by Heidi Papay

The Haunting of Hill House follows the Crain family. Present-day scenes of a dysfunctional and uncommunicative family are coupled with scenes from the family’s younger days. Growing up, they lived in “the most haunted house in America.” Decades later and thousands of miles from the house, each family member still feels the haunting effects.

The 10 episode horror series is based on the novel by Shirley Jackson and is directed by the well-known horror director Mike Flanagan.

The series is well-written, but can seem slow for some viewers. There are dragging dialogues, slow scenes, and hours of nothing but character building. Additionally, the constant time jumps can make it difficult to understand anything. But with all that said, The Haunting of Hill House is definitely worth watching. The characters are convincingly emotional, the scenery is captivating, and the story is beautiful. We see the family before tragedy strikes, we see them fall apart, and we see them forced back together through fate. Each episode adds a layer of complexity to the characters that keeps viewers coming back for more.

The Haunting of Hill House isn’t for everyone, but it is a fantastic series. It teaches the power of family and the importance of honesty in a complex, terrifying, and awe-inspiring way.