The Haunting of Hill House by Mike Flanagan
Netflix
Genres Horror, Thriller, Supernatural, Ghost story, Mystery, Drama
Episodes 10
(I want to start this review off by saying that I don’t usually enjoy Horror. And the horror that I do enjoy, I don’t actually consider Horror. For example, Dracula. I consider Horror to be something that is horrifying or scary. This was actually horrifying and scary, but still enjoyable. It is not a jump scare…it’s worse. It builds up the tension and anxiety and adrenaline slowly, too slowly. There were many times where I knew I was about to see something that was horrifying, and so I would close my eyes, while the tension slowly built up with music, atmosphere, and panning, for about ten seconds or even longer. And the images are seriously disturbing. I am not one who scares easily, but this was terrifying for me. This show is chock full of metaphor and deeper hidden meanings, so that could possibly be interpreted as the discomfort of confronting something disturbing within yourself.)
The Haunting of Hill House captivated me with its deep and complex exploration of grief, trauma, and the lingering impact of past experiences. The way it intertwined psychological and supernatural elements created an intense emotional experience that stayed with me long after finishing it. I was particularly drawn to the last two episodes of The Haunting of Hill House, where the portrayal of time as non-linear added a new layer of complexity. The way it blurred past, present, and future created a haunting sense of inevitability and deeper meaning in the characters’ experiences.
The last two episodes left me feeling amazed and profoundly connected to the characters. The non-linear portrayal of time deepened my understanding of their struggles and made the story even more impactful. I was so engrossed that I finished all ten episodes in one day, watching the series non-stop. It’s rare for a show to hold my attention so completely, but The Haunting of Hill House did exactly that.
From its slow-building tension to its emotionally charged moments, every scene felt deliberate, adding layers to the overarching narrative. The series masterfully blends the eerie and unsettling with a deep emotional core, making it much more than just a ghost story. The characters’ journeys, both past and present, felt raw and relatable, and the house itself became a living metaphor for the inescapable nature of trauma.
This series is a perfect blend of psychological depth and supernatural intrigue, with every episode contributing to the haunting atmosphere and emotional weight. It left me reflecting not only on the horror elements but also on the deeper, more personal themes that it explored. The Haunting of Hill House is, without a doubt, one of the most impactful series I’ve ever watched—so much so that it earned an easy 5 out of 5 stars.
