A Spellbinding Miniseries That Gripped the World
“The Haunting of Hill House” premiered on Netflix with ten episodes on October 12, 2018. Both horror fans and skeptics from around the globe, including acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, were transfixed. Created and directed by horror specialist Mike Flanagan, the series skillfully alternates between present-day events and flashbacks, all centered on the Crain family’s harrowing experiences at Hill House. As timelines merge, the consequences become ever more unsettling.
While Tarantino has often expressed reservations about streaming services, he hasn’t been immune to their allure. In January 2020, he told The Jerusalem Post:
“My favorite series, with no competition, is The Haunting of Hill House.”
He also expressed admiration for “The Queen’s Gambit,” another Netflix miniseries. Tarantino, however, put “The Haunting of Hill House” in a class of its own for its character depth, storytelling, direction, and cinematography.
A Story of Family, Trauma, and Ghosts
From the very first episode, viewers are drawn into a relentless family drama. Steven Crain (Michiel Huisman), a successful author in the present day, debunks ghost stories—at least until the specters of his own childhood return. His bestselling autobiographical novel about his family’s time in Hill House brings both recognition and conflict among his siblings.
The series moves briskly between present-day struggles and haunting childhood memories. The sense of dread settles in quickly, and by the end of episode one, the Crain family has already suffered tragedy. What sets “The Haunting of Hill House” apart from typical horror fare is its determination to explore not just supernatural fright, but also the Crains’ shared trauma, mental health battles, and their individual sensitivities to the unexplained. Gore is kept to a minimum, with the focus firmly on psychological horror.
The family’s ordeal began in 1992, when Hugh, Olivia, and their five children—Steven, Shirley, Luke, Nell, and Theo—moved into Hill House. The mansion wasted no time revealing its supernatural nature: Olivia and Nell were especially sensitive to the house's presence, while Steven and Shirley were less affected. The family ultimately fled the home at night, their unity fractured. In the years that followed, Hugh became distant from his children, and Luke struggled with addiction.
More than two decades after fleeing Hill House, the siblings were brought together again, forced to grapple with unresolved traumas and the house’s mysteries. Despite their flaws, it’s hard not to root for the Crains as they face the darkness together.
From Page to Screen: An Adaptation With Its Own Personality
Mike Flanagan’s series is a loose adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel of the same name. Before Netflix’s version, “The Haunting” was adapted for film in 1963 and 1999. Flanagan kept the novel’s spirit, but made significant changes. Jackson’s book features strangers invited to Hill House; the series follows a family who once lived there, returning years later. Characters’ names are retained, but their fates—especially Nell/Eleanor—differ from the novel.
Even as a loose retelling, Flanagan worked in key elements of Jackson’s work, updating and expanding them for TV. Horror icon Stephen King, a long-time champion of Jackson’s novel, publicly praised the adaptation on Twitter shortly after release.
The Haunting Anthology: No Third Chapter—As of 2026
“The Haunting of Hill House” became the launchpad for a Netflix anthology. Flanagan followed up in 2020 with “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” set in an English manor and inspired by Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw.” A new character, Dani Clayton, becomes an au pair for two children, quickly encountering strange happenings. The two series share actors, but tell separate stories, with no narrative ties.
It’s now been five years since “The Haunting of Bly Manor”’s debut, and seven since “The Haunting of Hill House.” As of June 2025, a third installment is not in development. Flanagan himself confirmed in November 2024, via a now-unavailable tweet:
“I'm doing a new series at Amazon, but definitely won't be related to The Haunting – that chapter of my life closed.”
There had once been intentions to create a trilogy, with an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s “Hell House” tentatively titled “The Haunting of Hell House.” However, Flanagan’s contract with Netflix ended after “Bly Manor,” leaving the series as a two-part anthology.
Even without a third chapter, “The Haunting of Hill House” stands out—not just as Tarantino’s top pick, but as a modern horror classic that continues to unsettle and move viewers. With endorsements from both Stephen King and Quentin Tarantino, it’s clear this series isn’t done haunting the cultural conversation.
