​What would you do if you were the last person on the face of the planet? Would you be able to survive on your own, or would you be able to keep going without contact from any other humans?  It is quite the question to think about, but you never know what the world has in store for you, so you might want to ponder on it for just a moment or two. I would like to think that I would be able to survive if I was the only one left, but overall, I think I would just drive myself crazy without being able to talk to anyone and that might only take a week versus the years I know I would have to endure.

Doctor Robert Morgan is on his own going on three years. With a routine in place, Robert is able to stay alive by making sure that his house is protected from those creatures that come out at night. Needing more supplies such as garlic and mirrors, Robert needs to head back into town, but that is not his only duty as there are bodies littered outside of his house from the previous night's attempted attack. Loading them up and taking them to the pit, Robert dumps the lifeless corpses into the fire and goes along with his day. Wanting to find out where these creatures hide during the day is his primary goal as he would like to end the madness that plagues him when the sun goes down.

Knowing that they get sick from the smell of garlic and cannot bear to see their reflection in a mirror, these are two of the standard things that need to be replenished at the house, but Robert also has fashioned wooden stakes that have become a necessity in killing the undead. As the days pass, Robert grows tired of doing the same thing, but he knows that if he does not do it, nobody will. Needing time to recharge his batteries, Robert spends time in his wife’s crypt, but when he falls asleep until the sun goes down, he knows that he must return to the safety of his home. Knowing that the creatures will be everywhere, Robert is able to get into his home, but the undead decide that since they cannot have him, they will destroy his car.

Seeing the destruction the next day, Robert has to go car shopping once again, but finds an interesting addition to his home as he pulls into the driveway. A dog is lurking around, looking for something to eat and when Robert tries to call out, the dog gets spooked and runs away. During his search for the mutt, Robert finds a couple dead creatures that have been stabbed through the heart with iron spears. Knowing that he is not the only survivor sparks Robert’s spirits and he wants to find where the others are hiding. Not knowing where to begin since he has been searching the city for years, Robert gets lucky as he sees a young woman walking his way. Although he can tell she is afraid of him, he is able to convince her to join him at his house for the night. But the young woman has a secret and even though Robert does not want to believe it, he knows that she is one of the undead that scours the streets looking for their next meal. 

This is my favorite movie version of the great novel I Am Legend.  I think that everything went right with this movie and there was just enough humanity provided to Robert to allow for him to truly believe he wants to try and help someone other than himself. Knowing that a virus has taken over the globe, Robert is able to survive by using the information that is provided to him before everyone turns, but when he sees an opportunity to help someone else, he jumps at it and I think that is what makes him such a strong character. With plenty of backstory and an undead force that creeps outside of the house every night, it would be easy to see someone driving themselves mad, but all it takes is a glimmer of hope to keep someone’s mind right and looking towards the future. Stay Scared.

I find it utterly fascinating how our society responds to physical transformation as a whole. Because on one hand, we celebrate it like no other. If we see someone buckle down and dedicate themselves to transforming their body into a proverbial temple, we applaud their efforts through and through, letting them know along the way that what they are doing is phenomenal for their body and mind and that they inspire others by dedicating themselves to a healthy cause and that serves as stark contrast, when one thinks of negative transformations.
 
Because those who suddenly gain weight, or see their body altered due to injury or illness are quietly shunned and well, while we can partly attribute that to people just being superficial jackassess, to a certain extent, there’s a primal nature that comes with this as well. After all, despite the achievements we’ve made as a species, we are in fact still animals, and our species shuns those who are not exactly like ‘the herd’ and it also stems from the fact that we are fearful of such changes because to see someone lose control over their body or their mind chills us to our core and all of those negative elements of transformation are explored in great detail in the 1986 horror remake, The Fly.
 
Now, there’s no need to cover the plot to this particular film, because this is quite the iconic remake, one that took the world by storm when it was first released for a great many reasons. First and foremost, it grounded itself in the darkest corners of the horror genre, taking the story to supremely grim places as the movie rolled on and all of that was accomplished by the slow and painful transformation that we watch Seth Brundle undergo in this story. Because minute by minute, his humanity slips away from us and it is heartbreaking to say the least since it’s inherently clear that Brundle is terrified of what’s happening and he uses his scientific mind to try and calm nerves that would shatter if we were in his shoes. 

