Reviews and recommendations on the Compelling Beasts blog are my honest opinion. I purchase the books, comics, and movies that I recommend and review and I do not accept free copies for review.
The Haunting of Hill House starts out scary but with each episode it becomes more than a horror series. It’s a well told drama with characters you grow to care about. It deals with issues that are relevant to everyday people–death, addiction, and the different ways people cope with problems. The ghosts in this series aren’t only the kind that creep around a haunted house–they’re the figurative ones that everyone can relate to, even if you don’t enjoy horror or the paranormal.
Some characters I liked right away, such as tormented Luke who struggled with his addiction. Others, in particular Nell and Mrs. Dudley, I didn’t like at first, but as they developed, they soon became my favorites.
Some parts of the series touched on my personal pet peeves–mostly Shirley’s determination to convince a family that the best way to grieve is by participating in a wake. There is no single correct way for all people to grieve, and her agenda made her one of the more unlikable characters to me.
I enjoyed the way the story shifted from past to present, and most of all I loved that we weren’t left with unanswered questions. You might not like all the answers, but the series is complete, which is always satisfying.
Links courtesy of IMDb.