Review of The Haunting (1963) by Gordon T — 21 Sep 2010

Robert Wise?s adaptation of Shirley Jackson?s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE evidently ESTABLISHES the foundation for every ?Haunted Domicile? story in the 1970s and 1980s;.

It feels like Shirley Jackson actually gave birth to the Modern Haunted Domicile Story.

Julie Harris portrayal Nell Lance of reminds me of the fragility seen in Laura Wingfield?s character in Tennessee Williams? Glass Menagerie;.

Hill House possess and absorbs Nell in The Haunting almost exactly as The Overlook Hotel absorbed Jack Torrence in THE SHINING and The Mansion absorbs Mirian Rolf?s character in Brian Marasco?s BURNT OFFERINGS.

The ?Deafening? Rapping pounding through the house ?echo? the same distinct rapping heard in THE CHANGELING starring George C. Scott.

Even the peculiar doorknobs in Hill House appeared later on Burnt Offering?s dustcover.

And RICHARD MATHESON?S HELL HOUSE follows a similar plot of THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE: a team of paranormal investigators investigate a haunted house to prove whether there?s life after death . . .

Okay, the preceeding means that SHIRLEY JACKSON is indeed The Mother of the modern Haunted Domicile Story because EVERY PLOT DEVICE and dramaturgical nuance occurring throughout HELL HOUSE, BURNT OFFERINGS, THE SHINING, THE CHANGELING, and even THE OTHERS (with Nichol Kidman) occurred before . . . in THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE.

I love the cinematography: how breath is used to indicate the smell of alcohol (when Nell first arrives).

Or heat when Nell and Theodora huddle closely to one another to protect themselves against the terrifying threat of The Rapping?s.

And of course there?s a lot more than meets the eye regarding the Theodoras?s attraction to Nell.

It?s wonderful seeing Richard Johnson (From BEYOND THE DOOR and ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS) as Dr. Markway in THE HAUNTING.

Without a doubt, RICHARD JOHNSON is a very important and astute actor who has been in many ?more important? features than CHE SEI? and ZOMBI 2 but to me CHE SEI? And ZOMBI 2 ARE the IMPORTANT FILMS.

There used to be a lot of ado about the fairness of assessing women?s importance in literary works and here we see that SHIRLEY JACKSON, a woman, ?created? the Modern HAUNTED HOUSE story from which all major male authors borrowed their ideas from:

(again) Richard Matheson?s Hell House,.

Brian Marasco?s Burnt Offerings,.

King?s The Shining,.

Russell Hunter?s The Changeling,.

And Alejandro Amenenabar?s The Others.

All stemmed from Shirley Jackson?s The HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE.

Power to "Women Authors"!!!!!!!