The House That Was Born Bad

"See, you don't have a ghost of a chance."

Seriously, that camera ascent up the shaky spiral staircase before Eleanor climbs it and Dr. Markway follows after her is epic. Wise's direction is so damn good. How he makes the house come alive with all that distorted camera trickery and use of close-ups to get Eleanor's agony across are more than awe-inspiring. What a haunted house gem, really. Eleanor's instability and narrative proof of such, with her outbursts often resulting from folks nagging her or egging her on. She's been through her share of drama, particularly the bedridden sickly mother who died when she failed that one time not to come when called. The bending door, arising apparitional noise, knob turning, the hand pain Eleanor thinks is Theo, icy breath, "ghost-speak" on the other side of the wall, child-inspired architectural home decor, and how the exterior of the house looks mean [especially in the dark] offer haunted house enthusiasts plenty. Tortured psyche, lesbian sarcasm, marital angst due to what a wife considers a questionable scientific dedication, sexual tension between scientist and house-staying volunteer, cynicism opposing paranormal belief, and debates about the supernatural and preternatural abound for quite a characterization cocktail. The Hill House is not quiet, that's for sure. And it is particularly ominous when Wise's camera operates in it and around it.