Over the years, Netflix has boasted an extensive catalog of horror movies and shows, yet even six years later,The Haunting of Hill Housestill stands out as the platform’sbest horror series. Netflix always has a strong mix of genres in its repertoire, but horror is one place that is never lacking.FromMonstertoAll of Us Are Dead,the service offers a number of creepy showsthat range from serial killers to the paranormal. There are even shows that perfectly blend genres, likeStranger ThingsorBlack Mirror.Yet, one series is truly the scariest.
Released in 2018,The Haunting of Hill Houseis a modern-day adaptation of the Shirley Jackson novelof the same name. It tells the story of the Crain children, who were raised in a strange and spooky home called Hill House. Now in adulthood, the siblings reunite in the face of an awful tragedy and reflect on their youth and the terrible things that they experienced. Notably,The Haunting of Hill Houseis the firsthorror TV show directed by Mike Flanagan, who has since become a rising star in the horror genre.
Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting Of Hill House Is Still The Best Horror Show This Decade
What Makes The Haunting Of Hill House So Good
Despite Netflix’s outstanding horror selection,The Haunting of Hill Houseremains thebest horror show of the decade. First and foremost, the show has amazing critical reviews. With a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers have lauded the show for its incredible tension and horrifying payoff. For the most part, though,The Haunting of Hill Housestands out for its chilling visuals.Flanagan’s portrayal of the Bent-Neck Lady and the Tall Man is truly terrifying, and these images are in league with some of the scariest visuals of the last ten years.
Victoria Pedretti
Nell Craine
Another aspect ofThe Haunting of Hill Housethat is admirable is its cast of characters.The Haunting of Hill House’scast is big, but strong. Each character has their own unique story to tell, and the actors who portray them are dedicated to making audiences care.It is easy to become invested in the Crain family and their messed-up history,both in the present day and in their pasts. This, along with Flanagan’s consistently creepy atmosphere and violent scares, makes for an unforgettable horror show that could quite literally keep viewers up at night.
There Have Been Good Horror Shows, But None Have Lived Up To The Haunting Of Hill House
How Hill House Does Better Than Other Horror Shows
Though it may be a bold claim to labelThe Haunting of Hill Houseas the best horror show of the decade, it really does live up to its competition. In the 2010s,there have been notable horror releases such asPenny Dreadful, American Horror Story,andThe Terror.The Haunting of Hill Houseis most definitely in line with these series, as it provides a strong story alongside truly horrifying scares. Like these shows,The Haunting of Hill Househas a solid atmosphere and scary moments that will stick with audience members long after they’ve finished watching.
Mike Flanagan’s Unmade The Haunting Season 3 Story Explained: What Hell House Would Have Been About
Mike Flanagan confirmed that The Haunting season 3 would have adapted Hell House, making it hard not to wonder what the show’s story would have been.
Arguably,The Haunting ofHill Houseoutdoes other great horror showsas well.Penny DreadfulandThe Terrorare amazing shows, but may be difficult for audiences to get into due to their historical settings and potentially slow paces. Furthermore, shows likeAmerican Horror Storyhave outstanding early seasons, but have since dropped off in quality. This is a problemThe Haunting of Hill Housedoesn’t have. By remaining a miniseries, the show quickly and concisely told its story without running the risk of going on for too long and losing the original magic.
How Mike Flanagan’s Other Netflix Shows Compare To The Haunting Of Hill House
The Haunting Of Hill House Is Flanagan’s Best
The Haunting of Hill Housealso remains king over Mike Flanagan’s other horror shows. Flanagan has been at the head of series likeThe Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass,andThe Fall of the House of Usher.While these shows are also effective and scary,Hill Houseis the best of them. Where the other shows may get bogged down by slow pacing or a more campy tone,The Haunting of Hill Houseis engaging from the jump and never loses its sense of horror. It’s no wonder it is Flanagan’s highest-rated show on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Haunting of Hill Househas set the standard for the rest of Flanagan’s work.
The Haunting of Hill Househas set the standard for the rest of Flanagan’s work. Although his movies are going to be inherently different fromThe Haunting of Hill House,audiences are still going to expect the same disturbing visuals and airtight storytelling he introduced in that show. Thus, the stakes are much higher for his new projects, such as hisadaptation of Stephen King’sThe Life of Chuck,and his upcomingThe Exorcistmovie. Yet, Flanagan will likely live up to these expectations.The Haunting of Hill Houseis proof that he is a trailblazer of the horror genre.
The Haunting of Hill House
Cast
The Haunting of Hill House is a 2018 horror drama series that interweaves the past and present narrative of a family grappling with traumatic occurrences from their former residence. The story explores the psychological and supernatural elements of their experiences as they contend with haunting memories and events.
