I hadn't seen this in many years and we decided to watch it for the Shudder Discord Goth Club screening on Monday. It holds up, even if my memories of it are a bit clouded by the Mike Flanagan series.

I won't recap the story of Shirley Jackson's classic novel or of the film, but will note that this time through, I was struck more by the performances than I had been before. Julie Harris is like a quivering nerve through most of the film; usually on the edge of abject fear, but also always keeping things together. The house is stunning, the music is generally good, and the other performances are fine (except I've never really liked Russ Tamblyn in this).

What I also really adore is Robert Wise's direction. Full of strangely low angles and a surprising amount of restraint. It's weird to think he made this shortly after West Side Story! It feels so stylistically distinct.

I've never adored this movie but it's undeniably solid and genuinely spooky in spots.