Netflix's supernatural horror miniseries The Haunting of Hill House has been praised by viewers as 'absolutely terrifying', with many calling it the 'best original show' the streaming platform has ever produced.
The 10-episode series is loosely adapted from a 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson and features a storyline that switches between two separate timelines. It is the first instalment in Netflix's The Haunting anthology series.
Cast and Plot
The miniseries stars Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, and Victoria Pedretti, alongside Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, and Timothy Hutton.
The show's official synopsis states: "Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it."
Critical and Fan Acclaim
Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, known for horror hits such as Gerald's Game and Oculus, the series blends jump scares with an emotionally anchored narrative. It first arrived on Netflix on October 12, 2018, and quickly gained widespread critical and audience acclaim. A follow-up series, The Haunting of Bly Manor, launched on October 9, 2020.
The show won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Screenplay. Horror author Stephen King posted on X: "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."
Ratings and Reviews
The series holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 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 reviewer noted: "The Haunting of Hill House is both an absolutely terrifying ghost story, but it's also an emotionally devastating familial drama. And it's one of the best shows Netflix has released thus far."
One critic compared it to other horror hits: "The Haunting of Hill House is possibly the scariest thing you will watch this year and earns a spot alongside IT and HEREDITARY as the latest horror story that deserves the hype."
Audiences have also responded warmly, with one viewer 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.