​But what makes this transformation so terrifying and so titillating to watch are the gorier elements that this movie sends our way. Because Seth’s transformation into a fly is handled with top notch special effects that hold up incredibly well today and those stomach churning moments simply make you squirm in your seat because they are so surprisingly alien, even though they’re technically part of our world since some of the stuff, like how Brundle eats later on in the story is exactly how a fly handles dinner and I appreciate the fact that the movie uses some semblance of real world science to gross us out, since it reminds us that the world is still a strange place and some creatures do wild things.
 
However, the centerpiece of the story is indeed the theme of transformation and how people respond to it and really, Brundle’s slow and eventual transformation in a giant freakin’ fly serves as quite the allegory when you think about it. Because in many ways, he seems terminally ill as the story progresses and it is heartbreaking to watch Seth and the woman he loves, Veronica, struggle with the end of his human life and well, I think it’s brilliant and subtle to include this into a horror film, since it inadvertently allows for the audience to relate to the characters on a fundamental level.
 
If anything, this really is a magnificent motion picture when all is said and done. It’s visceral, it’s terrifying and it definitely delivers on the scares and really, that’s all thanks to Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis’ performances since their endless talent allows for moments that could turn goofy to remain serious, keeping the audience locked on the screen and when all is said and done, I personally consider this to be Director David Cronenberg’s finest work, simply because this movie is flawless in how it tells its story and if by chance you haven’t seen this one, seek it out and watch it as soon as you can, because this sucker, is a masterpiece.   

With all of the discoveries that take place on the scientific front, it is hard to imagine that there could be anything the human race cannot do. There are still many things that cannot be done yet, at least the we know of, but rest assured that these things are still on the radar and when the time is right, they will be at our fingertips. But there are some things that are being researched that may not benefit us at all, and when they are completely figured out, will we want to have them be a part of our everyday life? Even though someone might think it is a good idea for themselves, it may not be the best thing for mankind and when it becomes reality, they may tear the world apart, rather than making it a better place.

Francois Delambre is getting ready to call it a night when he gets a phone call from his sister in law Helene. While she is in tears about what has just happened to her husband, she admits to killing him but will not tell Francois the whole story over the phone. Calling the police and running down to factory, Francois identifies the headless body of his brother Andre. Knowing that there has to be much more to the story that Helene is not telling him, Francois tries to befriend her to tell him more, but Helene is not willing to let it all out. Acting out and trying to convince everyone that she is crazy, Helene decides it is time to tell the truth about what has happened over the past couple of months and what has led to her husband’s death.

Andre has been working tirelessly on his new project and has been neglecting his family time, but he thinks that he has finally caught a break in his research. Wanting to show Helene what he has been doing, he drags her down to his lab and reveals the teleportation device that he has finally completed. Helene does not believe that it will work, but when Andre gives her a demonstration with an ashtray that moves from one side of the lab to the other, she is convinced. But the demonstration does not completely go according to plan as the lettering on the bottom of the ashtray is turned around. Andre is not happy with the results since he thought it was ready for further testing, so he digs back through his notes to make sure everything is perfect for his next experiment. 

Putting his cat into the device, Andre is sure that it will work, but the cat is never to be seen again. One more test is needed and with a guinea pig, it works flawlessly, and Helene should be privy to the break through. Seeing it work on a small animal, Helene is blown away, but Andre is far from finished with his work. Locking himself away in the lab once again, he makes changes to the teleportation device, so it can work with a human. After the first run through it works fine, but on the second attempt a fly finds its way into the device and their atoms intertwine causing Andre to become half man and half fly. Helene does not know of what has happened to her husband, but when reading the notes that are being passed under the lab door, she knows something is amiss and wants to see her husband again. Although he will not allow her to see his face, Helene is bound and determined to make sure he knows how much she loves him and will do anything to bring him back. Andre directs her to find the fly that was in the device with him before he loses too much of his own humanity and becomes a monster that no fly swatter can squash.

A fine look at how science can lead to tragedy. Even with one of the greatest breakthroughs known to man at his fingertips, Andre does not pay attention for one short second and it changes his life forever. I enjoyed watching his transformation from man to fly and even without seeing his face, you can tell that he is having more troubles than his wife is willing to see. As Francois is being the good brother, he takes care of Andre and Helene’s son while Helene is being treated like a crazy person. Her story about what happened may sound outlandish to Francois, along with the Inspector that has been assigned to the case, but she knows that it is true and will not veer from it until everyone believes her. Even seeing it unfold in front of my very eyes, I am still blown away with the ending and I will never look at a fly the same way again. Happy Viewing. 

