. We are taken by the hand, explains us as if we were stupid. Completely the opposite of the rest of the story. Disappointed!
  41. jonslow
    Oct 23, 2018
    10
    ดูจบแล้ว The Haunting of Hill House จาก Netflix มีทั้งหมด 10 EP ปกติไม่ค่อยดูหนังผีเพราะกลัว เรื่องนี้เห็นเป็นกระแส ถึงขนาดโฆษณาบนสถานี BTS คงไม่ธรรมดา เลยเปิดใจเริ่มดู กลายเป็นว่าวางไม่ลง ดูจบภายใน 2 วัน ยอมรับเลยว่าดูไม่เต็มจอ เพราะฉากน่ากลัวๆทยอยมารัวๆเลย ที่ชอบที่สุดคือลำดับการเล่าเรื่อง ตัดอดีตสลับปัจจุบันแบบโคตรเนียน ค่อยๆเผยข้อมูลออกมาทีละนิดๆ ทำให้น่าติดตามดูจบแล้ว The Haunting of Hill House จาก Netflix มีทั้งหมด 10 EP ปกติไม่ค่อยดูหนังผีเพราะกลัว เรื่องนี้เห็นเป็นกระแส ถึงขนาดโฆษณาบนสถานี BTS คงไม่ธรรมดา เลยเปิดใจเริ่มดู กลายเป็นว่าวางไม่ลง ดูจบภายใน 2 วัน ยอมรับเลยว่าดูไม่เต็มจอ เพราะฉากน่ากลัวๆทยอยมารัวๆเลย ที่ชอบที่สุดคือลำดับการเล่าเรื่อง ตัดอดีตสลับปัจจุบันแบบโคตรเนียน ค่อยๆเผยข้อมูลออกมาทีละนิดๆ ทำให้น่าติดตาม ตัวละครแต่ละตัวก็มีมิติของตัวเอง นักแสดงก็แสดงดีทุกคน ทุกคนตีบทแตกในความเป็นตัวละครนั้นๆ ทั้งตัวละครตอนเด็กกับโต
    มุมกล้อง แคสติ้ง พล้อต ดราม่าในแบบคนในครอบครัว ทุกอย่างลงตัว NetFlix ยอด สับสะใคร้เพิ่มขึ้นอีกเยอะชัวร์
    10/10    … Expand
  42. MrGlum
    Oct 28, 2018
    8
    This is one of those series in which the journey is more important than the destination. Yes, the ending may not surprise you very much, but while you get there you learn to love most of the characters and get some good scares along the way.

    I'm looking forward to a second season, because I have no clue where the story will go. And no, I don't mean it like "wow, what an ending! I    This is one of those series in which the journey is more important than the destination. Yes, the ending may not surprise you very much, but while you get there you learn to love most of the characters and get some good scares along the way.

    I'm looking forward to a second season, because I have no clue where the story will go. And no, I don't mean it like "wow, what an ending! I wonder what will happen next!", but rather "OK, the whole premise of the show is dealt with, the mystery is solved, is there any reason to actually continue this show?"    … Expand
  43. Tomsty
    Nov 3, 2018
    3
    The finale is some of the worst TV I've watched which is disappointing since episodes 6-8 were quite entertaining.
  44. paulraised
    Nov 13, 2018
    4
    I feel I was cheated, you are supposed to put up with the drama, so you can see the horror unravel. In fact the drama takes center stage, and the story drifts about on any direction but the horror. I didn't like the ending and I feel it drags heavily after the first three episodes. The cast is great though, excellent performances.
  45. MoviesForever
    Dec 1, 2018
    7
    I am a horror enthusiast; I love horror MOVIES (Hereditary, It Follows, The Babadook, Oculus, The VVitch...etc), horror TV-SHOWS (mainly American Horror Story and other subsidiaries), horror VIDEO-GAMES (Silent Hill, Slender Man...etc), but The Haunting of Hill House, is just too slow, too slow, it is too slow even for my taste. It is good, sometimes, really good actually (Ep.6), but justI am a horror enthusiast; I love horror MOVIES (Hereditary, It Follows, The Babadook, Oculus, The VVitch...etc), horror TV-SHOWS (mainly American Horror Story and other subsidiaries), horror VIDEO-GAMES (Silent Hill, Slender Man...etc), but The Haunting of Hill House, is just too slow, too slow, it is too slow even for my taste. It is good, sometimes, really good actually (Ep.6), but just too slow.… Expand
  46. LVogt
    Nov 2, 2018
    3
    What starts off as a promising but not-too-scary ghost story devolves into absurd sentimental nonsense. Excellent performances all around but it should have been half as long and twice as scary.
  47. dorout
    Apr 20, 2019
    10
    Absolutely stunning TV show. This show is the Breaking Bad/Infinity Wars of the horror genre. The suspense, the thrill, the unexpected, the emotions at certain points are all built upon well structured characters.

