Review of The Haunting (1999) by Cody S — 13 Oct 2018

Very slow to start, but became interesting, however, I found the series parallel to AMS Murder House in some respects. Unfortunately, the folks behind this series failed to realize that there is ample material in the book not used in the Robert Wise movie "The Haunting" that should have been used to augment and expand the original into a series without the hackneyed re-imagining and characters that are as bland as a raw potato. The series misses the crux of the book almost completely. There are not supposed to be ghosts that can be seen by the characters or viewers because it is the house that was "born evil." Hill House alone is what torments the group (collectively or individually) that reside in it with frights heard but never seen. On a positive note, the effects are superb, and the series is far better than the 1999 re-imagining of the original film. The series throws in a few Easter Eggs to placate the fans of author Shirley Jackson, and Robert Wise - who adhered very closely to the book as time allowed; however, to anyone else, they are probably lost.

If you really want to be frightened read the book, and watch the 1963 movie - not in the light, in the dark.