THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE -- Netflix

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Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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Didn't they do such a great job? I was just on board with it all.
I think I was expecting a straightforward adaptation of the Jackson novel and I was thrilled and surprised by the direction in which they took it. The actors were terrific. I was emotioally invested by episode one, but by episode three they had me.
 

PenWise

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Sep 20, 2018
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I watched this series! I enjoyed it quite a bit. I never read the book or seen either of the movie adaptations, but from what I've heard, the show strays so far from the source material that I doubt it would've made any difference anyways. I wasn't really ever scared by the show, but that didn't bother me; I thought the character development throughout the show was enough to keep me invested.

The way the show sort of went back and forth between these two timelines really reminded me of IT. Made me wonder what a Netflix show adaptation of IT might have been like (obviously, that wouldn't happen anytime soon, since we have the recent movie adaptation.)
 

Dana Jean

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I think I was expecting a straightforward adaptation of the Jackson novel and I was thrilled and surprised by the direction in which they took it. The actors were terrific. I was emotioally invested by episode one, but by episode three they had me.
Everyone seemed to think it was going to be a true adaptation of the book, I knew it wasn't and I was glad it wasn't. Hill House has survived for years, of course other people would come and go, not just those in the book.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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I watched this series! I enjoyed it quite a bit. I never read the book or seen either of the movie adaptations, but from what I've heard, the show strays so far from the source material that I doubt it would've made any difference anyways. I wasn't really ever scared by the show, but that didn't bother me; I thought the character development throughout the show was enough to keep me invested.

The way the show sort of went back and forth between these two timelines really reminded me of IT. Made me wonder what a Netflix show adaptation of IT might have been like (obviously, that wouldn't happen anytime soon, since we have the recent movie adaptation.)
comic-bubble-speech-lettering-welcome-comic-text_9640-189.jpg
 
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Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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Just got done with the Two Storms episode and I need to take a break. Jesus, that was some of the finest and most heart-breaking television I've ever seen. Coming so soon after my sister died a few months ago, those funeral home scenes with the family cut deep.

I hope this show gets some Emmy attention come next year. Mike Flanagan deserves it.
 

Charms7

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Sep 6, 2007
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Oh darn. I posted about this series in the What Are You Watching thread. Er something. This is what Mike Flanagan had to say when he read what Stephen King tweeted about the series: Some day I’ll figure out how to react things like this without shrieking like a little kid... but today is not that day. Haunting of Hill House is that good. Stephen King had tweeted: THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, revised and remodeled by Mike Flanagan. 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.
 

Charms7

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How does it handle adapting the Shirley Jackson novel? Is it a completely new story expanding upon the novel or does it just expand upon the original novel’s story?
In answer to your question, I haven’t read the novel but I’ve seen a couple of movie versions and this series is very different in the respect that a family (the Crains) moved into the house with the intention of flipping it, sell the house for a profit and then buy their “forever” home. Is Hill House evil or are the Crains just a bunch of loons? You’ll have to watch it to find out.
 

Wayoftheredpanda

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May 15, 2018
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In answer to your question, I haven’t read the novel but I’ve seen a couple of movie versions and this series is very different in the respect that a family (the Crains) moved into the house with the intention of flipping it, sell the house for a profit and then buy their “forever” home. Is Hill House evil or are the Crains just a bunch of loons? You’ll have to watch it to find out.
Cool
 

Gerald

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It's nice to have these episodes of around an hour. Tv episodes often feel either too crammed or too short at 40 minutes. It makes for so much better watching. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (which I truly loved, and had to finish before any other series at the moment - and it's coming back with a special episode in exactly a month) does the same.

I liked how they used only very long takes in episode 6, some were held longer than 20 minutes with no cuts. Although in the end I find it a bit distracting too, because you start wondering how much longer the take will be, instead of taking notice of dialogue. But as a change to give an episode an entirely different feel it is very nice.
Only three more episodes to go. I wish the Shining remake that Mick Garris did could have been of this quality.
 
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Doc Creed

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. I wish the Shining remake that Mick Garris did could have been of this quality.
Yes, I thought this too. Garris did an excellent job adapting the novel, but there was one teensy little problem...it wasn't scary! Heh.
Kubrick at least gave us claustrophobic and bizarre and the score was utter terror. Neither film is that scary, though. THOHH gives us a glimpse at what could have been.
 

Gerald

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Yes, I thought this too. Garris did an excellent job adapting the novel, but there was one teensy little problem...it wasn't scary! Heh.
Kubrick at least gave us claustrophobic and bizarre and the score was utter terror. Neither film is that scary, though. THOHH gives us a glimpse at what could have been.

I don't find Haunting of Hill House scary either, but in every other respect (especially writing and acting) it's so much better. Even the smallest parts in it are well cast, it feels like one of those rare things where exactly the right actors were chosen - like it couldn't have been any other actors.
 

Dana Jean

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I don't find Haunting of Hill House scary either, but in every other respect (especially writing and acting) it's so much better. Even the smallest parts in it are well cast, it feels like one of those rare things where exactly the right actors were chosen - like it couldn't have been any other actors.
I don't find it scary either, but I love the continuing story. Its production values are top notch.

While it still uses characters from the book reimagined, it is a fantastic take on the Shirley Jackson story.

“Don't do it, Eleanor told the little girl; insist on your cup of stars; once they have trapped you into being like everyone else you will never see your cup of stars again; don't do it; and the little girl glanced at her, and smiled a little subtle, dimpling, wholly comprehending smile, and shook her head stubbornly at the glass. Brave girl, Eleanor thought; wise, brave girl.”


We all need to hang onto our cup of stars.
 
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Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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I have to make some time to re-watch this entire series. I wonder if Netflix will want a second season? If so, I hope it's an all-new cast. This story ended perfectly, and there's no reason to rehash or re-visit anything as far as the Crains are concerned.