The Haunting Of Hill House is a dark horror about a family caught in a terrible tragedy and the lasting consequences of loss.
Meet the Crains, a typical family with two loving parents and five kids.
The timeline in the show is split between 1992 and 2018 with some flashbacks from the years in between. In 1992 the kids are young and the parents are renovating Hill House with the aim of selling it for a profit. In 2018 the kids are grown and the family has a lot of baggage. The siblings hold various grudges and the father has never quite recovered from something that happened in 1992 that forced him to flee from the house with his five children, without his wife.
Living in the house that is terribly haunted has given many of the children their own traumas which they have been unable to shake, even into their adult lives. Luke, the youngest boy, now has a drug problem, his twin sister Ellenor (Nell) has a sleeping disorder, Theodora (Theo), the middle child has serious problems allowing anyone close, Shirley, the oldest sister is uptight and controlling and Steven, the oldest brother is trying desperately to have some semblance of a normal, happy life.
The first episode gives us a brief intro into each of the children and a glimpse into the fact that Nell is worried about Luke. We meet the cast briefly and note the absence of the children’s mother and see a snippet that clues us into the fact that something happened when they were children that forced their father to flee with the five kids.
Thereafter each episode tells pieces of the story from the different perspectives of Hugh, the father, and the five children unraveling the dark mystery one piece at a time.
I am thrilled to report that Theo is a lesbian and she has a great story arc in the show. I also love the fact that she is an incidental lesbian, meaning that her story has nothing at all to do with her sexuality which is refreshing. Theo is played by the awesome Kate Siegel.
If you love dark, twisty tales with exquisite visuals and soundtrack then you have to watch this. I will give you this warning about the show though, you are bound to lose track of time as you watch so binge on a weekend when you don’t have to do anything else.
The Technical Side
This show has a high production quality with stunning visuals and deep, layered audio.
My Favourite Parts
I love television shows that are immersive and make your brain fight to piece together the puzzle. I love it when I am surprised and thrilled by interesting characters and plot points that I didn’t see coming and I delight in production quality so flawless that you feel like you can reach out and touch the world you are watching. And this show provided all of that.
It’s also good for that extra juicy creepy factor that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Heads Up
This show has ghosts, suicide, drug use and a brief side plot of child abuse (that is not part of the main family).
The Conclusion
I absolutely recommend this show for anyone who is looking for something creepy with a good mystery and a lot of awesome family relationship drama. Bring the popcorn and settle in for all the awesome.
Watch the Trailer
Where To Watch The Haunting Of Hill House
It’s on Netflix
Bits and Bobs
- Program Creator: Mike Flanagan
- Actors: Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, Victoria Pedretti, Lulu Wilson, Mckenna Grace, Paxton Singleton, Julian Hilliard, Violet McGraw, Timothy Hutton, Anthony Ruivivar, Samantha Sloyan,
- Number Of Seasons: 1 of this specific show but the creators went on to do The Haunting of Bly Manor, a completely different yet also good show.
A Guide To The Crain Family
I got a little confused as to who was who when I first watched the show especially jumping back and forth in time. So I made a little guide in case you need help too:
Olivia is the mother. She is there in the 1992 memories and only briefly in the 2018 ones.
Hugh is the father and is in both timelines prominently.
Steven is the oldest brother, he is the tall boy in the 1992 timeline and the author in the 2018 timeline.
Shirley is the oldest sister, in the 1992 timeline she is the taller dark haired girl who takes photos and has the kitten story in 1992 in the 2018 timeline she runs a funeral home.
Theodora is the awkward middle girl child in 1992 and gets the gloves. In 2018 she is the child psychologist and still wears gloves.
Luke is the youngest boy, he is twins with Nell and wears thick glassed in the 1992 timeline in the 2018 timeline he is tall, blond and the recovering addict.
Nell is the youngest girl who sees the bent neck lady in the 1992 timeline and has sleep paralysis in the 2018 timeline.
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Note: I watched The Haunting Of Hill House on Netflix. No money was exchanged for this review.