Normally, when I start to watch a television series, I get a pretty solid feel for its overall tone and design, simply due to the fact that most T.V. shows have a specific structure that they tend to follow to a tee. But when it comes to The Haunting of Hill House, the only constant that I am finding when it comes to this particular series, is that it is going to disturb and unsettle me, and that’s basically it. How it achieves that goal, and how it tells its story is going to be a unique and dynamic experience and for proof of this, look no further than the next episode of this show, ‘Touch’, since this particular tale managed to throw me for a loop, once again.
 
Which is funny, because at first glance, it seemed as though the series was going to give all of us more of the same, as in, an in-depth character study revolving around a member of the Crain family that showed us how they were formed into who they are today by their experiences at Hill House. And while this episode did indeed focus its attention on Theodora ‘Theo’ Crain, everything we learned about her in this story was surprisingly unique to say the least. Because instead of giving us a parable about another rattled child that let their fear form their future, Theo turned out to be quite the badass in this tale, one that harbored quite the special gift.
 
Because as it turns out, Theo is clairvoyant, and by touching an object or a person, she can seemingly understand something special about said object or person, giving her all kinds of unique insight and this gift is something that quite frankly, made her fearless in life at a young age, to the point where she was able to face the places of Hill House that some of her family were afraid to go and as she matured into an adult, she took that ability and found a way to use it for good by going back to school for her PhD in Psychology before dedicating herself to a career helping troubled children, making Theo the first real hero of the show since she is able to truly understand and help kids with their issues. 
 
However, what made Theo truly stand out in this episode, is the sheer fact that she took her abilities to the next level by using her clairvoyance as an investigative tool to dig deeper when it comes to the children that she cannot reach and that allowed her to discover in this particular tale that a foster child was being abused by her foster father and her track record in being right about such matters, allowed for her to involve the police and bring down this disgusting piece of human garbage with minimal fuss and well, while this was disturbing to watch in its own right, it was also extremely satisfying to sit through at the same time, simply because she put a child abuser behind bars. 
 
Yet, one has to wonder after reading that summary, as to whether or not there were any scares present in this episode. And the answer to that question is a terrifying yes. Because Hill House upped its game in this tale when the creepy thing in the speakeasy basement came after Theo’s brother Luke, and that sequence was squirmy in its own right since it was handled with ambient noise and let’s be honest, Theo’s takedown of the creepy foster dad was quite twisted since it featured some real-world monsters for certain. Either way, this really was quite the incredible episode when all is said and done. It was bold, and different and I love the fact that this series is working hard to give us something new when it comes to horror and once again, I am dying to know what other surprises this series is to going to send our way, which means it’s high time to settle in and endure more horrors from this twisted and compelling universe. Until next time.  

It is impossible to go back to a place you have never been.  It gets tiring, and annoying, when people assume that you know everything about something your family is known for. If you were never brought up in the field that your parents work, never been to an island where dinosaurs roam, or been to a hospital where your sister was trapped for a night, you will never truly know what some places have in store for you. Trying to explain that to people who are fans or who want to utilize your knowledge does not work, since they believe that the family tie can deliver them some sort of information that they may require down the road.

Ariel Wolfe is living her life by her own rules, and if that means cutting family ties to forward her career, then so be it. Her sister Sara has been calling non-stop about the Vannacutt Asylum for weeks now, but Ariel is sick and tired of hearing ghost stories since she does not believe in the afterlife. When on a shoot for her magazine, Ariel receives a call from her mother and the news is dropped that Sara has killed herself. Asking her ex-boyfriend to go with her, Ariel ventures to her sister's apartment to investigate what happened. But she is not the only one who is interested in what happened as Dr. Richard Hammer has joined them, but he is looking for something much more intriguing than the death of the woman, he wants the note book that she had in her possession. 

Not having a clue about the note book, Ariel heads home only to find that there is something special that came in the mail from her sister. Not having time to see what the pages hold, Ariel is kidnapped by a fortune hunter named Desmond and his men and is forced to go search the asylum with them. In search of the Baphoment idol, Desmond will not back down from his hunt and will stop at nothing until his payday is at hand. Arriving at the asylum after Dr. Hammer and his team, Desmond takes control of the search and with everything that he has read about the house, he has a plan to stop it from taking over. Trying to dismantle the lock down device, Desmond is happy with heading to the basement and beginning his hunt for the lost idol, but the house has different ideas.

