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The Haunting (1963)
After winning his first Oscar for directing West Side Story and before winning his second Oscar for directing The Sound of Music, Robert Wise managed to squeeze in a heart-stopping psychological chiller called The Haunting that riveted this viewer to the screen thanks to a compelling, multi-layered story and some extraordinary performances.
Hill House is a mysterious mansion that has stood for 90 years and has a history of violent and grisly deaths, which have spearheaded the belief that the mansion is haunted. Dr. John Markway is an anthropologist who is obsessed with the supernatural and obtains permission to move into the house in order to prove that Hill House is indeed haunted. He is joined in the house by a lonely spinster named Eleanor who is believed to have psychic powers, a sophisticated clairvoyant named Theodora and Luke, the son of the mansion's owner who wants to purchase it for himself. It isn't long before strange occurrences within the house imply a special connection between the house and this woman Eleanor.
Based on the novel "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson, Nelson Gidding's screenplay subtly but directly sets up a very creepy story that eventually whittles down to a one on one battle between this woman Eleanor and this house. We are given hints that going to this house is Eleanor's destiny through the fact that she is the only character with which get some backstory and, upon her arrival at Hill House, is determined to stay no matter what happens because she's supposed to be here. The story is provided an extra level of creepy by the fact that the antagonist in this story is invisible...even though we know this house is haunted, we can't see them, but we can see them communicating with Eleanor...loved when she first pulled onto the grounds and stopped in front of the mansion and said to herself that the house was staring at her. Speaking of which, Eleanor is also the only character given inner monologues regarding what's going on with the house.
This reviewer was also intrigued by what comes off as an underlying component of sexual tension to the story when it not only appears that Eleanor is attracted to Dr. Markway, but Theodora might be attracted to Eleanor as well, which is given another layer with the unexpected arrival of Dr. Markway's wife on the scene. It doesn't detract from the primary story, but adds a wonderfully human element to the supernatural story that we don't see coming at all.
Julie Harris turns in an extraordinary, Oscar-worthy performance as the tortured Eleanor that commands viewer attention. She is beautifully complimented by Claire Bloom's slick and sexy Theodora. After being directed by Wise in West Side Story, Russ Tamblyn provides just the right comic relief as young Luke. Richard Johnson and Lois Maxwell complete the sterling ensemble as the Markways. Exquisite black and white cinematography and chilling music are also great aids in pulling off this chilling tale of an invisible horror.
After winning his first Oscar for directing West Side Story and before winning his second Oscar for directing The Sound of Music, Robert Wise managed to squeeze in a heart-stopping psychological chiller called The Haunting that riveted this viewer to the screen thanks to a compelling, multi-layered story and some extraordinary performances.
Hill House is a mysterious mansion that has stood for 90 years and has a history of violent and grisly deaths, which have spearheaded the belief that the mansion is haunted. Dr. John Markway is an anthropologist who is obsessed with the supernatural and obtains permission to move into the house in order to prove that Hill House is indeed haunted. He is joined in the house by a lonely spinster named Eleanor who is believed to have psychic powers, a sophisticated clairvoyant named Theodora and Luke, the son of the mansion's owner who wants to purchase it for himself. It isn't long before strange occurrences within the house imply a special connection between the house and this woman Eleanor.
Based on the novel "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson, Nelson Gidding's screenplay subtly but directly sets up a very creepy story that eventually whittles down to a one on one battle between this woman Eleanor and this house. We are given hints that going to this house is Eleanor's destiny through the fact that she is the only character with which get some backstory and, upon her arrival at Hill House, is determined to stay no matter what happens because she's supposed to be here. The story is provided an extra level of creepy by the fact that the antagonist in this story is invisible...even though we know this house is haunted, we can't see them, but we can see them communicating with Eleanor...loved when she first pulled onto the grounds and stopped in front of the mansion and said to herself that the house was staring at her. Speaking of which, Eleanor is also the only character given inner monologues regarding what's going on with the house.
This reviewer was also intrigued by what comes off as an underlying component of sexual tension to the story when it not only appears that Eleanor is attracted to Dr. Markway, but Theodora might be attracted to Eleanor as well, which is given another layer with the unexpected arrival of Dr. Markway's wife on the scene. It doesn't detract from the primary story, but adds a wonderfully human element to the supernatural story that we don't see coming at all.
Julie Harris turns in an extraordinary, Oscar-worthy performance as the tortured Eleanor that commands viewer attention. She is beautifully complimented by Claire Bloom's slick and sexy Theodora. After being directed by Wise in West Side Story, Russ Tamblyn provides just the right comic relief as young Luke. Richard Johnson and Lois Maxwell complete the sterling ensemble as the Markways. Exquisite black and white cinematography and chilling music are also great aids in pulling off this chilling tale of an invisible horror.