Netflix's supernatural horror miniseries The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as 'absolutely terrifying' by viewers, with horror icon Stephen King calling it 'close to a work of genius'. The 10-episode series, which draws loose inspiration from a 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson, has been dubbed "a cinematic masterpiece of the small screen" by fans.
What is The Haunting of Hill House about?
The series switches between two timelines and marks the inaugural instalment in Netflix's The Haunting anthology series. Its 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."
The cast includes Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, and Victoria Pedretti, alongside Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, and Timothy Hutton.
Critical and fan acclaim
Created and directed by Mike Flanagan, known for horror films such as Gerald's Game and Oculus, the series blends jump scares with an emotionally grounded narrative. It first arrived on Netflix on October 12, 2018, and a companion miniseries, The Haunting of Bly Manor, launched on October 9, 2020.
The Haunting of Hill House secured the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Screenplay. 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." The show holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Viewer reactions
One critic said: "As a tale of what happens when the ties that bind are the same ones that gag you, and scar you, and occasionally strangle you to death, it's absolutely terrifying." Another added: "It'll reward your attention and patience with moments that will leave you breathless, on the edge of the seat, and turning on the lights throughout the house to sleep."
Fans have also shared their praise, with one writing: "An absolute masterpiece. There's things happening in the background and it feels like Flanagan thought about every tiny detail in this series. It's scary, it's sad, it's everything I hoped it would be." Another said: "This is easily my favorite work of horror of all time, and easily in my top 10 favorite works across all genres."
The Haunting of Hill House is available to stream on Netflix.