As every one of the inmates are reliving their deaths on a daily basis in the house, they are more than willing to share their experiences with the new visitors, along with collecting their souls. Desmond’s team quickly diminishes, and he is left in control of the college team, or so he thinks. As the house locks down despite the efforts in stopping it, Ariel escapes, but when she finds that her friend Paul is still in the building, the house invites her back in. With pistol in hand, Ariel takes control of the group and searches for a way to escape the confines of the haunted building. Even with her best efforts however, she still has to deal with people looking for the Baphomet idol and their ignorance as to what can happen if the spirits contained in the walls get to a living person. As the group moves further down into the depths of the house, they find out more about what was being done there, along with Ariel finding out the true secret behind the idol. As time quickly becomes a factor since the dead are rising faster than ever, the group has to find the idol, and dispose of it, before it is too late.

Is this a strong follow up to the retelling of House on Haunted Hill? Yes, it is. Even though the staff and crew have changed from the last film, the house still stands tall and proud and is ready to take anyone’s life that walks inside. I was happy to see that part of the story did not get taken away, as it often does in sequels. With the dead coming back more frequently, it is next to impossible for anyone to get out of the old hospital alive, but the ghosts seem to know what is happening as well. I did not like how they tried to justify Dr. Vannacutt going crazy and killing his patients on the regular, but it did seem to play along with the actual power of the idol. Close your eyes during the exterior shots since they are not even close to as good as the previous movie, but that is really the only downfall I could find with this one. It is easy to get past a couple of little one offs when it comes to movies, you just have to focus on what the story is that they are telling, and if you like it, it is a winner. Will I still continue to think twice about visiting a haunted location based on these movies, oh, heck no. I do want to see in person where all of these stories have come from about killer ghosts and if I don’t make it out, so be it. Stay Scared.

We like to think that our past does not in any way define us. That we can put any of the ill moments and trauma we’ve experienced through the years behind us and move forward without any issue whatsoever. But deep down, we all know that’s simply not the case. Our past is always with us, and it does in many ways define us and some use that as an excuse or a reason as to why they cannot move forward in life, simply because, they are a product of their environment and nothing can be done to make their lives better in any way.
 
Yet, the fact of the matter is, there is a way to escape our past and that is by confronting it, but how exactly one does that, is up to the individual and oddly enough, the moment. Sometimes we simply come to realize that we are not happy with who we are, and a touch or a heavy dose of therapy is what we need to confront the shadows in our mind. Or sometimes, fate simply forces us to face it, whether we like it or not, and how we respond in that moment is critical to our future. Because if we ignore the opportunity, we are doomed to let yesterday haunt us, but if we confront it…well wonders can occur, and it is the past and the moment when we are forced to face it that takes the center stage in Gerald’s Game.
 
Now in this particular film, we are introduced to Jessie and Gerald Burlingame, a couple that quite frankly, is struggling to find the spark in their relationship. But a romantic weekend away from the city and the daily grind is just what they need to spice things up a bit. But a seemingly innocent moment, wherein Jessie is handcuffed to the bed as part of the effort to add a little excitement to the relationship, turns to terror when Gerald has a massive and fatal heart attack, leaving his wife turned widow bound to the bed with no hope of escape. And now that Jessie is alone with her thoughts, her life, and every important moment that’s ever haunted her is going to flash before her eyes and she will have to make a tough decision; either give in to the darkness that is clinging to her soul and let it decide her fate or take this opportunity to face it and fight to stay alive.  

When I first heard that Netflix was going to adapt this particular Stephen King story into a movie, I won’t lie, I was a tad skeptical that it was going to be anything special. I say that, simply due to the fact that it isn’t really one of my favorite King stories. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a solid read, but something was always missing for me when it comes to this particular tale, and I didn’t know what it was, until I saw this adaptation. Because as it turns out, this is one of those rare King stories that quite frankly works better on the silver (or in this case, small) screen simply because the nuances of panic and the sheer fear that Jessie experiences in this tale, are front and center in the film and the masterful pacing from Writer/Director Mike Flanagan allows for the tension to build moment by moment as you wonder if and how Jessie is going to get out of this mess.
 
