FROM NOVEL TO FILM: THE HAUNTING

The Haunting (1963) is the first of the two film adaptions of the Shirley Jackson novel The Haunting of Hill House. Directed by Robert Wise for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, The Hunting was first released in August 1963 starring Julie Harris (Eleanor Lance); Claire Bloom (Theodora); Richard Johnson (Dr John Markway) and Russ Tamblyn (Luke Sanderson). Despite bearing slight modifications from the original plot, it remains the most faithful adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel to date and is praised by movie critics as one of the scariest horror films of all times. Robert Wise’s interpretation of Jackson’s psychological ghost story does not take away from the author’s intent but provokes the same sense of inescapable terror. 

 The theme of perverted love appears variably in The Haunting of Hill House but is one that is considerably established in film. In the film Robert Wise expounds upon this forbidden- type love and in some aspects more accentuated than in Jackson’s novel. Theodora’s submission that Eleanor is trying to “attract attention”, although originally said in a concerned attempt to distract an agitated Eleanor, exemplifies the fact that at Hill House she has become somewhat the centre of attention. All assumed affections of love are projected towards, as well as reciprocated by her. Hill House is also implied to have selected of Eleanor; even calling her by name with the inscriptions “Help Eleanor Come Home”. Eleanor’s encounter with the house seems to characterize a destined meeting of “kindred spirits”. Standing outside Hill House she thinks “it’s waiting for me. Evil, patient… waiting”; she soon afterwards, as Dr Markway puts it, falls “under the spell of the house” eventually submitting to what she believes are its wishes: “I’ll come… I’ll come, whatever it wants of me it can have”. Another replication of Jackson’s concept of contrived love is aired through Theodora’s advances towards Eleanor which coupled with the ambiguity of Theodora’s own sexual orientation, raises the tabooed subject of homosexuality. Wise’s only deviation but which still maintains the theme, is his exaggeration of the fondness between the married Dr Markway and Eleanor. For Eleanor knowing that she is “cherished” by the Doctor is as important as finding her place at Hill House.

 Eleanor’s desperate search for acceptance strongly involves her feelings of loneliness and the need to belong. These are especially emphasized in the movie through her obsession with having a home of her own (“someday... someday, I’ll have an apartment of my own”). Having her own home represents for her a place where she belongs and where she can be “a new person”. Being expected at Hill House and being a part of the team gives her the satisfaction of sharing in something “truly extraordinary” as she determines “at last I’m going someplace where I’m expected and where I’d be given shelter…".  Her greatest fear is of being left alone; the strange happenings at Hill House itself do not disturb her as much as this, which she asserts to Dr Markway and Theodora: “I’ve always been more afraid of being left alone or left out than of things that go bump in the night”.
The bizarre occurrences in The Haunting raise questions of trauma induced psychosis against supernatural manifestations. It is sometimes unclear if the incidences at Hill House are as a result of paranormal activities or the designs of an unstable mind. In a Journal Article for Mental Health Practice on the relationship between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychosis the author stresses “There are similarities between the intrusive thoughts, images, and flashbacks that are commonly associated with PTSD and the hallucinations and delusions associated with psychosis.”  This prognosis is paralleled at Hill House where a history of traumatic experiences precede psychotic- like behaviours.      

Borrowing from The Haunting of Hill House’s deduction of its ghostly manor “in its true personality” Wise traces Hill House’s “evil reputation” to the ill-fated alliance of old Abigail Crain and her paid companion. Blamed for the death of her benefactor the companion is believed to have been driven mad and eventually committing suicide by “whatever there was and still is in the house”. Less than ninety years later, Eleanor Lance is shown to have suffered a similar fate. Dr Markway says “Fear alone can do the damage to the victim”; which makes a convincing appeal for any suggestion that what is actually happening to Eleanor is her mind’s way of dealing with her traumatic experiences. Being the sole caretaker of a sick and overbearing mother causes Eleanor to feel “walled up” and robbed of her adult life. When her mother dies Eleanor is left with a self- loathing guilt that she is somehow responsible. A clearly troubled Eleanor is now predisposed to abnormal behaviours and the rumoured haunted Hill House provides the ideal outlet.

 Even at the end, Eleanor’s belief that Hill House wants her still remains dubious since there is an air of uncertainty surrounding some of her paranormal evidences. Her initial misgivings about Hill House in thinking of it as “vile” and a monster ready to swallow her whole  soon causes her to exhibit paranoid behaviours, such as her firm belief that she is being pursued by the house. Also, her episode in which she is left wondering “Whose hand was I holding?” leaves similar doubts in the viewer’s mind and incidentally her own, about what is actually taking place. It is not known if it was really an act of the supernatural or if it was Eleanor’s mind reconstructing a previous event.

Eleanor’s agitated mannerism and defensiveness are further signs of paranoia. Due to uncontrollable guilt, she is wary of any questions pertaining to her mother. Sometimes thinking that everyone is against her she lashes out at Theo (Am I the public dump or something for everybody's fear?). The arrival of Mrs Markway at Hill House further adds to her sense of distress, as in her mind she has created somewhat of a family setting with her fellow housemates (These people are my friends. I'm one of them. I belong) and Grace’s presence poses a threat to her rightful place at Hill House (I'm the one who's supposed to stay here. She's taken my place).

In addition to possibly possessing delusional beliefs, at times the nature of Eleanor’s involvement at Hill House can be credited to hallucinations. Most of what is learned about Eleanor’s personality is revealed through her inner thoughts, which to a great extent appears weakened. Eleanor seems to be an occupant of both Hill House and her own mind, and the physical confusion going on in the house mirrors her own mental confusion. Another incident which can be attributed to hallucinatory manifestations takes place when Eleanor is repulsed by a certain smell at Hill House’s library. Bearing that she alone can discern this “awful” smell, once again brings into disrepute her claims of the supernatural which is even challenged by her co- occupants (“Is this one of your crazy hallucinations?”)

The first of the two film adaptions of Shirley Jackson’s novel, The Haunting (1963) directed by Robert Wise's The Haunting is praised both for its faithfulness to its literary predecessor and as one of the scariest horror films of all times. 


If you are into the oldies, The Haunting is a great recommend. Take a look at let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.