The Haunting of Hill House: The Unrivaled Horror Masterpiece That Redefined TV

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Even seven years after its release, Mike Flanagan’s first TV series, The Haunting of Hill House, continues to greatly influence horror television. The show expertly combined classic horror elements with modern filmmaking techniques, essentially setting the standard for how to scare audiences on streaming platforms.

Look, a lot of fantastic horror shows have come out since it first aired, but I still think The Haunting of Hill House is the best TV horror has offered in the 21st century. It’s a true classic, a miniseries that really raised the bar and launched its creator into the spotlight as a major force in the genre.

Let’s talk Mike Flanagan on Netflix. He’s built up a solid collection of shows and movies there, but what really sets his work apart is how consistently good it is. With The Haunting of Hill House, he didn’t try to revolutionize horror – he just aimed to make the best version of it we’d ever seen on TV, and honestly, he nailed it. It’s a masterclass in building atmosphere and genuinely terrifying storytelling.

The Haunting Of Hill House Is Still TV’s Best Horror Series

Even though watching all of The Haunting of Hill House takes about 10 hours – much longer than a typical movie – it’s surprisingly captivating. The story is expertly told and well-paced, building from a suspenseful psychological thriller to truly frightening horror with incredible skill.

Inspired by Shirley Jackson’s classic novel, the TV show offers a different take on the haunting of Hill House. The book suggests the ghostly events are a reflection of one character’s declining mental state, but the series establishes that the haunting is genuinely real.

With some of the most terrifying moments and disturbing visuals ever seen in horror, The Haunting of Hill House is a genuinely brilliant show. It surpasses even classic horror series like the original It miniseries, Tales from the Crypt, Hammer House of Horror, and Penny Dreadful in its impact.

Mike Flanagan’s First Netflix Show Changed Television

Beyond being a fantastic story on its own, The Haunting of Hill House has sparked a resurgence in horror on television. It led to four more successful miniseries created by Mike Flanagan on Netflix, often using the same actors. Now, horror is more popular on streaming services like Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Prime than ever before.

Shows like It – Welcome to Derry, From, Stranger Things, and Mike Flanagan’s personal favorite, Interview with the Vampire, have arguably made TV a more popular place for horror than movie theaters. But The Haunting of Hill House is the series most responsible for changing this trend.

Flanagan’s Upcoming Prime Video Project Could Be Even Better

Since its debut, Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House has been widely considered a masterpiece of television horror. His recent shift to Prime Video to create adaptations of Stephen King’s work could be another turning point for the genre.

Mike Flanagan’s take on Carrie is a bold undertaking, and if successful, it could be even better than his first television series. Exceptional horror series are rare, but if anyone can create two within ten years, it’s Flanagan.

Stephen King is a fan, and that carries weight. He famously praised The Haunting of Hill House, calling it “close to a work of genius”—a statement many agree with, considering he might have only misspoken with the initial two words.

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2026-02-03 02:08