THE HAUNTING is a very troubling movie for me, and there are a variety of reasons. First and foremost is that it is part of the highly-respected triumvirate that consists of it, THE UNINVITED and THE INNOCENTS as the most acclaimed Haunted House films. The second is that despite the quality of the production ... and it IS extremely well-made ... there is so much exposition with seemingly every new discovery necessitating the presenting of another theory.

I'm a huge fan of the book, "The Haunting Of Hill House." The film is a surprisingly accurate adaptation. (Thinking back, the only thing I can readily identify as being omitted is the writer of the "Help Eleanor Come Home" message that is found on the hallway wall.) And that's likely a major part of the problem that I have with the film. It is very "cerebral," requiring the Viewer to keep track of many different clues, theories, and character behaviors. This is part of the joy of reading the book. I found it to be more challenging when seeing it "compressed" into a movie.

When it worked, it REALLY works. There are so many iconic moments. The pounding on the walls, the peering through the attic door, the dilapidated spiral staircase, and the "breathing door" are exceptional. Also, the performances are strong. I especially ired Claire Bloom's portrayal of Theodora.

Yet, there is the issue (as there is in some of the best ghost stories) of whether the haunting is real, are these characters overwrought, or is it some combination of the two? THE INNOCENTS is especially adept at handling this. In THE HAUNTING, the Viewer is asked to analyze quite a few different proposals, and there really isn't much time given for that to happen. As an example, we learn that the original owner and designer of Hill House hated people, so he created a structure that will be immediately disorienting. Naturally, as people stay there for some time, the effect will increase, playing havoc with the emotions and judgment. Has he created a way to make people become delusional? And, if so, what will that mean for the current "guests" at the house? This is fascinating to contemplate in the book. There really isn't much time to do so in the movie.

The ultimate impact is that I felt as if I was being kept at a "distance" from the story ... intentionally.

THE HAUNTING is a film I've owned for years, first as a DVD and later as a Blu-ray. However, when I'm in the mood for a Haunted House movie, it is not the first one that I'll pull from the shelf. That honor will likely go to THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, CASTLE OF BLOOD, THE CHANGELING, or possibly THE INNKEEPERS. Even so, I do eventually return for another visit ... even though I'd be more satisfied with reading the book again.