A satisfactory b grade thriller.
This film is based on the Shirley Jackson book Haunting of Hill House. However, this film, while utilising characters, settings and some plot from the original, takes great artistic license, adding plot, backstory, relationships that weren't on the original book/film.
You do need to take this as a stand alone thriller though as this is only loosely based on the Jackson novel, and if that is your benchmark, this may disappoint.
Review of Film on it's own merit
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The story, plot and acting are all fine. The premise probably wouldn't happen in real life (is the premise that gets them to the house...). The 'house' is magnificent in scale and features, much more so than the original house concept (possibly too much so really). But there are parts with 'effects' that are a bit much- almost circus like. It uses more overt terror, scares and incidents which are typical of the modern style of horror film, than the original. This will probably suit many audiences today.
In terms of acting Lili Taylor is great and the others are fine.
Personally, the ending was contrived, a bit silly and a let down. I deducted a point for the ending.
There are better scary films like The Conjuring (also with Taylor), but this one is a fine 'B grade' lark.
Review as an adaption
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This is absolutely not Jackson's story.
It is loosely based on her characters and story, but takes great creative license to change everything up. Luke is not the owner. The doctor is not investigating the paranormal as such. The house is ridiculously embellished with quirky rooms that are a bit clownish.
The backstory of Crain to add 'depth' and 'fill blanks' is new and macabre. The paranormal incidents are overt and visible - very 'modern' unlike the Gothic style of Jackson which relied on the unseen. In fact this version is more of a haunting of ghosts rather than the original concept of a house being bad 'not sane'. Also, the ending is vastly different and problematic and kind of ridiculous. Although I was a little let down by Jackson's ending, this one is laughable.
This film lacks the subtlety of the original story which relied on what you could not see. This film uses CGI to 'show you'. Which is not necessarily a bad thing in general, although at times here it's a bit silly.
Do not approach viewing this film as an adaptation. If you want a filmic version of SJs story - there's the 1960s film.
or my preference the Netflix series which also takes license but is more interesting, believable and in tune with original notions.
