31 Days of Horror: The Haunting is pure terror rendered in black and white
Most of our readers are probably familiar with The Haunting of Hill House, either the book, or the incredible Netflix series created by Mike Flanagan. But there have also been two movies that were adapted from Shirley Jackson’s classic novel, first published in 1959. Both of these films were titled The Haunting, but for this article, I am covering the original 1963 film.
Yes, it’s in black and white, but that does not prevent it from causing chills down your spine; in fact, it may even enhance the horror. The original The Haunting is the most accurate adaptation of the novel, and trust me – you should absolutely read that novel. If you don’t trust me on that, it may help you to know that it is also one of Stephen King’s favorites, one that partly inspired The Shining, and most likely the Barlow house in ‘Salem’s Lot.
In The Haunting, Dr. John Markway (Richard Johnson) wants to study the supposedly haunted Hill House in a unique way. He contacts people who have experienced some sort of supernatural activity in their own lives, and only two respond. One is a psychic named Theodora (Claire Bloom), and the other is Eleanor (Julie Harris) who as a child experienced stones raining down on her home after an upsetting event.
Hill House itself has quite a tragic history, beginning shortly after it was built by Hugh Crain for his wife. When she travelled by carriage to see her new home for the first time, the carriage hit a tree, killing her. Crain’s second wife died after falling down the stairs, and his daughter Abigail became a recluse, never leaving the home. When she died, she left it to her companion, who hanged herself from the spiral staircase.
Joining the doctor, Theodora, and Eleanor are Luke (Russ Tamblyn), who is the nephew of Hill House’s current owner, and Dr. Markway’s wife Grace (Lois Maxwell). They immediately begin to experience strange activity in the house, with Eleanor being the most affected.
The film’s director Robert Wise made the genius decision to use a Panavision anamorphic, wide-angle lens, originally only intending to make the home’s hallways look longer and more frightening. But the only lens available was 40mm, which ended up causing some odd distortions. A track was made of odd voices and sounds, and that track was used during filming, which of course affected the actors.
Practical effects included a door that bulges as if being pushed by a supernatural being. Nothing fancy here, just a human pushing a heavy board against it. The spiral staircase in Hill House was used to a great degree, with a camera attached to a wire mounted on the rail and allowed to slide down it, making it appear as if you were rushing rapidly down the dangerous stairs.
The result is a truly creepy, intense film, populated by seasoned, talented actors and a director who knew what he was doing. It plays tricks with our eyes, and the interior of the house is unsettling. The door bulging scene is hair-raising, and there is a brilliant, chilling “whose hand was I holding” moment that still gives me goosebumps.
The Haunting is a film that everyone who loves a good haunted house story should watch this Halloween season. As for the 1999 remake, ugh. Other than the cast, everything about it is just wrong. I have always said they spent too much time and effort on the special effects, and not nearly enough on the character development and storyline.
If you haven’t seen Mike Flanagan’s series The Haunting of Hill House, please change that immediately. While it strays very, very far from the novel, it is a brilliant adaptation that pays homage to its source material throughout.
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