10 Horror Movies Where You Don't See The Monster
3. The Haunting (1963)
Robert Wise's 1963 masterpiece The Haunting is a sublime exercise in chilly restraint, and much like Cat People favours a minimalistic presentation over splashy jump scares and goofy effects.
And so, the possibility of a supernatural presence at Hill House is defined by the subtle creak of floorboards and slamming doors, allowing the audience to paint a terrifying picture of unseen malevolence in their own minds.
By never showing the entity, whatever it is, Wise is able to keep the reality (or not) of the situation crucially ambiguous, that it could all be imagined by our mentally fractured protagonist Eleanor (Julie Harris).
Sadly Jan de Bont's 1999 remake opted to eschew Wise's subtle approach, festooning the screen with aged-like-milk CGI ghouls, surely contributing to it receiving five Razzie nominations (including Worst Picture and Worst Director).