Year of Release: 1963Country of Origin: USA
Director: Robert Wise
Cast: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn
Plot outline: Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity (IMDb).
The best part of The Haunting isn't the ghost scenes, which promise more than they deliver, but the characters, who behave with consistency and are well developed. Dr. Markway (Richard Johnson) is torn by conflicting motives: he wants to study Hill House, but is also protective of his inexperienced team members. Theodora (Claire Bloom) is icy cool and predatory, helping to drive hapless Eleanor (Julie Harris) over the edge. Harris plays her bundle of nerves character without making her overly sympathetic. While nonbeliever Luke (Russ Tamblyn) considers his adventure in Hill House to be one big joke, until ... well, you'll have to see it. The biggest weakness of the movie is that it teases the audience with the presence of ghosts without ever revealing them. Why not have the door fly open, and have an enormous green ghost sweep around the panic-stricken guests, swirling books and chairs? Subtlety is all well and good, but the movie's climax can still be a real horror show. (BK)
My judgement: **1/2 out of 4 stars
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