"The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
09-26-22, 09:07 PM
#1
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"The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
The Haunting (1963)  Selected by Group Vote |
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These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags aren't always used in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS.
______________________________
These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags aren't always used in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS.
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Last edited by Chad; 09-26-22 at 10:40 PM.
09-30-22, 09:52 PM
#3
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: "The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
The Haunting is IMO one of the most effective horror films ever made because it appeals directly to the imagination. It doesn't have jump scares or gore or over-the-top visual effects. Instead, Robert Wise uses the fear of the unseen to unsettle the audience. What was holding Eleanor's hand. .. in the night. . . in the dark?
Last edited by Gobear; 10-02-22 at 12:51 AM.
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jholmes (10-01-22)
09-30-22, 11:34 PM
#4
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: "The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
I kept expecting to see something in one of those mirrors, every time it's all I would look at in a scene.
09-30-22, 11:52 PM
#5
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Re: "The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
It was beautifully shot. Lots of great angles and imagery. I’m going to need to search out a good BD or 4K.
10-01-22, 01:50 AM
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Re: "The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Rewatch of one of my favorite horror movies ever. I think this is the best haunted house movie. It's hard to imagine this film without Eleanor's narration. And it's hard to think of another horror movie that uses VO narration like this effectively. The story is as much about Nell's psychology as it is about the house, which is a wonderful character in its own right. That house is phenomenal.
It's a wonderful production, cast, and perfornances, but my ultimate kudos go to Shirley Jackson because this is a faithful adaptation of her novel. She so often wrote of disaffected middle-aged women--single or in alienating marriages, slowly losing their minds due to the general disregard of the people in their lives and society in general. This film is a perfect reflection of Shirley Jackson's body of work.
I watched this on blu ray for the first time, and it is so gorgeous. Really added to the experience.
It's a wonderful production, cast, and perfornances, but my ultimate kudos go to Shirley Jackson because this is a faithful adaptation of her novel. She so often wrote of disaffected middle-aged women--single or in alienating marriages, slowly losing their minds due to the general disregard of the people in their lives and society in general. This film is a perfect reflection of Shirley Jackson's body of work.
I watched this on blu ray for the first time, and it is so gorgeous. Really added to the experience.
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L. Ron zyzzle (10-01-22)
10-01-22, 10:29 AM
#8
Re: "The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Always a great film to watch and a good way to start the challenge.
I always forget how broad Robert Wise's directorial career was - he moved from genre to genre, big to smaller films, in a way directors rarely do. (His next after this was The Sound of Music, for instance. )
I always forget how broad Robert Wise's directorial career was - he moved from genre to genre, big to smaller films, in a way directors rarely do. (His next after this was The Sound of Music, for instance. )
10-24-22, 10:10 PM
#10
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
What a manor; the setting alone is rich with an otherworldy vibe.
The subtle insistance on fear works well. The heartbeat thumbing within of the house eerie.
All the actors do well but I agree Eleanor's voiceover narration is good; often fragile and sweet. The hand holding segment was a neat elevation beyond bumps in the night.
"I'm disappearing inch by inch into the house"... It's interesting to see Eleanor go from her feeling of homelessness to being the house; that's reflection of the haunting as being an aspect of Eleanor - near seduction from lust to entrapment... "There's no place you can send me, I have to stay here..." (but also it's the house rather than Eleanor 'waiting for me).
I wonder how they did the wobbly staircase scene; too bad this was a time before 'making of' featurettes.
The subtle insistance on fear works well. The heartbeat thumbing within of the house eerie.
All the actors do well but I agree Eleanor's voiceover narration is good; often fragile and sweet. The hand holding segment was a neat elevation beyond bumps in the night.
"I'm disappearing inch by inch into the house"... It's interesting to see Eleanor go from her feeling of homelessness to being the house; that's reflection of the haunting as being an aspect of Eleanor - near seduction from lust to entrapment... "There's no place you can send me, I have to stay here..." (but also it's the house rather than Eleanor 'waiting for me).
I wonder how they did the wobbly staircase scene; too bad this was a time before 'making of' featurettes.
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Trevor (10-25-22)
10-26-22, 12:00 PM
#11
Re: "The Haunting" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
The set design was incredible. I saw the remake with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Owen Wilson but other than a creepy house I do not remember much. The original is definitely memorable and I look forward to seeing it again.
