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Friday, November 2, 2018 Lifestyle | MixTape

TV review ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ Spoiler-free review of Netflix’s no. 1 trending television show

By Aakash Bakaya many (including myself). But today, with both television and film at the end. The flash-backs also juxtapose nicely compared to the seeing a new resurgence of Stephen King stories and horror being mundane, almost dreary look and feel of the events taking place in hat makes ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (HoHH) work is dialed back to its old-school roots - it was an ideal time for ‘The the present timeline. In fact, the present is so mundane at times ini- its strict adherence to its characters. Nowadays almost Haunting of Hill House’ to be retold for a new generation. Creator tially that it almost kills the season entirely. Wevery television series makes sure to populate its Mike Flanagan did a great job in that regard and put together a Netflix, in this way, kind of works as its own worst enemy par- episodes with ensemble casts. A diverse cast makes sure that the tense, tightly-knit tale of ghosts we find in haunted houses and the ticularly when it comes to making the audience stay interested with audience finds relatable or redeemable features in at least one or ones that stay trapped within ourselves. But for as good as the a series. With a multitude of options comes an even greater multi- more of the characters. This usually creates a show that is con- overall package may be, it’s not without its faults. tude of distractions and episodes 2-4 are so slowly paced you stantly juggling its main plot with a bunch of inter-connected side might feel like you’re wasting your time. These episodes follow the stories. ‘HoHH’ is guilty of this as well - at least at the start. It takes Tragic beginnings ‘Game of Thrones’ formula of having each one stick to an individual a while for the characters to really get fleshed out but as they do, ‘HoHH’ starts off on the wrong foot. The first episode is a decent character but the problem here is simply the fact that the charac- it begins to pick up the pace and re-focuses on the thrilling story opener, setting up the main family of seven, the dreadful events of ters themselves are just not that interesting at first. It plods along that creates a highly memorable season of television and one of their past in Hill House and a climax that will have you slamming detailing their lives before and during a tragic occurrence befalls the best horror shows to have ever graced the format. on the ‘next episode’ button. These events are pieced together them and it doesn’t truly open up until it moves past it. The bomb- On the surface, adapting Shirley Jackson’s iconic novel would through numerous and lengthy flash-backs that form the main hor- shell that drops in the fifth episode isn’t a huge twist by most means be an easy sell for TV or film that is if the previous adaptation was- ror aspects of the show. Both the present and the past however are as clues are sprinkled throughout if you’re observant enough but n’t absolute garbage. 1999’s ‘The Haunting’ starring Owen Wilson not always in chronological order so paying a bit more attention it sets up a fantastic second half to the season. and Catherine Zeta Jones still leaves a bad taste in the mouth for to the details not only keeps you on track but also has a nice payoff The five siblings of the Crain family are all radically different