''The Haunting'' (1963 movie)- Review

Directed by: Robert Wise
Released: 1963
Country: United Kingdom

Cast: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn, Rosalie Crutchley, Lois Maxwell

Genre: Psychological Horror

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

I would begin this review simply by saying what I felt about this movie: ''The Haunting'' is an excellent film, and a brilliant example in the horror genre. No, it has no cheap scares filled with gore that today's cliched ''slasher'' films have. Instead, it has real shocks, it has art and sophistication that is in no way similar to the slasher film cliches.

The plot centers around the Hill House, which, at a look at it's history, can be described as a haunted house. It has had a tragic and scary history filled with mysterious deaths. Dr John Markway (Richard Johnson), originally an anthropologist, is now, with full enthusiasm, researching about the existence of ghosts. He decides to research about the haunted Hill House, and earns the permission of the owner. The heir of the owner, Luke (played by Russ Tamblyn) has to accompany Dr Marway. Markway asks two women to accompany him, Theo (Claire Bloom) and Eleanor (Julie Harris), both of whom are connected with something paranormal. Soon after they arrive there, haunting and creepy things start happening.

But this is not just a haunting house film. The film is more about Eleanor. Eleanor had cared for her mother all her adult life, and feels guilty at the death of her mother. Life for Eleanor has been a troubled one. She has waited all her life for ''something'' to happen, and she thinks Hill House is the perfect place where she belongs. We hear Eleanor's narration of her feelings throughout the film, adding a strange lyric in the overall film.There is often a question whether something is really happening, or is it just Eleanor's hallucination. She thinks that the house knows her, and is trying to get to her.

I also found the relation between Eleanor and Theo touching. They become friends at their first meeting, and several times Theo tries to drive away Eleanor's fears by bullying her. The two quarrel bitterly a few times as Theo constantly bullies Eleanor, but their friendship remains something special throughout the film.

The four lead actors are all excellently cast in their roles, and the two people who really gets your attention are Julie Harris and Claire Bloom (Bloom is the actress who played Queen Mary in The King's Speech). Harris brings the character of Eleanor to life, and Claire Bloom is memorable for her portrayal of Theo, also a very memorable character.

Robert Wise (also the director of The Sound of Music) does an excellent job. Nelson Gidding's screenplay, adapted from the novel ''The Haunting of Hill House'' by Shirley Jackson, is pretty brilliant. The sounds are pretty brilliant: musical effects can be extremely scary at times and the score is awesome. 

There is no blood shown in ''The Haunting'', but it is scary, very scary. And moreoverm what is it, it is an artistic film, extremely well-written and well-acted, something of a masterpiece.

I can't just call it excellent. I think ''horror classic'' is a better word to explain this film.

4.5 out of 5