    I honestly have no idea how the heck season 2 is going to top the ending - completely blown away. Some parts of the ending you can forecast, but most of the ending you cannot.
  48. kevlarrelic
    Nov 2, 2018
    10
    The best part of this show is its masterfully constructed plot. It has many layers, and every secret pays off beautifully in the end. Keep an eye on the background and you will see ghosts and other odd things that the camera never focuses on, which add to the building subconscious sense of wrongness in the house. The young and old actors are great and their characters are interesting, eachThe best part of this show is its masterfully constructed plot. It has many layers, and every secret pays off beautifully in the end. Keep an eye on the background and you will see ghosts and other odd things that the camera never focuses on, which add to the building subconscious sense of wrongness in the house. The young and old actors are great and their characters are interesting, each with their own secrets and wildly different points of view. Watch at least 6 episodes and you will agree that this is the best thing that Netflix has ever made.… Expand
  49. SandyCameron
    Oct 24, 2018
    8
    It's a shame that the requirements of a genre can limit expectations. This show is so much about how the Crains haunt the house, and about the traumas that haunt their lives that it makes it worth watching. If what you want is nothing more than the next inventive scare (or, as "envelopes" are "pushed", the next more revolting horror) then this isn't TV for you. I'm less than halfwayIt's a shame that the requirements of a genre can limit expectations. This show is so much about how the Crains haunt the house, and about the traumas that haunt their lives that it makes it worth watching. If what you want is nothing more than the next inventive scare (or, as "envelopes" are "pushed", the next more revolting horror) then this isn't TV for you. I'm less than halfway through, having just watched "It's A Twin Thing", but find the drama heartbreaking.… Expand
  50. guinea_pig_girl
    Dec 2, 2018
    3
    Disappointing! I wanted to like it, but there's not enough content and interest for 10 episodes. Reasonable quality acting performances, though I think Henry Thomas and Carla Gugino are NOT believable as a do-it-yourself house flipping couple capable of running a circular saw. Plus no chemistry. Also mismatched are Robert Longstreet and Annabeth Gish as the Dudleys. Most compellingDisappointing! I wanted to like it, but there's not enough content and interest for 10 episodes. Reasonable quality acting performances, though I think Henry Thomas and Carla Gugino are NOT believable as a do-it-yourself house flipping couple capable of running a circular saw. Plus no chemistry. Also mismatched are Robert Longstreet and Annabeth Gish as the Dudleys. Most compelling stand-out performance was Elizabeth Reaser as Shirley. Shirley, with Anthony Ruivivar as husband Kevin, are the closest thing to relatable characters, which is notable since they're in the funeral industry. Other characters seem to suffer from trying to appear complex, but somehow end up less dimensional for their effort (example: child psychologist Theo). I understand from other reviews that this Netflix series does not match the Shirley Jackson novel (I haven't read it so don't know otherwise). I feel that this interpretation was intended to be an exploration of supernatural elements and their impact on human psychology and, in particular, family dynamics...and this does shine through for the most part. The first episodes showcase the children of the family, featuring each child's experience living in Hill House contrasted with present day adult issues. The idea being that "ghosts" of the past continue to haunt their adult relationships. The perfect highlight of family dysfunction is the unrelenting funeral home scene in E6 (Two Storms). Beyond that, the structure of the series falls apart and it's a scrambled mess, with more time spent on mold remediation, clock repair, and furniture refinishing, rather than meaningful character development and careful layering of relevant elements. The main action in E8 (Witness Marks) basically consists of 2 different sets of people driving to Hill House in different vehicles. You'll have to wait until E9 to find out what happens when the vehicles finally arrive. Sure, there's some interesting conversation taking place, but often it's too much. There are agonizing and excessively long monologs (examples: Dudley's 8 minute speech in E7-Eulogy and the longer than necessary conversations between Hugh and a law enforcement official). The importance of Hill House itself and it's spirit-world "residents" seems like an afterthought despite the series title. I think in the final episodes, the audience was *supposed* to start feeling empathy toward the departed souls rather than fear? Hard to tell, since this element was overshadowed by slowly dragging the family narrative to it's unsatisfying endpoint. It certainly feels like a missed opportunity not to give the spirit world equal billing to the living characters, since that interplay could have made the series more balanced, not to mention putting more meat on the bone. As is turns out, the discovery of a body on the premises only got about 1 minute of screen time and follow-up, so viewers were left wondering what exactly happened there? whose body was that? does that have anything to do with the haunting? A body might ordinarily be pivotal in a tale about a haunted house, but here it ends up being a total throw-away non-event. The final episodes suffer from similarly underdeveloped loose ends, unanswered questions, and irrelevant fillers. Also missing is more about the Dudleys connection to Hill House, a glaring omission since the couple is key to the story wrap-up (they are prominently featured in the last episode.) Other disappointments are the visual imagery of the Hill House exterior and interior. It's beyond a cliche - it might well have been inspired by a Scooby-Doo cartoon. The house is also improbable in scale: how could a contractor/carpenter with a family of 5 possibly afford this? I can easily suspend belief about ghosts, but not real estate. In fact, the most authentically spooky place in the entire series is the funeral home (and it's basement), simply because it's somewhat familiar and ordinary. Even the night-time city streets where a few scenes take place are threatening enough. No special effects needed. It is possible to build a spooky atmosphere with plot and tension alone (see Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining"). Overall, the successful scenes in the series had more to do with the ordinary torment we experience and endure as we navigate our human realm ... inner demons and interpersonal struggles are scary enough. No doubt, the series creators saw the dramatic potential in embedding a family in crisis among unfamiliar otherworldly circumstances. However, without better pacing and more meaningful connections between the human characters and the supernatural realm, the whole enterprise end ups being far less compelling than it could have been.… Expand
  51. Bgrod
    Oct 14, 2018
    4
    As a haunted house television series, this is low on scares and edge of the seat suspense. The original Robert Wise blaxk and white film remains the best haunted house film in the entire genre--it's equal parts psychological and genuinely suspenseful horror drama that succeeds because of the brilliant use of camera angles and sound effects/soundtrack without ever revealing an apparition.As a haunted house television series, this is low on scares and edge of the seat suspense. The original Robert Wise blaxk and white film remains the best haunted house film in the entire genre--it's equal parts psychological and genuinely suspenseful horror drama that succeeds because of the brilliant use of camera angles and sound effects/soundtrack without ever revealing an apparition. In the original movie,, Hill House was alive and definitely felt like a malevolent presence. The creepy backstory of the Crane family at the beginning of the movie set a very eerie and foreboding tone for the rest of the film. This Netflix interpretation falls far short of the film and just doesn't engage the viewer or provide enough genuine chills, original or derivative ones, to make this a good television series… Expand
  52. mehmetcanboz
    Oct 14, 2018
    10
    The Haunting of Hill House is the perfect combination of family drama and ghost stories. At first, you may think that it's full of cliches as I did, but when you watch more episodes, you notice that it's original as the other horror shows never were. Using of darkness and writing is so brave. I loved it.
  53. kuehnau
    Oct 16, 2018
    1
    Completely ignores the original material and re-writes the story into something that wholly ignores any paranormal aspects and focuses on psychological horror instead.

