The Haunting [Blu-ray]

I remember watching this on TCM once and for it being as old as it is, it is just as creepy as some of the scary movies that they put out today. Its not gory or violent, its just creepy, which I think makes a movie even better. Terrifying your audience with gore and violence is easy, but doing it without is TRUE movie making.

nicw

The original 1963 The Haunting is a masterpiece of suspense. The opening narration, when we learn of the evil history of Hill House, sets the tone for the whole picture (Its a house that was BORN bad!). Its nearly impossible NOT to get the shivers when listening to the opening act of the film. We dont see any floating spirits, and we dont get to see a dozen or so teenagers chopped into mince meat either. And thats the beauty of it! Our imaginations are brought to the forefront throughout this whole movie. Excellent black-and-white photography and some chilling music add to the eerie proceedings, plus some fine acting is on tap as well. Julie Harris, Richard Johnson, Claire Bloom, and Russ Tamblyn are the four principal actors, portraying the researchers who invade Hill House, the very intimidating dwelling that dominates The Haunting. A fine, subtle acting performance is also turned in by Rosalie Crutchley (as Mrs. Dudley, the housekeeper who refuses to stay in the house after dark -- I leave before the dark comes ... in the night ... in the dark). Mrs. Dudley conveys a feeling of dread and fear of the very house she oversees during the daylight hours. The scene where she first meets Eleanor and smiles at her briefly is a truly creepy moment. The film is replete with such subtle moments of understated foreboding. Ive not been able to figure out, however, just WHO (or WHAT) Mrs. Dudley has been keeping house for (and serving meals to) during all those days and months prior to the visit of Eleanor and company. Because if nobody lives in Hill House, then why is there even a need for a housekeeper and her caretaker husband? Has she been serving only...ghosts...all this time? Supernatural food for thought? The Warner DVD version of 1963s The Haunting (which was released on August 5, 2003) contains a very nice-looking Anamorphic Widescreen transfer of the movie, in its original scope aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Its great being able to see the film in its intended screen shape. Im guessing that many fans of this flick have never seen it in Widescreen. That fact alone makes the DVD worthy of purchase. Special Features on the DVD are a tad thin, being limited to: a multi-participant Audio Commentary Track, the Theatrical Trailer, a Stills Gallery, and a brief text-only essay that focuses on the history of Hollywood horror flicks (entitled Things That Go Bump In The Night). The Audio Commentary features six people, including all four main actors from the film, plus the nearly 90-year-old Producer-Director, Robert Wise. You dont very often get a Commentary Track which sports ALL of the main characters (plus the Director) of a particular film -- especially a film that was made so long ago, like this one. The Stills Gallery is broken into two sections, with one segment consisting of images of pages from Director Robert Wises Original Screenplay (including some handwritten notations in the margins). A pretty nice Photo Gallery is also featured here, with a few behind-the-camera shots included as well. The trailer for The Haunting survives here in quite good condition after lo these many years since the pictures initial release on September 18, 1963. The picture quality for the trailer isnt as blemish-free as the feature film itself, but it still looks nice. And the trailer, which runs for approx. 2.5 minutes, is presented in Anamorphic Widescreen as well. Its an effective and well-done trailer too, IMO. Nice and creepy. A final piece of Haunting advice...... Sidestep the 1999 remake, and stick to the original 1963 version of The Haunting. No better haunted-house movie has ever been produced, in my opinion. Id highly recommend snapping up a copy of this DVD. .... And be prepared for that whopper of a beginning.

As of today, Julie Harris has been gone from the world for 10 days - a consummate actress with a long history of awards and honors, she is the PERFECT actress to have played the part of the poor be-devilled girl whom this truly haunted house sets its sights on. Add the magnificent Claire Bloom, the great Richard Johnson (who was also Lara Croft - Tomb Raider - as a much older man) and the cool Russ Tamblyn, he of Tom Thumb. There is a scene with nothing but sound effects and a creaking door that is scarier than anything short of the ALIEN staring you in the face with that silvery goo dripping out of his mouth - but that is disgusting - this is great psychological horror! Theres a reason Scorcese says that this is his favorite horror film - it is worthy of the admiration of such a great film maker. Directed by the great Robert Wise, who began as a film editor on Citizen Kane and others and advanced to West Side Story --- and not the least: The Day The Earth Stood Still - the BEST alien arrival film! Just like The Haunting, TDTESS was re-done pretty sadly with Keanu Reeves - which proves a point: dont fool with a Black and White Classic! Scorcese can, but you cant. P.S. - as is common with my other reviews, the music is perfect for this film, by a man named Humphrey Searle - very spooky!

THE HAUNTING VERY SCARY MOVIE VERY GOOD CAST HARRIS& BLOOM BEST FILM FOR IT TIME REAL HAUNTED PLACE IN ENGLAND

I like all genres and all eras and have a very minimal bias. The Haunting may not be on every teens top ten; it is not a slasher/ gore movie. It IS spooky, frightening and incomparably suspenseful. My wife will rarely submit to watching anything with me but horror movies, and this is her favorite! She has seen them all. If you are under 35 years, and want to see the best of the classics, this is hard to beat. I know, there is competition: The Shining by Kubrick, and a few silent films if you want to get to the roots, but this has my vote!

I grew up terrified of this movie. Turn off the lights and watch it alone in a quiet room, itll do the trick. Enjoy it, we do.

One of my all time favorite movies.

this is the original and the best. Although the remake has a lot of great special effects, this one was the one that scared the sh** out of me when it first came out; and still does.

This is one of the best adaptations of a book ever done. It captures the growing creepiness of Hill House far, far better than the horrid recent version that tried to run everything off special effects and brute force acting. Subtle works better. For example, Claire Blooms protrayal of a lipstick lesbian -- and Julie Harriss characters almost unconscious discomfort with her ambiguous passes -- are effective because they are so understated. Being swallowed, slowly, by a huge, creepy dragon of a house where you are never quite sure if the noise you wake to in the hall ourside your bedroom is nerves or rats or . . . something else builds to a level of fear far beyond what clumsy hacks can do with computer-generated junk. The relationship between the two women felt real. Miss Harriss portrayal of a spinsters schoolgirl crush on a man was utterly convincing. Even small roles were well-crafted. The housekeeper,both in the book and the film, was an inspired touch. In the dark, in the night, no one can hear your screams. And no one will come.