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The Haunting Reviews

1963

70
from 2827 members

One of the most highly regarded haunted house films ever produced, Robert Wise's The Haunting (based on Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House) weaves the dark tale of a questionably sane young woman and a sinister house which holds a terrifying past. Invited to join anthropologist Dr. Markway (Richard Johnson), ESP .. Read more

Starring	Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn
Director	Robert Wise
Genres	Horror

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Critic's review of The Haunting
View all critics' reviews (2)
- Quite frightening but exhausting and humourless melodrama with a lot of suspense, no visible spooks, and not enough plot for its length. The wide screen is a disadvantage.
- 32733
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:43
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Most helpful member's review of The Haunting
View all members' reviews (51)
- - 17
  - 1
  Classic haunted house...
  
  Contemporary movie makers could learn a lot from Robert Wises', The Haunting. Forget the recent remake with Leeson/Zeta Jones as this creeps the crap right ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 19824
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - The Dawn Riser
  - Penicuik,Scotland.
  - 28 Sep 2004 at 06:06
Most recent members' reviews of The Haunting
View all members' reviews (51)
- - 0
  - 0
  You May Not Believe In Ghosts..... But You Cannot Deny Terror !!!
  
  Although it is one of my favourite classic horror films, 'The Haunting' isn't quite as terrifying as I remember.
  
  It's the sort of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1114403
- - a customer
  - 26 Apr 2012 at 16:28
- - 0
  - 0
  Amazing film but ....
  
  All of the stars are for the truly amazing photography. The whole thing looks spectacular. Unfortunately the characters spend a lot of time talking and what ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1111930
- - a customer
  - 17 Apr 2012 at 13:26
- - 2
  - 0
  Looks great but let down by bad acting
  
  Odd Doctor performs experiment at haunted house, invites volunteers, only three show up, strange things start to happen.
  
  Quirky, daft yet slightly ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1037472
- - Bassman71
  - 460 reviews
  - Didsbury, England
  - 06 Sep 2011 at 09:16
- - 0
  - 0
  A good old thriller
  
  I rented this film out as it was recommended by a friend who likes old horror films. It was pretty good. I like that there wasn't anything visible, which ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1019308
- - LJ89
  - 12 reviews
  - London
  - 19 Jul 2011 at 19:42
- - 0
  - 0
  An old fashined scare - in a old fashioned way!
  
  I watched this as a boy and it scared the hell out of me!
  
  I still think it's pretty good!
  
  It does not rely on clever special effects ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1001175
- - Valiant016
  - 51 reviews
  - Lytham St. Annes
  - 06 Jun 2011 at 16:54
- - 0
  - 0
  Whose hand was I holding?
  
  ...The Haunting is set in and around a huge and imposing gothic mansion somewhere on the outskirts of Boston. English Professor of anthropology, Dr John Markway... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 986833
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Midnightcheeseandbiscuits
  - 26 reviews
  - London
  - 27 Apr 2011 at 20:55
- - 0
  - 0
  The haunting
  
  Strongly recommended, couldn't stop watching it over and over again. Atmosphere and a few well worked special effect make it a fantastic horror. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 887182
- - Donja
  - 2 reviews
  - Eaton, Congleton
  - 27 Apr 2010 at 19:19
- - 0
  - 0
  Not too bad
  
  I remember watching this when I was a nipper, I was scared back then but viewing it now makes me wonder why I was frightened. It is ok, I agree it is slightly ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 858546
- - blackgal
  - 211 reviews
  - Worksop
  - 07 Feb 2010 at 09:58
- - 0
  - 0
  Too absurd to be scary
  
  Disappointing. I think to be really affecting, a scary film needs to be psychologically convincing. The reason why Rosemary's Baby is so terrifying is that ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 857912
- - Vidyaruci
  - 3 reviews
  - Birmingham
  - 05 Feb 2010 at 16:54
- - 0
  - 0
  Ingenious
  
  This film should be held up as the benchmark for all psychological thrillers.
  
  Report this review
- 777309
- - a customer
  - London
  - 29 Jun 2009 at 16:42
View all members' reviews (51)

- - 17
  - 1
  Classic haunted house...
  
  Contemporary movie makers could learn a lot from Robert Wises', The Haunting. Forget the recent remake with Leeson/Zeta Jones as this creeps the crap right ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 19824
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - The Dawn Riser
  - Penicuik,Scotland.
  - 28 Sep 2004 at 06:06
- - 10
  - 1
  Old but still a chiller!
  
  OK, it's looking a little dated now. It's also in black & white & you don't see a single ghost in the whole film!! But this is the only film... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 454243
- - Gus
  - East Yorkshire, England
  - 29 Jun 2007 at 09:56
- - 6
  - 0
  Monochrome classic
  
  Viewers who enjoyed Carnival of Souls will enjoy this monochrome classic, which has a similarly spooky, doom-laden atmosphere. The difference is that its ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 299768
- - Atom7
  - East Sussex
  - 16 Feb 2004 at 14:34
- - 6
  - 0
  The Haunting
  
  Terrible - certainly in no way frightening. Utter rubbish. Very old film as it is in black and white.
  
  Report this review
- 603917
- - a customer
  - Crowborough
  - 26 Jul 2008 at 20:34
- - 4
  - 0
  A classic, curious film.
  
  A charming and suspenseful film which follows the classic theme of whether we are watching an hysterical woman or the supernatural. An attractive cast interact ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 279785
- - Japhf Ford
  - England
  - 27 Aug 2006 at 13:18
- - 2
  - 0
  "The Haunting&...
  
  "The Haunting" is a reasonably faithful adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel "The Haunting of Hill House." A team of psychic reseachers... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 38635
- - Andre#11
  - CANNOCK
  - 17 Jun 2004 at 12:26
- - 2
  - 0
  A bit dated, but still a classic
  
  A few wooden-top characters and unconvincing performances from some B-list stars that were dragged off the street to add some supposed interest to this classic ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 462694
- - monkeybum
  - 81 reviews
  - Darkest Devon, England
  - 01 Aug 2007 at 00:31
- - 2
  - 0
  Best of its genre
  
  This film has to be the most frightening horror/ghost film...EVER. The modern version was rubbish compared to this. It is almost believeable and that's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 489502
- - a customer
  - North Wales
  - 30 Oct 2007 at 15:14
- - 2
  - 0
  Looks great but let down by bad acting
  
  Odd Doctor performs experiment at haunted house, invites volunteers, only three show up, strange things start to happen.
  
  Quirky, daft yet slightly ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1037472
- - Bassman71
  - 460 reviews
  - Didsbury, England
  - 06 Sep 2011 at 09:16
- - 1
  - 0
  Too much melodrama, not enough haunting
  
  Not the classic I was led to believe, The Haunting, Robert Wise's 1963 adaptation of the novel “The House on Haunted Hill” is a slightly ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 316878
- - Northernsky
  - 318 reviews
  - Halifax
  - 19 Dec 2004 at 11:52

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Critics' reviews
- Quite frightening but exhausting and humourless melodrama with a lot of suspense, no visible spooks, and not enough plot for its length. The wide screen is a disadvantage.
- 32733
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:43
- Often overwrought in its performances, this adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House - a group... read more on Time Out
- 46037
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:16

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

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- The Haunting
  
  One of the most highly regarded haunted house films ever produced, Robert Wise's The Haunting (based on Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House) weaves the dark tale of a questionably sane young woman and a sinister house which holds a terrifying past. Invited to join anthropologist Dr. ...