But, the true centerpiece of the story is Jessie’s overall journey. Because when we first meet her, she really is someone content with their present situation and she’s a bit of a pushover. After all, Gerald is quick to talk down to her and demand things and she’s content to give him what he wants because it seems she has no sense of self-worth. But goodness, does she undergo quite the transformation before our eyes as she works to figure out how to get free from the bed and I love the fact that her past plays a huge part in this and that she works hard to confront her demons and overcome them to become a strong and dynamic character by the end of the film and well, how exactly she escapes from her shackles is something that needs to be seen to be believed, but it truly is the pinnacle moment of her growth and her newfound strength.
 
If anything, what I appreciated most about this film, is the message that it carries, in that, we have to face our past at some point or another, and while that is of course handled in the most extreme of fashion, the message resonates well, and I also loved the fact that this film didn’t fall into any horror tropes when it comes to how women are often treated in the genre since Jessie isn’t saved by a man or some external plot device. It’s her newfound strength and growth that make that happen, and it’s awesome that a female lead received a complete journey in this tale and walked out of this mess for the better. Either way, this is quite the entertaining watch. It will captivate you, and leave your heart racing as you watch Jessie work to sort out her life and her situation and it’s one that I recommend you see, simply because it offers something different when it comes to the horror genre.   

​I have to admit that I was both extremely excited and ridiculously curious as to what other scary surprises The Haunting of Hill House was going to send my way as I started to watch the second episode of the series, ‘Open Casket’. Because the pilot episode did such a phenomenal job of establishing the fact that we were going to be treated to a quality and chilling ghost story that I was fully expecting the more haunted aspect of this tale to take the center stage in this particular chapter, especially after that powerhouse surprise ending in the series premiere wherein the spirit of Nellie Crain haunted her brother.
 
But instead, the next entry in this harrowing saga took me to places that I flat out didn’t expect to go. For example, rather than immediately build on the scares, the show once more took the time to explore what makes the characters in this series tick by focusing squarely on Shirley Crain and how she handled the news regarding Nellie’s death and once again, the amazing depth presented here immediately sucked me right in and pulled me off guard, allowing for the episode to deliver its next wave of scares, except this time, the terror was taken to a whole new level, by exploring the real-life nightmares that haunt us in everyday life. 
 
Because this ended up being quite the harrowing examination on the power of death and what it can do to young minds since Shirley was exposed to all kinds of death related trauma at an early age, like the litter of kittens that she tried to care for that died on her watch and the trauma that came from that, was only further compounded by the loss of her mother when the family evacuated Hill House in the middle of the night and what made this part of the story so fascinating was how Shirley found an interesting path forward from the trauma she experienced as a child, since she opted to surround herself with death so she could heal her soul by helping others get through their pain. Which of course implies that she never quite got over her pain, but the episode kept the answer to that ambiguous, and I appreciate it left such matters up to the viewer.
 
But I made mention of scares, and while the ghost segments back at Hill House were creepy and unsettling in their own right, it was those real-world scenarios that truly made this episode chilling in its own right. Because let’s be honest, this episode took the raw pain that comes with losing a loved one, or a furry loved one for that matter, and splayed it out on the screen for us, sending echoes of that anguish through our minds and all of it left me uncomfortable for certain and well, leave it to this series to find a way to up the ante when it comes to our discomfort. Because having Shirley embalm and repair the body of her own baby sister was some next level stuff and just brutal in its own right.
 
But when all is said and done, this really was quite the brilliant episode. Because it’s quite the bold decision to put the ghosts in the background and focus on real world matters and quality character development, but it works and I was definitely enthralled and I love the fact that whatever happened on that fateful night in Hill House, is still with Shirley and I am now supremely curious to see what other surprises this series is going to send our way since I get the funny feeling every single episode is going to offer us something exciting and new and well, the only way to find out, is to continue this unsettling journey, which means it’s time to step away from the keyboard and return to this waking nightmare. Until next time.  

​There are several get rich quick schemes around and some of them work if you are willing to put in the effort. But what if you are offered a large sum of money to sit around and do nothing? Would you be able to pass that up, or would you be looking for the catch? I always believe that there is a catch, especially if someone is willing to put up large sums of money to watch you as you suffer through the night, but that is just me. With that being said, if someone offered me a large sum of money to stay in a haunted house, well my answer might be a little different.

