The Haunting of Hill House, a 10-episode Netflix miniseries, has been hailed by viewers as 'absolutely terrifying' and one of the best original shows the streaming platform has ever produced. The supernatural horror drama holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Series hailed by fans and critics
The show, loosely adapted from a 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson, shifts between two separate timelines and serves as the debut entry in Netflix's The Haunting anthology series. It features Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, and Victoria Pedretti, alongside Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, and Timothy Hutton.
The official synopsis reads: "Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it."
Written and directed by Mike Flanagan
The miniseries was written and directed by Mike Flanagan, known for horror hits such as Gerald's Game, Oculus, and the forthcoming The Exorcist: Martyrs. It blends jump scares with an emotionally charged narrative. The Haunting of Hill House first arrived on Netflix on 12 October 2018. A second anthology entry, The Haunting of Bly Manor, launched on 9 October 2020.
Praise from Stephen King and Quentin Tarantino
The show secured the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Screenplay. Horror icon Stephen King tweeted: "I don't usually care for this kind of revisionism, but this is great. Close to a work of genius, really. I think Shirley Jackson would approve, but who knows for sure."
In January 2020, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino said: "My favorite Netflix series, with no competition, is The Haunting of Hill House."
One critic said: "This is the horror series you never knew you needed. A beautifully-cast show that plays out like Six Feet Under meets The Conjuring, there is simply nothing else like it." Another added: "A cinematic masterpiece of the small screen. One of the best Netflix original shows out there, and my favorite horror experience in recent years."
Viewers have also shared their reactions, with one writing: "Hate to say I thought something was perfect but here I am. I loved it the first watch and still love it 10 rewatches in." Another fan said: "Hands down my favorite horror mini series. So f– scary with the most beautiful ending. What a ride, man!"
The Haunting of Hill House is available to stream on Netflix.
