The Haunting of Hill House: 5 reasons it’s a must see

This month Netflix released another original series, The Haunting of Hill House. There’s a reason it’s getting great reviews; it’s phenomenal television. Here are five reasons it’s a must see.

A little over a week ago, Netflix released all the episodes of The Haunting of Hill House. Based off of Shirley Jackson’s book of the same title, the Netflix Original series centers around the Crain family’s experiences inside the supernatural Hill House and their lives after the house.

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Since its release, it has earned critical acclaim. It has even got the Stephen King seal of approval. Now some of you may want to dismiss the series because you aren’t a fan of horror or are leery of the hype. However, Hill House is a show not to miss. It’s absolutely fantastic television and a show I would recommend to all lovers of great TV.

Here are five reasons it’s must-see television:

1. It’s horror done well

So much of horror media these days have cheap jumpscares and not much actual fright. The Haunting of Hill House is horror done right. There are jumpscares, but they are well done. There are moments when you think a jumpscare is going to occur, but it happens at a different moment when you least expect it.

The Haunting of Hill House also offers more than just jumpscares. It’s true atmospheric horror.  A spirit called “The Bent-Neck Lady” haunts one of the Crain children. There is another ghoul that floats along the dark corridors of Hill House and haunts one of the Crain children throughout his life. There are literally ghosts around almost every corner. It’s the kind of horror that keeps you up at night and makes you look behind your shoulder.

2. It’s a moving family drama

Many people have described The Haunting of Hill House as This Is Us meets ghosts. That’s because at its core it is a story about family. Similar to This Is Us we see the five Crain children as kids and as adults. However, the drama in Hill House is more raw and real than the sometimes hokey This Is Us. The Crain family is a broken one with its issues, but there is still love there.

The sibling relationships are some of the best and most realistic sibling relationships I’ve seen portrayed on television. The Crain family is not all strife and arguments. There are some truly sweet moments between them. For example, the twins, Luke and Nell, have an adorable relationship.

3. It’s a fantastic exploration of trauma and grief

The Haunting of Hill House‘s scares serve more than just to spook the audience. The series uses the supernatural as a way to explore emotional trauma and grief. It shows us the psychological and emotional scars of dealing with a haunted house. Some of the supernatural occurrences are manifestations of the characters’ worst fears, their guilt, and their self-doubt.

The series does not hold back on these tough emotional subjects either. We see the characters at their lowest and most vulnerable. Each main character deals with their trauma and grief differently as well.

4. The camerawork and editing are excellent

Some may not pay attention to aspects like editing and camerawork when they are watching a show, but if you are a technical nerd like me, The Haunting of Hill House is a real treat. The show often goes from the present to the past. These transitions are flawless and seamless. It’s some truly well done editing work.

The emotions of the show are heightened by the camerawork There are long takes during awkward moments creating an uncomfortable feeling in the audience. During an argument between the Crain siblings, the camera circles around them creating a sensation of anger, tension, and disorientation.

5. The cast/casting

The cast features some talented known actors such as Carla Gugino, Michiel Huisman, and Timothy Hutton. However, the supporting, not as well-known cast are excellent as well. The cast bring all the emotions the Hill House conjures to life without melodrama. Even the children actors give a good performance.

This cast works not only because of their acting, but also because how much they look like alike. The actresses playing the three Crain sisters all look like they could actually be sisters. Also, they bear a resemblance to Carla Cugino, who plays their mother.

The children cast also bear a striking resemblance to their older counterparts. With their acting abilities and similar looks, the cast make the Crain family seem like a real one.

Have you watched The Haunting of Hill House? What about it do you love? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

All episodes of The Haunting of Hill House are available to stream on Netflix.