Evelyn Price has a birthday coming up and wants to make it something special. Seeing a television report on the old Vannacutt Asylum where all of the inmates, along with most of the staff, were burned alive back in 1931, her interest is piqued, and being married to the famed Steven Price, she thinks that it will be the perfect place to host the party of the century. But Steven is none too happy with the suggestion as the two have not been getting along for many years and he tries to offer an alternative. But Evelyn is stuck in her ways and she already has a guest list ready for her husband when he arrives back at the office. Steven is not willing to bend his will either as he shreds the list and makes up one of his own, but somehow, the list changes again and the birthday party of the year will be celebrated with strangers.

Arriving at the gates leading up to the asylum, five strangers are greeted by the building owner, Pritchett. Being hell bent on getting the guests up to the old building, Pritchett has some reservations about going back inside as the building has claimed the lives of his grandfather and father in the past. With everyone in the building, Steven Price gives his introductions and gets to meet all of the people that he will be spending the night with, but he has an ulterior motive while in the house. Being a master of fear, Price wants to make sure that everyone is frightened beyond their wits and offers a million dollars to anyone who survives and stays the entire night in this spooky old house. 

Making scary changes to the house before everyone arrived, Price is ready for the night to begin, but the house has a mind of its own as it goes into complete lockdown. Thinking that this is his hidden man’s doing, Price is surprised to find out that there might be something more to the old building than even he could have expected. When Eddie, Sara, Pritchett and Price all head down to the basement to locate an override that will open the asylum back up, the fun starts. As other individuals show up in the basement, the group has no idea that they are not alone in the house but are starting to question what could be happening around them. As Melissa starts doing her own investigation around the house, she is met by the old doctor that perished in the building many years ago and when the house gets a taste of blood, all bets are off for anyone making it through the night with their lives.

I don’t really know how to qualify this movie, since it has so many moving parts. With some very bad spirits running around, a husband and wife plotting to kill each other, tainted history, along with new friendships, this is more than just a haunted house movie in my eyes. With a star-studded cast taking to the screen, this could have been one of the movies that helped spark a little bit of a need for horror movies in the movie theaters again. You can say what you will about it, but many of the ghostly elements that were shown in this movie are still being used in today’s horror movies and that does count for something. This is one of the movies I will admit that if it is on, I will sit down and watch it, since there is always something a little bit different you catch depending on the mood you are in. Stay Scared.

While the horror genre, and all the various monsters that roam within it, bring me great joy on a regular basis, there are some creatures that I tend to steer clear of in that vast and unsettling universe. Not out of terror mind you, but due to the sheer fact that they outright rarely scare me. Vampires for example really don’t send chills down my spine and the same often applies to ghost stories. That doesn’t mean those two sub-genres are bad or dumb by any means, because people love them through and through, they simply do little for me. Ghost stories for instance, tend to rely on jump scares or forced moments in order to terrify their audience but I need a little more than that.
 
Which means I’m often on the hunt for ghost stories that manage to truly manipulate the human psyche, and find ways to unsettle the audience and well, flat out scare the ever-living daylights out of us, but alas, my search has yielded little results. But, once I heard that Writer/Director Mike Flanagan, the same creative mind that managed to make Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game a creepy and disturbing affair on Netflix, had been commissioned to help adapt Shirley Jackson’s iconic horror novel, The Haunting of Hill House into a series for the network, well my ears perked up. Because Flanagan’s adaptation of Gerald’s Game gave the story new depth and subtext that I didn’t expect to find, and it was genuinely terrifying, and if he was able to do that with the master’s work, what would he do with a classic such at this?
 
Well it would seem that the answer to that question, is to provide us with one scary series since the first episode in this saga, ‘Steven Sees a Ghost’, delivers in spades when it comes to the creep out factor. In fact, the opening minutes of this series premiere are incredibly unsettling for reasons I will do my best not to spoil because you need to see it to believe it. But, this opening chapter in what is clearly going to be a horrifying saga offers far more than just epic scares and squirmy moments, it also provides us with some quality and dynamic characters as well and that’s what I enjoyed most about this episode, the fact that we got to know more about this family and how the haunting in question changed the course of their lives forever. 

