Terrifyingly high praise.
With a plethora of studios and shared horror universes releasing new titles every few months, there was something refreshing about the old school nature of Netflix’s brand new series, The Haunting of Hill House.
Consider this to be your spoiler alert warning if you haven’t started the show yet.
As stated in our spoiler-free review, Mike Flanagan’s series is markedly different because it never rushes the pace or feels the need to ‘throw in’ a scare every 10 minutes to keep the audience interested.
Every single member of the Crain family are fully-drawn characters with their own interesting backstories and flaws. In many ways, you can view The Haunting of Hill House as a straight up drama that deals with issues like grief, loss, addiction and despair.
It remains primarily a horror, but because you’re invested in these characters, the scares resonate far deeper.
And make no mistake about it, this show is scary.
Fans of the show are already well versed in the terrifying spectres of the ‘Bent-Neck Lady’, ‘The Thin Man in the Hat,’ and as for that scene when ‘young Luke’ takes the dumb waiter down to the basement… yikes!
All things considered, Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s beloved novel has proven to be a massive hit and with Season 2 already on the cards, it seems like we’re not done yet with the macabre mystery of Hill House.
In terms of other shows of this ilk, plenty of people have already started to compare Netflix’s latest hit to American Horror Story, the beloved anthology horror television series that was created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.
Granted, AHS has already proven to be a massive hit with eight different seasons under its belt – some of varying quality – and a plethora of accolades to boast about. Since being released, AHS has received 89 Emmy Award nominations (16 wins) and nine Golden Globe Award nods (two wins) among many accolades.
In terms of modern horror TV shows, AHS is the standard-bearer and the trailblazer, but Netflix have really struck gold with their new series.
Truth be told, we’d be amazed if The Haunting of Hill House isn’t nominated for some technical achievement because its sixth episode, Two Storms, is a remarkable piece of TV.
If you’re curious about how that episode was made, our interview with Michiel Huisman should be able to answer a few questions.
Since being released on Netflix, The Haunting of Hill House has already become the number one show for some horror fans ahead of American Horror Story.
Personal opinion: The Haunting of Hill House is pretty much everything American Horror Story: Murder House wanted to be, but wasn't.
— Kimble (@kwick22a) October 13, 2018
The Haunting of Hill House is the new American horror story. And ten times better, just saying
— nicole (@nicoleislike) October 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/CFMagee/status/1051061036441206784
Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House is a love letter to horror written with all the sincerity American Horror Story lacks.
— Detective Violet (@microviolets) October 14, 2018
The Haunting Of Hill House is so fucking good. The first time I’ve genuinely been hooked and scared by anything horror since the first season of American Horror Story.
— Callum McPhee (@Callum0510) October 14, 2018
The Haunting of Hill House > American Horror Story x 1000000000
— Kimber (@RobKimbrah) October 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/Aidan_Thinking/status/1051015263251034112
https://twitter.com/tunnelrat76/status/1051590464212791296
Digging the Haunting of Hill House. Honestly it feels far more spooky without forcing the spooky than American Horror story.
— Aly-Cat 🎮 Rebirth (@HighleyGinger) October 15, 2018
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
