Hill House is a haunted house that’s been the setting of several novels, including The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. It’s also the home of a family that moves in to renovate and sell the property for profit during the summer of 1992. But the Crain family’s stay in the eerie house proves to be anything but pleasant.
The story of Hill House revolves around the Crain family, who move into the mansion with the intention of restoring it and selling it for profit. However, the longer they stay in Hill House, the more paranormal occurrences they experience. The supernatural forces in Hill House cause a tragic loss for the Crains, and it becomes clear that their sanity is at stake.
There are a number of ghosts in Hill House that appear throughout the show, and they mostly seem to appear out of focus in the background. One of the most common ghosts is a woman who appears to be wearing an old fashioned dress. Another is a woman in a wheelchair.
Nell, the youngest daughter of Hugh and Olivia Crain, sees a ghost who’s known as the Bent-Neck Lady, who appears to her when she experiences sleep paralysis, which makes it impossible for her to move or speak. She’s later convinced that the Bent-Neck Lady is her younger self, trying to warn her of the horrors to come.
She also sees the ghost of William Hill, the original owner of the mansion and a man who committed suicide in the house. She believes the ghost is trying to seduce her into murdering him.
Eventually, Nell kills herself in the house and is later found by her father Hugh (Timothy Hutton). He calls her, telling her that she’s dead and that she must move out of Hill House.
Steven, the eldest, and his siblings, Shirley, Theo, and Nell, also begin to encounter supernatural forces during their time in Hill House. They all have different powers, including Theo’s ability to sense monsters and a hand that’s not actually human.
As the series progresses, the siblings learn that their powers are passed down through generations and not from Hill House itself. This enables them to see the spirits of their parents and grandparents, and it also allows them to interact with the dead.
But what do these supernatural powers mean for the Crains in their present? Theo’s ability to pick up information and emotions through touch is a gift from her mother, Olivia. She says that her mother “was very sensitive.”
In contrast, Luke, who’s addicted to drugs and struggling with his mental health, is more susceptible to the spectral presences in Hill House. He struggles to control his anger and anxiety, which leads to him being bullied by his classmates.
The show follows the Crains as they try to cope with their traumatic past and find their way back to each other. The ensemble cast features Oscar winner Timothy Hutton, Carla Gugino and Henry Thomas. Mike Flanagan, a veteran of the horror genre, created this modern reimagining of The Haunting of Hill House and it’s available on Netflix starting October 17. hill house condo