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The Haunting

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The Haunting

G

1963

1h 52m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Dr. John Markway, an anthropologist with an interest in psychic phenomena, takes two specially selected women to Hill House, a reportedly haunted mansion. Eleanor (Julie Harris), a lonely, eccentric woman with a supernatural event in her past, and the bold Theodora (Claire Bloom), who has ESP, join John and the mansion's heir, cynical Luke (Russ Tamblyn). They are immediately overwhelmed by strange sounds and events, and Eleanor comes to believe the house is alive and speaking directly to her.

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Critics Consensus

Both psychological and supernatural, The Haunting is a chilling character study.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

An elegantly sinister scare movie, literate and expensive (though basically a traditional ghost story), with those two fine actresses Claire Bloom and Julie Harris.

Jul 6, 2022

Full Review

Ian Freer

Empire Magazine

Wise brilliantly uses black and white widescreen to strand his characters in odd-shaped rooms or corridors, making the watcher's eye skitter frantically over the letterbox screen to catch every ingeniously rendered detail.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 8, 2020

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James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

When The Haunting digs into the internals of its story, summons its spirits and lets them play havoc with cold reason, it has a power and fervor unmatched by any film ghost stories.

Nov 2, 2018

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Wise's use of the camera is vital to creating a sense of tension and atmosphere; it's practically its own character. Meanwhile, Theo is a vital LGBT character in horror history: an out woman in a 60s film is a true rarity.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 1, 2023

Full Review

Samantha Allen

them.

Dripping with queer subtext, this 1963 adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House is a master class in reading between the lines.

Oct 27, 2022

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David Reddish

Queerty

The Haunting endures as a horror classic, albeit one that doesnt quite the credit it deserves as an unusual queer love story. Heres a movie both scary and romantic as Hell.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 20, 2022

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thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é mais ou menos a, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

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Trevor T

Possible the best ghost story ever filmed. Being old (1963) and being low budget it relies on imagination and is not spoilt by special effects.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

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Ollie W

I didn’t find it particularly scary and not much happens. However, it is a good film with a spooky atmosphere, period charm and set in a great location. I found the main character somewhat annoying. Her internal monologue was disturbing and she’s certainly believable as a crazy person, but she’s also a bit obnoxious.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/01/25

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j f

Scared the hell out of me

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

Full Review

Mitch V

Based on the novel by Shirley Jackson (author of "The Lottery") its an excellent movie that doesn't get its due. One of my top ten faves.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/24

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John K

First few times it scared me. Not only good acting but haunting musical score. Seems like a lot of Americans need more gore and violence in their movies these days, whereas I'm opposite, the scariest movies have some finess; it's not what you see but what you don't see. This movie is like that. And it is a psychological study. Each character has some hidden depths. Julie Harris does a great job. While Dr Markaway reminds me of both Clark Gable and Ernest Hemingwway. Another great directorial effort by Wise.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

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Robert Wise

Director

Julie Harris

Eleanor "Nell" Lance

Claire Bloom

Theodora "Theo"

Richard Johnson

Dr. John Markway

Russ Tamblyn

Luke Sanderson

Lois Maxwell

Grace Markway

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Synopsis

Dr. John Markway, an anthropologist with an interest in psychic phenomena, takes two specially selected women to Hill House, a reportedly haunted mansion. Eleanor (Julie Harris), a lonely, eccentric woman with a supernatural event in her past, and the bold Theodora (Claire Bloom), who has ESP, join John and the mansion's heir, cynical Luke (Russ Tamblyn). They are immediately overwhelmed by strange sounds and events, and Eleanor comes to believe the house is alive and speaking directly to her.

Director: Robert Wise
Producer: Robert Wise
Screenwriter: Nelson Gidding
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures International
Rating: G
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 52m

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