    What's the point of even adding the Hill House name to this series if it doesn't resemble the story itself in any capacity? Huge let down. Here's a tip NetFlix, if you are going to introduce a series based on an    Completely ignores the original material and re-writes the story into something that wholly ignores any paranormal aspects and focuses on psychological horror instead.

    What's the point of even adding the Hill House name to this series if it doesn't resemble the story itself in any capacity? Huge let down.

    Here's a tip NetFlix, if you are going to introduce a series based on an already established franchise, we want it to be familiar, not completely different.    … Expand
  54. agpc
    Oct 15, 2018
    10
    Hill House is a brilliantly written and well executed family drama with elements of horror and tragedy mixed in. One of the best shot scenes in recent memory involves a family argument. The storytelling is a complex yet understandable interweaving of present and past and I think it will go down as one of the best Netflix shows this year.
  55. ScienceAdvisor
    Nov 1, 2018
    6
    Great build up, but the end is lackluster in the extreme. This renders the whole tale as being oxymoronic, which is understandable once you understand the main story mechanic. Unfortunately this retroactively neutralizes all fear, and inverts the meaning of the whole season in the last episode. So all the horror build up turns into a story of hope and happiness. Anyone calling thisGreat build up, but the end is lackluster in the extreme. This renders the whole tale as being oxymoronic, which is understandable once you understand the main story mechanic. Unfortunately this retroactively neutralizes all fear, and inverts the meaning of the whole season in the last episode. So all the horror build up turns into a story of hope and happiness. Anyone calling this horror, after seeing the final epsiode, needs a reality check or to have the story explained to them. There is little hope of a meaningful second season now that the horror is neutralized.… Expand
  56. garmonbozia
    Oct 16, 2018
    3
    "The haunting of hill house" is a boring combination of corny family melodrama (a.k.a "This is us") and mediocre horror movie about a haunted house (like many films about haunted houses before this series - nothing unique here). Every episode dragged a bit, or a lot. There was a repetitiveness to all the story lines. Yes, they somehow meet their ends but it still felt a bit vage and random"The haunting of hill house" is a boring combination of corny family melodrama (a.k.a "This is us") and mediocre horror movie about a haunted house (like many films about haunted houses before this series - nothing unique here). Every episode dragged a bit, or a lot. There was a repetitiveness to all the story lines. Yes, they somehow meet their ends but it still felt a bit vage and random and what's more disappointing - predictable. From the get go I knew what had happened with the mum in the family. It was just too obvious. The significance of a red door room turned out to be - insignificant. The attempt to be "awesome filmakers" with the one take scenes with the whole family the night before the funeral - was laughable. Yes, they got it in one take - but the whole thing looked and felt unnatural - staged and overly dramatic - like a theater play - in a bad sense. Most of the actors didn't know what to do when they weren't delivering any lines. They just stood there unnaturally and didn't know what to do with their hands. The kids were cute (especially Nell, Luke and the girl with gloves), the adults were mostly annoying. The house looked great. The scene with little Luke under the bed watching floating giant with a walking stick was amazing. But for the most of the time I felt bored watching those sad people on the screen talking about the same stuff all the time and relive the same plot points. Like many Netflix shows (also documentaries) - this felt too long. There wasn't a satisfying story there. Not a story that should last 10 hours of television. If this was a four-episode series - maybe it would've worked.… Expand
  57. katezoe
    Oct 15, 2018
    1
    Great movie, thinly spread over 10 episodes. Just awful, boring and a waste of time. Terrible acting all around.
  58. steveyme
    Oct 14, 2018
    1
    Badly scripted, predictable. Really awful cheap sets. Can't understand the good feedback on this.
  59. SeussMyTub
    Oct 21, 2018
    2
    Piss poor horror TV show based on the classic story by Shirley Jackson. It seems the producers completely missed the point of the book, which was really not about a haunted house, but rather a creepy story about twisted people. What made Jackson's book so scary was because it hinted at the horror, it never fully showed it.

    This version has too many flashbacks that muddles the story,    Piss poor horror TV show based on the classic story by Shirley Jackson. It seems the producers completely missed the point of the book, which was really not about a haunted house, but rather a creepy story about twisted people. What made Jackson's book so scary was because it hinted at the horror, it never fully showed it.

    This version has too many flashbacks that muddles the story, plus all the characters are unsympathetic. Slow and even boring at times- plus the frequent encounters with the ghosts are repetitive.

