To set the mood for this year's month long marathon of horror movies, I played it a bit safe by choosing a great one. "The Haunting" (1963), based on Shirley Jackson's great novel, "The Haunting of Hill House" remains one of the best haunted house movies of all time, and it does it with a very sparing use of music, and even less in the way of special effects. Sure, everyone talks about the doors, but this movie's most chilling moments come purely through the power of suggestion. Few movies can top that hand holding sequence for sending chills down the viewer's spine. While the cast is all quite good in this movie, it's Hill House which is the real star, and director Robert Wise and his team of cinematographers, art directors, set decorators and carpenters that bring it to life. And this house seems very much alive, like a shifting, enclosing trap.
If you've never seen this movie before, you are missing out on one of the true classics of the horror film.
Another fine example that Wise was one of the best! The Haunting still gives me the creeps, especially when I'm watching it in the dark by myself.
ReplyDeleteIn my top three favorite horror films. Nothing better. If you have not seen it, I agree, do so now, you can thank John later :)
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I admit, I've never seen it, but I see it's on Turner Classic Movies later this month, so I'll get my DVR ready. Looking forward to more reviews!
ReplyDeleteGreat film, just watched it in September.
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