Review of The Haunting (1963) by Caitlin F — 20 Dec 2007
Robert Wise's The Haunting is a cinematic masterpiece that upon my first viewing, blew me right away. Rather than relying on mindless action, gore, or blood, The Haunting is a piece heavy on mood and atmosphere and relies on that for it's thrills and chills.
It takes a lot to even unnerve me in a horror film but something struck me about this film. It wasn't just the haunting of Hill House though, which was showcased incredibly through sound and the excellent use of black and whites by way of superb cinematography, but the characters.
Julie Harris was simply remarkable as the sullen and troubled Eleanor. As chilling as her performance was, the addition of spoken thoughts only escalated it to a new level. The Haunting is an absolute classic horror film that deals with far more than a haunted house and proves that a good story, well thought out characters, and fantastic atmosphere beats the hell out of gore any day.
More modern horror films should take a cue from Robert Wise and this production and step outside the current stereotype of horror. Dare I say, a modern, black and white horror film with no CGI? Let's see it! Until then, The Haunting and other similar flicks will have to do.
This review of The Haunting (1963) was written by Caitlin F on 20 Dec 2007.
The Haunting has generally received positive reviews.
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