In fact, the character development in this opening episode is equally as impressive as the scares it provides us with because the story takes its sweet time to properly introduce us to every single member of the Crain family, to the point where are able to learn everything we need to know about them over the course of a single hour and well, every single one of them are fascinating and dynamic because of this writing decision and seeing them as adults, rattled by what happened in that house, only deepens the mystery of what happened there and it leaves you hungry to know exactly what went down behind those walls all those years ago since so many members of this family are shattered by their experiences at Hill House.
 
However, as I made mention of earlier, there’s some serious scares to be found in this one, and we need to talk about the scare factor in this recap because, how it’s handled is downright magnificent. Because while the ghost scenes are creepy in their own right, by setting this in ‘present day’ so to speak, and having the characters actively question whether or not their experiences in that house were products of their imagination or indeed a ghostly surprise, takes you completely off your guard. You start to wonder if this series is going to be an exploration of something far more human, like trauma that the family may have experienced at the hands of their late mother since it’s established here that she may have been mentally ill and that illness may have caused more harm than good. But all of that, is mere misdirection and it makes the closing moments of this episode all the more powerful and all the more terrifying and trust me, that finale cements the fact that we are dealing with something supremely supernatural here.
 
In fact, that manipulation did such a good job of drawing me away from the scare factor, that I outright jumped in my seat and yelped when the big surprise arrived and well, it’s clear that my search for a scary and quality ghost story has come to an end for the time being, because The Haunting of Hill House is the real deal and if this what the first episode has to offer, I can only imagine what other horrors are going to present themselves in the other episodes that I now have queued up. Either way, I’m definitely hooked, and anxious to feel my heart racing once more, which means it’s high time to hit ‘play next episode’ on my Netflix app, and return to the horror that is Hill House. Until next time.   

​There are few things in life that really frighten me. Nuclear Winter, spiders, quicksand, zombies, being buried alive, not being tall and plantar fasciitis. That is pretty much it and three of those can be crossed off of the list because I have no control over them, you be the judge on that. But ghosts and haunted houses have never made the list since I have always wanted to see and or feel something from a different realm and hope at some point it will happen. I have never hidden my feelings on seeing ghosts and how I would react when I see one (running away and screaming…probably) but it would be nice to be able to know what happens after my human body no longer walks among the living.

Frederick Loren is looking to throw a party, one for the ages for his wife Annabelle. Although none of the planning falls on her, the guests are driven up to their party central for the night, the House on Haunted Hill. With five strangers arriving at the house, the current owner of the property has come as well and knowing what torments the house has in store for the evening, he would much rather be on his way than stay there on more night. But Mr. Loren has a special incentive to keep everyone in the house for the night, $10,000 for everyone that makes it through the night…alive.

As the guests enter the house, they all notice how creepy it is and as they venture further into the depths, they start to understand why the owner wants nothing to do with it. Being given a tour by Watson Pritchard, the home owner, the group is told the unknown history about what the home is really about…death. After one guest is privy to a little blood on the hand, the group is taken down to the wine cellar and finds out that the wine hold is actually filled with acid. Hearing the story about the last husband and wife that lived at the property, the group wants nothing to do with this room, but young Nora and Lance stick around to discuss why they are willing to stay in the house anyway. The money is too enticing, and neither can pass it up, but when the lights go down in the cellar, Nora is left on her own and a ghostly figure comes in and out of the room. 

Being frightened beyond anything she has ever seen, Nora gives her report to the others in the house, but everyone believes that she is crazy. Not listening to her, Nora goes back up to her room to find a disembodied head has found its way into her suitcase, but when the group is ready to inspect her claims, it has vanished. With nobody believing anything that she has seen, the house owner believes that she has been targeted by the house and will be its next victim, but what he does not know is the feud that has been going on between Mr. and Mrs. Loren. Finding Mrs. Loren hanging by her neck over the stairway, everyone is left aghast and a killer has to be on the loose in the house. Looking for someone else in the house, no one is found and needing to find a way to survive until the morning is everyone's next and only priority. Without knowing what they are up against, the house's history speaks for itself and everyone will need to find a way to cope with their deepest and darkest fears.

Classic, I don’t think I could say anything other than that about this movie. If anyone is trying to make a horror movie today, they should reference this one to find out how to make it really work.  With the blood and guts being replaced by outright conventional scares in this movie, you are left with a storyline that will keep you guessing who the killer is until the very end. The actors are just fantastic in this movie and if you have not seen them and are a fan of horror movies, you really need to check it out. With minimal effects and a couple good screams, you will be left wondering what the house has in store for its next guests. Stay Scared!