10 Great Horror TV Shows That Will Crush Your Soul
2. The Haunting Of Hill House
Though Mike Flanagan has helmed numerous horror shows, few have been as crushing as his first mini-series, The Haunting of Hill House. Based on Shirley Jackson's novel of the same name, the chilling saga centres around the Crain family, who've been left estranged and traumatised by their experience growing up in a haunted mansion.
As unsettling as the spirits are, watching the Crains coping with their unresolved issues is worse. Although they escaped the house in their youth, the psychological torment continued to hound them for decades.
The supernatural elements serve as a metaphor for their pain, making the characters' struggles appear more raw. Luke finds himself being stalked by a hovering spectre when his drug addiction acts up. Watching Nell being tormented by the Bent-Neck Lady is visceral, especially after the ghost's identity is revealed.
Although the malevolent force within the titular building is fantastical, it realistically conveys how trauma can consume people's lives. The Crains are in so much turmoil, they return to Hill House to find closure, oblivious their presence is feeding the demonic entity. Instead of putting a stop to the cycle, they allow themselves to be drawn by the very thing that's killing them.