©2006 reviewed by Fiona Broome and the Hollow Hill Staff
"Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years,
and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and
doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there,
walked alone." -- from the opening of The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson.
The Haunting of Hill House is one of the most realistic and terrifying "ghost stories" ever written.
As a writer, Shirley Jackson (1916 - 1965), may be best known for her chilling short story,
The Lottery.
Her later
deeply troubling book, The Haunting of Hill House, has inspired two classic horror movies.
This book was carefully written. Each word was chosen to create a specific effect. Something about it
isn't right, and that sense of imbalance keeps the reader turning the pages.
The Haunting of Hill House is a realistic portrayal of a truly haunted house. This
makes it even more fascinating for
ghost hunters. We can't laugh it off as absurd fiction. We've experienced hauntings like this too many times.
Generally, we don't recommend this book to anyone who is afraid of ghosts, or is troubled by
unwanted thoughts or recurring nightmares.
The movie, The Haunting
,
is easily the most authentic movie about a haunted house.
Although it's a dated black-and-white movie, the story
elements are vivid and compelling. If you're a fan of Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction, you'll recognize some scenes
in the movie; the Haunted Mansion imagineers borrowed many ideas from this film.
This movie is best viewed on a windy night with the lights out. It's a psychological thriller, and
perfect for a late-night
Halloween party.
The 1999 remake of this classic film, also called
The Haunting,
features a magnificent set, quirky characters, and plot twists that weren't in the original film... or in the book.
As a tribute, the original movie's circular staircase appears in this remake. When Liam Neeson climbs it,
that's a genuine cold sweat. According to reports, he was afraid of heights, especially when the
staircase tilts and creaks dangerously.
Frankly, we were enormously disappointed with this version's lack of realism, and the contrived explanation of
the ghosts. However, it's worth seeing for the set designs, and you can usually buy a used copy of
this film for just a few dollars.
If you're building a library of ghost-related books and movies, we highly recommend both the book
by Shirley Jackson, and the original movie version.
Movie reviews:
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