    The book is a million times better- if you want a good horror story, read it instead of watching it.    … Expand
  60. PierreMartinow
    Oct 23, 2018
    3
    When start watching this tv series, you immediately realize it's a well-done tv production, the camera movements, the story-telling, the acting. Almost Hollywood grade. However, the proclaimed horror tv series turns out to be a multi-family drama with no spook at all or at least, the spook you'll see is nothing of what you expect when starting to watch a horror tv series. The tv showWhen start watching this tv series, you immediately realize it's a well-done tv production, the camera movements, the story-telling, the acting. Almost Hollywood grade. However, the proclaimed horror tv series turns out to be a multi-family drama with no spook at all or at least, the spook you'll see is nothing of what you expect when starting to watch a horror tv series. The tv show builds up tension until the end and you expect a bigger outcome than there is. For me, who is not a fan of drama tv series, a big disappointment.… Expand
  61. crashnh14
    Oct 26, 2018
    10
    I started watching this show hoping for a good ghosthorror show since it is October. The first two episodes, which cover the views of Stephen and Shirley, ruined those hopes. These are the two most boring characters in the show, so do yourself a favor and get past them. If you do you will uncover a masterpiece. This show is like a puzzle, the first few episodes set everything up and byI started watching this show hoping for a good ghosthorror show since it is October. The first two episodes, which cover the views of Stephen and Shirley, ruined those hopes. These are the two most boring characters in the show, so do yourself a favor and get past them. If you do you will uncover a masterpiece. This show is like a puzzle, the first few episodes set everything up and by the end all the pieces are coming together. I felt Timothy Hutton (old Hugh Crain), Carla Gugino (Olivia Crain) and Kate Siegel (Adult Theo) were great, but the star is Julian Hilliard (young Luke).… Expand
  62. lru
    Oct 16, 2018
    1
    Just so, so bad. Worse than Stranger Things, which is saying something. Who buys a house with a room they mysteriously can't enter and is just like, "Well, I guess we'll never know what's in that room!" Until it's convenient for the plot, of course. I don't know. The story is weak, the acting and dialogue are laughable most of the time and all the "spooky" bits are cheap jump scares. ThereJust so, so bad. Worse than Stranger Things, which is saying something. Who buys a house with a room they mysteriously can't enter and is just like, "Well, I guess we'll never know what's in that room!" Until it's convenient for the plot, of course. I don't know. The story is weak, the acting and dialogue are laughable most of the time and all the "spooky" bits are cheap jump scares. There are just soooo many better options than this. Don't believe the hype.… Expand
  63. gwaiz18
    Oct 14, 2018
    10
    Amazing horror series , highly recommend it .The cast and character developement is second to none.
  64. j1train
    Oct 21, 2018
    7
    Most critics only saw 6 episodes. I suspect reviews would be slightly less enthusiastic if they'd been given the entire season. Comparisons to Hereditary are generous. It falls apart a bit in the final stretch, but the family drama and sense of dread are well executed throughout. It's a great team of actors. But it's far too long and gets a bit sloppy in the finale.
  65. ChelseaL90
    Oct 22, 2018
    10
    This is far more than just a Horror show. I has no idea what I was in for when I started it. I just turned it on because I saw Daario Naharis.
    I don't ever watch Horrors alone, but by the time I realized this was kinda scary it was too late.
    The acting all around was fantastic, especially the children, and the story is so much more than just your average Horror. Yes, it is scary    This is far more than just a Horror show. I has no idea what I was in for when I started it. I just turned it on because I saw Daario Naharis.
    I don't ever watch Horrors alone, but by the time I realized this was kinda scary it was too late.

    The acting all around was fantastic, especially the children, and the story is so much more than just your average Horror. Yes, it is scary sometimes, but maybe it's best you start this how I did. Not knowing it's categorized as a Horror.

    I finished the show in about 24 hours and recommended it to everyone i know. Then I watched it again with my boyfriend who was viewing it for the first time, and I noticed things I did not catch on my first viewing. People I didn't see, connections I didn't make. Things that I thought were pointless turned out to be so important.

    This is 100% the best show I have ever seen on Netflix.
    I highly recommend this to everyone.    … Expand
  66. ozymandias79
    Oct 15, 2018
    3
    Lite on scares and kinda boring for a horror TV series. The time jumping was hard to follow and even who the younger characters were, mainly because I didn't care about any of them. It was long and drawn out, and would have benefited from fewer episodes and a tighter plot.
  67. JLuis_001
    Oct 13, 2018
    7
    A pleasant surprise from Netflix. It's quite entertaining despite its rhythm problems especially because the narrative has some holes but it was solid.

    This series falls more in the suspense than in horror and evidently if you are one of those who thinks that horror means gallons of blood and deaths every 20 minutes, forget it. It's 10 hours of good entertainment and although it    A pleasant surprise from Netflix. It's quite entertaining despite its rhythm problems especially because the narrative has some holes but it was solid.

    This series falls more in the suspense than in horror and evidently if you are one of those who thinks that horror means gallons of blood and deaths every 20 minutes, forget it.

