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The Haunting
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The Haunting (1963/I) More at IMDbPro »

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The Haunting (1963) -- Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity...

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   10,557 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 225% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert Wise
Writers:
Shirley Jackson (novel)
Nelson Gidding (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Haunting on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 September 1963 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror | Thriller more
Tagline:
You may not believe in ghosts but you cannot deny terror more
Plot:
Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. more
NewsDesk:
(14 articles)
Martin Scorsese Picks 11 Scariest Horror Movies of All Time!
 (From FirstShowing.net. 30 October 2009, 5:51 PM, PDT)

The Enigma of Horror Vérité
 (From Fangoria. 24 October 2009, 10:06 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A scary, masterfully crafted ghost story more (306 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
112 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Australia:G (alternate rating) | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (re-rating) | UK:X | USA:Approved | USA:G (1972 re-release) | UK:X (original rating)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Robert Wise had seen Julie Harris in a play and decided she was perfect for the leading role. She later confessed that shooting the picture had been very hard on her. She saw her character, Eleanor, in a different way than director Wise but didn't feel it was her place to disagree, so playing the part was a struggle for her. Still she claims Wise was a perfect gentleman and they remained friends for decades. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: The story takes place in August, in fact it is mentioned twice that it is August and yet the characters are all dressed in winter coats upon arrival. They also wear winter clothing throughout the film. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Dr. John Markway: [voice-over] An evil old house, the kind some people call haunted, is like an undiscovered country waiting to be explored. Hill House had stood for 90 years and might stand for 90 more. Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there... walked alone.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in The Haunted Mansion (2003) more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
How does it end?
Why does Nell sleep on her left side?
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39 out of 46 people found the following comment useful.
A scary, masterfully crafted ghost story, 20 January 2001
8/10
Author: the narra†or from Sydney, Australia

The Haunting is the best haunted house movie of all time. It is creepy as hell, packs a real sense of dread, and always leaves the shocks to the imagination.

It starts with an extremely effective prologue detailing the sinister history of Hill House over it's 90 year presence, and this prologue includes some really excellently done scenes.

Flash forward 90 years, and four guests are invited to stay the night at Hill House, and experience the house's hypnotic power. The main character is Eleanor (Julie Harris) who is starting to believe the house wants something from her.

The Haunting is a teriffically crafted, genuinely creepy story from Robert Wise, and many elements have been used in recent films (The freezing breath in The Sixth Sense, and the ghosts only implied by strange sounds and giggles in The Blair Witch Project).

Overall, this is an excellent horror movie proving you don't need special effects and gore blah blah blah... Just see the movie. 9/10.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Haunting (1963/I)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Did anyone notice the car? spirit_30
Why not open it up? (SPOILER) Doug-169
Who likes (or dislike) Nell? Birugirl
Good movie but not scary at all IloveMuggy
A 'genuine cold spot' micaofboca
Lesbian Subplot Scarlett_Avenger
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