The Haunting (1963) Review

        The 1960s I feel is the turning point for horror. As a genre it’s gotten probably a substantial growth of sub-genre’s that many other filmmakers will contribute to. You have great films like Psycho, Night of the Living Dead and Rosemary’s Baby that have made a mark of that decade by pushing the envelope of what will be the norms for many horror films. The Haunting is probably the one that is the definite horror movie of the 60s. 

1. Hill House

        You’re probably wondering if "The Haunting in Hill House" was a Netflix original idea, well you’re wrong in that respect. Based on the book by Julie Harris, The Haunting is probably the first time a haunted house movie leans in heavily on the psychological angle than anything paranormal. I say that because that’s the movies best secret weapon for why it’s great. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

        From the beginning of the film, Dr. Markway narrates to us the background of Hill House and why it’s supposed to be haunted. He elaborates by stating that the original tenants have died by odd circumstances. As an experiment to determine if the haunting is true, he enlists three people: Eleanor, Theodora and Luke to accompany him and document if there is anything paranormal.

        What I like about the film is that everything is subtle in its approach. For a movie called The Haunting, we expect to see some ghosts or some level of paranormal activity. What’s great about is that we don’t see anything tangible or ghostly. The use of paranormal activity is that we hear noises to faint human sounds. The best moments is when both Theo and Eleanor hear something moving from the hallway. 

        It does it so well that they don’t investigate if it’s just the house that’s making it, like a faulty pipe or something. Throughout the whole film, the Dr. asks both women and Luke to document what’s happening. The dynamic character synergy helps sell it since Luke is the one to laugh it off but is still curious to think that the location is haunted. While the duo do acknowledge what they heard. 

        Had the film gone out of its way to show something tangible like a ghost or something more sinister would’ve been ruined. Having it be unseen has the audience try to figure out and guess if the house is literally haunted or just in the test subjects minds. I haven’t read the book if that is the case but for an adaptation it does it well to enhance the subject matter without spelling it out to the audience. 

2. Eleanor 

        As far as protagonists are concerned, this is probably one of the best tragic main characters that I’ve seen in a while. The first time we see Eleanor is when she’s living with her sister, bereft with guilt over their mother’s passing. Having her feel that she could’ve done more when their mother was sick. She wants to be independent but is entirely broke. Chosen to be part of Dr. Markway’s experiment, she sees the opportunity to start over. 

        From there, we follow a slow descend into madness which is often alluded to when we hear her inner thoughts. She wants to be accepted within the small group and strikes up a friendship with Theo. What I like is that we see the friendship form into a sort of sister-like relationship. Interesting enough is that Theo is coded to be a lesbian. The movie doesn’t confirm that but it’s alluded to that she has some feelings for Eleanor. Although, when she teases Eleanor about the house, the latter is combative. 

        Her slow descending mental psychosis into wanting to stay in the house, even when Dr. Markway tells her that she must leave is tragic. The paranormal experiences and her inner thoughts about the house cause her to be even more staunch to stay in the house. Regardless of the experiment since she relates to the story and becomes one with the house. 

        All of it as I say is played straight. There’s not an external force that is influencing her way of thinking or being possessed by a spirit. All of it is within her mind and it makes it more interesting in the context of the house. And for the overall theme of the movie, which is everything that they are experiencing, is it the house or just them? Or is it all an elaborate trick by the doctor to test them? Things like that where the movie isn’t clear cut and has the audience guess is what’s missing nowadays. 

3. The Remake 

        It seems like I keep coming back to last years look of The Body Snatcher. That one was directed by Robert Wise aswell as this film. He was already an established director within a variety of genres such as West Side Story and The Day the Earth Stood Still and a director of two Best Picture winners. So far I think this film is one of his best and I plan to watch his others. 

        The Haunting is one of those films at the time that got mixed reviews, the author especially didn’t like it. Noting that the only thing she feared was getting a parking ticket while she was in the theater. Over time, the film would get its recognition and the acclamation as one of the best horror films of the 60s. So much so that Stephen King pitched a remake to Steven Spielberg.

        Nothing came out of it, but the idea was remade to a movie in the late 90s. Seeing bits of it, my oh my is it bad. It’s like the director of Speed just flat out made a horror movie that relied too much on visual effects without the humanity of it. Which is ironic since the movie relies more on ghosts than anything mental. King ultimately brought his idea back and made it to a limited T.V. series that was a strip down version of his take on The Haunting called Rose Red.  

4. Overall

        The Haunting is one of the best paranormal films where the activity is either happening or in the head. To me that’s more scary than anything.