    It's 10 hours of good entertainment and although it could have been better and they could have cut it certain plot lines, I can say that I'm satisfied enough.    … Expand
  68. TVBug
    Oct 17, 2018
    7
    The first episode was good. The second was pretty bad. I couldn't get past some of the kids' dialogue. Unrealistic and bordering on cringeworthy. At that point I decided to quit watching. Fortunately, there was nothing else to watch, so I reluctantly tried episode 3. The season turned around for me at that point and I enjoyed it. It was a bit uneven and some of the treatment of the youngThe first episode was good. The second was pretty bad. I couldn't get past some of the kids' dialogue. Unrealistic and bordering on cringeworthy. At that point I decided to quit watching. Fortunately, there was nothing else to watch, so I reluctantly tried episode 3. The season turned around for me at that point and I enjoyed it. It was a bit uneven and some of the treatment of the young children still was off, but overall, it was entertaining and well done.… Expand
  69. QuentinBay57mc
    Oct 16, 2018
    2
    An intriguing scary premise turns into a mush of sentimental pretentiousness in the style of This Is Us by the end. The finale is possibly one of the biggest letdowns to a show I've ever waded through and a massive waste of time.
  70. Jdotstone
    Oct 22, 2018
    3
    A writer should take into account that the dialogue should actually move the plot forward as well as keep the audience interested. In this case the mark was missed on both accounts. It seems like there was a conscience effort to give each character their own monologue at least once to make it "fair" for every actor involved, and then some, instead of focusing on the sort of writingA writer should take into account that the dialogue should actually move the plot forward as well as keep the audience interested. In this case the mark was missed on both accounts. It seems like there was a conscience effort to give each character their own monologue at least once to make it "fair" for every actor involved, and then some, instead of focusing on the sort of writing that's actually worthwhile in regards to a good intriguing story. I can just see Mike Flanagan or whoever wrote the majority of this sitting at their computer with a nice sly smile writing and writing and writing this dialogue thinking man am I a satisfying elegant writer or what.....while little does he/she know that the audience soon realizes they can start doing housework, chores, etc. etc. while watching this show without fear of really missing anything important that moves the overall story along. There may be a tiny handful of writers on this planet that can keep the audience paying close attention and while still wanting more with this amount of stand alone wordiness with little else but in this case...No Dice.… Expand
  71. deecat
    Oct 29, 2018
    4
    A melodramatic psychodrama with some ghosts. Started out well, a good cast and good production values, unfortunately the story is lifeless and obvious. The plotlines feel recycled from old Law & Order and Sex in the City episodes. I made to episode 3, I don't think I'll go further.
  72. my1rio
    Oct 17, 2018
    0
    Very boring. Had to fast forward thru most of the monologue. Probably won't finish it. So silly.
  73. OliverGable
    Oct 23, 2018
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show was excruciatingly monotonous and painful to watch. It jumps back and forth between past and present like a ping pong game, way too much. Every scene includes a scare which gets very old after the first hundred or so. There is no build up of suspense just boring monotony. There are ghosts haunting themselves. How does that make any sense at all? Worst of all is that just like most Netflix shows, the real story is Netflix trying to normalize their agenda of homosexual relationships and building a lame show around that primary theme.… Expand
  74. OlivierPiel
    Oct 15, 2018
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It seems the rules of horror have been lost on this young generation of writers, directors and viewers: "Scary things" should not be directly shown but hinted at. It's the doubt, unknown, the "maybe it's true" that creates the horror!
    The show was humming along nicely until the final twist of ep 1, the little sister was dead and turned into a ghost. Netflix resorts to showing how the girl slowly turns into a dark evil spirit thanks to very expensive special effects. Expensive effects but lazy thinking!
    And like that the show became boring unless you are under 13 physically or mentally speaking.
    This is the curse of this very overrated Stranger Things show with that ridiculous monster.    … Expand
  75. hnolan
    Oct 22, 2018
    1
    6 hours too long, tries too hard to be deep when it's not deep whatsoever. Conclusion is painfully evident from the very first episode, even moreso in the second episode where they literally spell it out for you. Billed as a horror show, they should have removed all horror elements and just made it about a family struggling with mental illness. Terrible writing, shot in the same way as6 hours too long, tries too hard to be deep when it's not deep whatsoever. Conclusion is painfully evident from the very first episode, even moreso in the second episode where they literally spell it out for you. Billed as a horror show, they should have removed all horror elements and just made it about a family struggling with mental illness. Terrible writing, shot in the same way as every other Netflix original (good but nothing unique or interesting about it, incredibly bland). Drags on far too long.… Expand
  76. Feriatus
    Oct 29, 2018
    8
    I like the show, but it should be about 4 - 5 episodes. Very very slow show. And this is the problem with many Netflix shows. Do they have a policy that the show must be 10 episodes so you would not have time to watch them and stay subscribed like MMO games do with quests?
  77. beat_c
    Nov 11, 2018
    5
    a few good moments and performances, but overall extremely repetitive, too stretched out and ultimately rather silly. add a supercheesy ending, and i would not recommend it.
  78. Voodoo123
    Dec 19, 2018
    10
    +Exceptional quality of cinematography/lighting/composition
    +Fantastically atmospheric use of music/sound/silence
    +Talented cast deliver memorable performances +Excellent screenplay/character design/episode layout -A first for me.... to me this is a faultless production! Haunting by name, haunting its audience by nature. Flanagan's HOHH creeps its way under your skin like any good    +Exceptional quality of cinematography/lighting/composition
    +Fantastically atmospheric use of music/sound/silence
    +Talented cast deliver memorable performances
    +Excellent screenplay/character design/episode layout
    -A first for me.... to me this is a faultless production!

    Haunting by name, haunting its audience by nature. Flanagan's HOHH creeps its way under your skin like any good horror story not through exaggerated use effects gore or cheap thrills but decent story telling (and droplets of everything I just mentioned timed perfectly!). I feel like this series will generate its own audience over time and to me just felt timeless.

    Each story feels like its own self contained horror movie with an exceptional level of quality. The episodes take care to unravel each characters psyche through the different time periods punctuated with revelatory moments where we discover a key connective moment in the family's dynacmic relationships.

