The Haunting of Hill House star Oliver Jackson-Cohen recently reflected on the surprising success of the Netflix show. Based on Shirley Jackson's novel of the same name, the series, created by Mike Flanagan, was released in 2018 and tells the chilling story of one family's trauma connected to their old home. The show quickly became a hit, paving the way for subsequent Flanagan Netflix horror series like The Haunting of Bly Manor and Midnight Mass.
In a recent interview with Film Updates, Jackson-Cohen reminisced about the unexpected triumph of The Haunting of Hill House. He shared that Netflix had given the team creative control, treating the show as an experimental endeavor. The streaming giant recognized the growing popularity of horror content and believed that Hill House could resonate with their audience. Jackson-Cohen himself had reservations about the show's potential success, given its heavy focus on childhood trauma and sorrow, albeit within a horror narrative. However, the show's popularity caught everyone by surprise, and the cast was immensely proud to be a part of it. Jackson-Cohen praised Flanagan for his incredible work on Hill House.
Since The Haunting of Hill House, Flanagan has gone on to create The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club, and The Fall of the House of Usher. These projects have received positive reviews from critics, although some have been more well-received than others.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, The Haunting of Hill House currently holds the highest rating among Flanagan's shows, with a score of 93% from critics and 91% from audiences. It narrowly surpasses The Fall of the House of Usher, which stands at 90% on the Tomatometer. Released last fall, The Fall of the House of Usher received glowing reviews, praised for its dark humor, intricate plot twists, and exploration of relevant themes. The Midnight Club sits at the lower end of the spectrum with an 86% rating, just below Midnight Mass at 87%.
Interestingly, The Midnight Club, which would have been Flanagan's first show to receive a second season, was canceled by Netflix due to insufficient viewership. This cancellation aligns with the lower audience score of 55% for The Midnight Club, making it Flanagan's least successful show thus far. Conversely, The Haunting of Hill House maintains its popularity among viewers, earning an impressive 91% audience score.
While Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores provide a general sense of a project's reception, personal preference ultimately determines whether The Haunting of Hill House is Flanagan's best Netflix show. However, it's worth mentioning that on Metacritic, Hill House boasts the highest score of 79, further solidifying its position as the most critically acclaimed series in Flanagan's repertoire.
The Haunting of Hill House, with its dual timeline narrative, immerses viewers in the Crain family's haunted experiences in their eerie and deadly abode. The show delves into the lasting impact of the haunting on the Crain siblings as they navigate adulthood. Directed by Mike Flanagan as the initial entry in the Haunting anthology, the series features a talented ensemble cast including Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, Victoria Pedretti, Carla Gugino, and Henry Thomas.
The haunting legacy of Hill House lives on, captivating audiences and solidifying Mike Flanagan's position as a master of horror on Netflix. Fans eagerly anticipate what spine-chilling stories he will bring to the streaming platform in the future.