    As a gamer I have always felt like the location (level) design is a key in any survival horror title to making the player feel unsettled (Resident evil mansion, sevestapol station alien isolation etc) and the production design of Hill House is just mesmerizing in that it has its own real personality.... the interiors are haunting through the different time periods without being too provocative, again feeding into the subtle 'under your skin' haunted feeling Flanagan exaggerates in scenes building to a crescendo of scares.    … Expand
  79. cterryr2
    Nov 2, 2018
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I admit, never read the book and didn't know the story going in. My issue is with the story it's self. It may have played well when written in another time. Today is falls flat at the end. I was into the show until the last 2 episodes. There is NO way this should have a happy ending! That totally ruined it. I mean, the last two episodes played like an entirely different movie. Very frustrating! Your all going to die then happy go lucky family reunion? No. Stupid. Lame. Please God, no more shows that end in some nice heavenly place (Lost, The Leftovers and more). Drastic plot and character changes suck.… Expand
  80. Dzimas
    Oct 29, 2018
    5
    It's kind of like 13 Reasons Why set in a haunted house. It grabs you, carries you along but ultimately fails to deliver, because all the emphasis is on the wrong person. Steven is the storyteller here, much like Clay in 13 Reasons, trying to make sense of the events that happened the summer he and his siblings lost their mother in a haunted house. Their father has kept his version ofIt's kind of like 13 Reasons Why set in a haunted house. It grabs you, carries you along but ultimately fails to deliver, because all the emphasis is on the wrong person. Steven is the storyteller here, much like Clay in 13 Reasons, trying to make sense of the events that happened the summer he and his siblings lost their mother in a haunted house. Their father has kept his version of events locked up, so Steven took pen in hand and wrote a book, which became a bestseller, but it still doesn't answer the question why, which has gnawed at him for 26 years. Only problem is that he is loathe to admit it until another death brings the family together, including dear old Dad who has been hiding out in Florida all this time.

    This isn't so much an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's classic novel, but rather a serial that uses the Hill House as a backdrop for a modern-day dysfunctional family trying to come to terms with itself. There are some genuinely good moments and you can't help but feel empathy for the young twins, Luke and Nell, but the story wallows way too much in self pity, and only rarely moves beyond typical television melodrama.

    If you are looking for a ghost story you will be very disappointed. They really only appear until the last two episodes and then weigh very little on the story. I suppose Michael Flanagan wanted to get more into the demons that haunt us and lead us astray in life, but he could have done this without co-opting Shirley Jackson. Her stories were all about economy, allowing the reader to project into them his or her own interpretation of events. Flanagan lays everything out like a patient on a psychiatrist's couch.

    There is very little suspense much less terror. The narrative becomes excruciatingly slow in the middle episodes, which you can fast forward for all they matter. Whatever bit of mystery is contained in the first three or four episodes and then explained to the last detail in the remaining two episodes, usually twice just in case you missed it.

    As such, this is more a story for young teenagers than it is adults. As a parent, you can ease your worried mind as there is very little sex or violence and only a handful of chills that might keep your young son or daughter awake at night.    … Expand
  81. olvlvl
    Dec 31, 2018
    4
    I love "The Conjuring", so I was excited about a TV show with a family in a haunted house, but this is ultimately boring. There's two major issues: it's scary as missing toilet paper; the acting and direction is utterly bad.

    Nothing in this show is scary. Most of the time ghosts "hang" there. On one occasion they pick up a hat, on an other they crawl. There's nothing evil going on.    I love "The Conjuring", so I was excited about a TV show with a family in a haunted house, but this is ultimately boring. There's two major issues: it's scary as missing toilet paper; the acting and direction is utterly bad.

    Nothing in this show is scary. Most of the time ghosts "hang" there. On one occasion they pick up a hat, on an other they crawl. There's nothing evil going on. Compared to all the shenanigans that were happening in "The Conjuring". This is utterly disappointing. I kinda liked the sequence where the younger sister hangs herself, there was some good idea in there, but that doesn't make for the other 10 boring hours.

    Then, there's the actors. Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel, and Julian Hilliard are doing a great job, the rest of the cast ranges from bad to terrible. Michiel Huisman being the worst. Plain. Unconvincing. Lukewarm. Maybe it's the direction, I don't know.

    Long story short, after fast-forwarding through episode 6, I'm giving up. I'd rather watch "The Conjuring" 6 times in a row.    … Expand
  82. MasteroMustache
    Nov 6, 2018
    6
    I'm extremely torn about this show. For the most part, it's expertly done drama and horror. The sixth episode in particular is a master class in acting, design, and direction. That said, the 10th and final episode is completely inconsistent with the tone of the rest of the show. A spoiler free analogy: imagine you're watching a basketball game. It's a great game, with high level athletesI'm extremely torn about this show. For the most part, it's expertly done drama and horror. The sixth episode in particular is a master class in acting, design, and direction. That said, the 10th and final episode is completely inconsistent with the tone of the rest of the show. A spoiler free analogy: imagine you're watching a basketball game. It's a great game, with high level athletes competing at the highest level. Suddenly, for the last 8 minutes of the game, the athletes turn to the sideline cameras and begin performing a Shakespearean play, and that's how the basketball game ends. Perhaps the play is performed fairly well (maybe the athletes are great actors!). Yet it's a completely unsatisfying ending to a *basketball game* which is what you were watching for the first 40 minutes. While I still believe the show is worth watching and would recommend it, I was extremely disappointed by the whole of the finale.… Expand
  83. imaginetruly
    Oct 23, 2018
    4
    One of the best series of the year and one of the best horror series I've ever seen, she's not totally scary, she does not show monsters all the time during the series, she's more focused on the drama but in a way that is not tiring, makes want to watch more and more, the end very very good I found well cohesive with the proposal of the series, worth watching
  84. Maddagro
    Oct 19, 2018
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Define Netflixed: when you watch a movie/series on Netflix that is really good but the ending is total emotional garbage.… Expand
  85. TheQuietGamer
    Jan 26, 2019
    10
    I consider Mike Flanagan to be one of the best names in modern horror. The primary reason for that being he has always delivered compelling drama and well-realized characters on top of unique, exciting premises. One area I've always found him to be a lacking in though has been actual terror. Simply put, I've never found any of his movies to be scary. This is part of the reason I believeI consider Mike Flanagan to be one of the best names in modern horror. The primary reason for that being he has always delivered compelling drama and well-realized characters on top of unique, exciting premises. One area I've always found him to be a lacking in though has been actual terror. Simply put, I've never found any of his movies to be scary. This is part of the reason I believe this modernization of Shirley Jackson's classic to be Flanagan's best work to date: it scared the living crap out of me.

    I'm a slow burn kind of guy. I love a tone of unease that builds up to something truly horrifying (when it's done right that is). And when the big moment finally arrives I don't want some cheap jumpscare. Oh no, that won't get to me. What will is having a disturbing display of the unnatural take place right in front of me in full view. A lot of people say that what we can't see is deserving of the most fear, and they are far from wrong. However, one should never underestimate the terror that can come from seeing something you know you shouldn't and having it stare right back at you. These are the kind of moments The Haunting of Hill House has in spades.

    Thematically this has a lot in common with Stephen King's IT. It even plays out in a similar manner. It's an exploration of how past trauma, particularly from childhood, can effect a person in the future. Each character tries to cope in different ways to varying degrees of success. Haunted by more than just the ghosts of their childhood home, the Crain siblings deal with past regrets and familial strife. Broken family drama is a huge part of Hill House and is brought to life with superb writing. Longtime Flanagan devotees will get a kick out of seeing so many familiar faces from his movies return to do some of the best work of their careers ensuring that the Crains feel like real people.

    The mystery surrounding the house itself is so engaging that this became my first real binge watch. Each reveal is more unsettling than the last. Especially when the boundaries of time begin to blur linking the past, present, and future together in a way that makes the Crain's fate feel predetermined and inescapable. There's an ever-increasing sense of impending doom that kept me on the edge of my seat.

    This one of the most well-realized works of horror I have ever experienced and among the best of what Netflix's large (and still growing) catalog of exclusives has to offer. This feels like the culmination of all of Flanagan's work up to this point and will likely be remembered as his magnum opus. If you any love for the genre at all then this is not to be missed.    … Expand
  86. AliceofX
    Jun 12, 2019
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Started out good but got meh towards the end. The episode where Nell kills herself was the highpoint of the series.… Expand
  87. JulianIncen
    Jun 1, 2020
    8
    Mike Flanagan's work is remarkable. He created tension and terror without the most basic cliché of this genre: the jumpscares. The photography is impressive, as is the entire cast.
  88. TheApprentice94
    Mar 20, 2019
    8
    Mike Flanagan is quickly proving himself to being an excellent horror director. Coming off saving the Ouija series and delivering excellent films like Hush and an adaptation of Stephen King's Gerald's Game, The Haunting of Hill House manages to impressively be both character study and full-blown intense fright-fest. Sure, it can be slow and it can be pressing but it is incredibly rewardingMike Flanagan is quickly proving himself to being an excellent horror director. Coming off saving the Ouija series and delivering excellent films like Hush and an adaptation of Stephen King's Gerald's Game, The Haunting of Hill House manages to impressively be both character study and full-blown intense fright-fest. Sure, it can be slow and it can be pressing but it is incredibly rewarding as the series unfolds. Not to mention, I love how this series was constructed - it speaks to the intelligence of the entire thing.… Expand
  89. night4
    Feb 9, 2019
    6
    It's not scary. It jumps around way too much. And why use a different actor for the same adult character, the dad? It makes no sense.

    Some of the acting was good, though, so it's watchable.
  90. egoBorder
    Jan 17, 2019
    5
    The Haunting of Hill House is impressive and ambitious, but unfortunately in terms of horror or drama it just fails to deliver anything above surface thrills. Like, VERY thin.

    I want to praise the production because they brought together a diverse cast and complex plot, but instead I submit this is conceptually where the show went wrong. Because at 10 episodes the show feels about    The Haunting of Hill House is impressive and ambitious, but unfortunately in terms of horror or drama it just fails to deliver anything above surface thrills. Like, VERY thin.

    I want to praise the production because they brought together a diverse cast and complex plot, but instead I submit this is conceptually where the show went wrong. Because at 10 episodes the show feels about three hours too long and about two characters too heavy. I suspect this script didn't get a lot of reads because even a lot of the dialogue has an amateurish repetitiveness.

    The story isn't anything original, but that's okay in ghost stories. And at first, the way the show jumps between characters and time, I thought the idea was that while the ideas were cliched the presentation was offering something new. But in another misstep, the show gets a bit too flashy and it entirely kills the horror. By then, the characters are revealed to be entirely one-dimensional, and the drama fails as well.

    If you've read this far into the review and you're genuinely curious about my opinion and wondering if you'll like it, here's something that isn't exactly a spoiler. But I also could not ignore this and found it infuriating and constantly distracting:

    There is probably a ghost in this show, like, every seven or eight minutes. Not kidding. By the second episode I was laughing out loud every time I saw one and by the third it was really bothering me    … Expand
  91. Felindie
    Jul 16, 2019
    8
    The series is catchy and quiet scary., the characters were good and the acting too.
  92. JavaSquirt
    Jan 3, 2019
    1
    нетфликс, вы должны понять - негры должны работать на плантациях, а не сниматься в сериалах.
  93. Wendyo
    Oct 29, 2018
    5
    The first 4 episodes good, the remaining episodes, filler, one big yawn.....
  94. MisterGoku
    Nov 1, 2018
    9
    Gorgeously directed, incredibly good acting, the script is like this beautiful dark puzzle that unravels as you go. Episodes 5 and 6 are just...some of the best TV viewing I've watched in years. Highly recommended, even for those that are not overtly fond of the horror genre. There is so much to love here.
  95. RobertWhittick
    Jan 8, 2019
    10
    This series is absolutely amazing, while at some times it does feel like it ripped off american horror story season 1. However it is executed with a completely different tone. It's seamless transitions between the past and future and the incredible camera work succeed at building immeasurable suspense while slowly unravelling a compelling story of grief, trauma and family. Despite theirThis series is absolutely amazing, while at some times it does feel like it ripped off american horror story season 1. However it is executed with a completely different tone. It's seamless transitions between the past and future and the incredible camera work succeed at building immeasurable suspense while slowly unravelling a compelling story of grief, trauma and family. Despite their flaws you find yourself caring deeply for the, extremely well acted, characters and cannot bear to look away even during the most frightening parts. Never so much have I seen a series' ending so perfectly encapsulate the whole series and was truly perfect. Despite loving the series I believe the ending was so perfect it would be a shame to spoil it with a second season as I am not sure where they could go without it losing some of its' magic.… Expand
  96. WakeNarrative
    Jan 14, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A Haunting Series Worth Watching: This new Netflix series follows the Crain siblings who experience supernatural phenomenon over the course of their lives after moving into the Hill House. The story jumps back and forth in time (further evidence of Nell's theory that time is not linear) from youth to adulthood with intertwining haunting events stemming from the Hill House experiences. This terrorizing tale mirrors the late film "The Haunting" and is based on the novel "The Haunting of Hill House" written in 1959. This series did not disappoint and with every episode, Hill House became more terrifying. Highlights: the Bent Neck Lady, the man in the cellar who attacked Luke, Dr. Hill's dead body in the wall, and any clock shown after midnight ending in :03.

    We read from Buzzfeed that the children demonstrate the five stages of grief by age; Steven is Denial, Shirley is Anger, Theo is Bargaining, Luke is Depression, and Nell is Acceptance and in a lot of ways during the course of this series, we experienced all five stages, however in reverse.

    We quickly accepted the fact that this series was one of the most haunted series we have experienced and actually caused us to quickly jump when lights flickered or sparked in the comfort of our own homes! A bit of depression set in when we had to witness all of the horrible experiences these poor children endured. There was definitely some bargaining and pleading to the characters towards the end to not return to the house! Who wasn't angered by the death of Hugh Crain (the father)!? And, we are still in denial that this series is over.

    Biggest "ah ha" moment - When Nell dies and we realize she is the Bent Neck Lady all along.

    Best trooper in a terrible situation - Poor Abigail, what a tragic tea party.

    Best symbolism technique - The red door room - bearing many faces as the "stomach" of the house and every character's sanctuary. Whatttt? There wasn't really a treehouse? Overall grade: A    … Expand
  97. SimboTheKing
    Jun 28, 2022
    10
    Just as fantastic as the first time I watched it. I do think that it pips Bly Manor a bit for me. I just adore the way the story is told. It's slow and methodical but oh boy does it make the emotional bits hit sooooo hard. I literally can't find a single fault in this show. I would highlight my favourite aspect though: the switching perspectives. It was such a stroke of genius toJust as fantastic as the first time I watched it. I do think that it pips Bly Manor a bit for me. I just adore the way the story is told. It's slow and methodical but oh boy does it make the emotional bits hit sooooo hard. I literally can't find a single fault in this show. I would highlight my favourite aspect though: the switching perspectives. It was such a stroke of genius to continually show the same events from different perspectives and it elevated this story even higher for me.

    Peak television unironically.    … Expand
  98. xGabriel
    Apr 25, 2019
    10
    A Masterpieceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
  99. geewah
    Dec 30, 2020
    8
    Not always a fan of this genre but I found this to be a well written horror show with enough scares to keep you on the edge of your seat.
  100. Nella112
    Sep 21, 2021
    1
    One word: BORING.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best TV Season of 2018
6
#6 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018
3
#3 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Troy Patterson
    Oct 31, 2018
    70
    The showrunner, Mike Flanagan, builds a dreadful atmosphere, which is crucial, because the creeping pace of his ten episodes would be intolerable if not for its ambient suspense. The show may work best as a binge watch, one where you don’t pay steady attention but instead let it haunt your own house.
    Read full review
  2. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Sophie Gilbert
    Oct 24, 2018
    60
    The series abandons Jackson’s distinctly female gothic for a more generic examination of grief and trauma. Over 10 episodes, it’s stylish, moving, and sinister, riddled with ghosts both literal and metaphorical. But it’s hard not to feel like something has been lost in translation.
    Read full review
  3. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Oct 16, 2018
    60
    Well-acted and ponderously paced, The Haunting of Hill House would have benefited from less straining for the artistic and more of a desire to jolt its viewers.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »