10 Incredible TV Scenes Shot In A Single Take
2. Two Storms - The Haunting Of Hill House (S1E6)
The Bent-Neck Lady episode of The Haunting of Hill House is such high-quality television, it didn't seem possible for Mike Flanagan's chilling adaptation to top it. But then the next episode said, "Hold my beer."
The Two Storms is a 53-minute episode exploring two alternating storylines that centre around the Crain family, one in the past and one in the present. Though The Two Storms is styled like a oner, there are a few hidden cuts. With that said, it was still daunting to shoot, requiring a month of preparation, as stand-ins had to work their way through the scene repeatedly so that the crew could map out the blocking, lighting, and camera choreography when they shot it for real.
It's worth mentioning that the rain in this episode was achieved without CGI, with the crew instead using a water machine. Due to constant rehearsals, this led to the set being flooded numerous times, only adding further to the complications.
At first, it seems odd to shoot the scene like this, especially since it takes place in two time periods. However, it works in the story's favour since it emphasises how the Crains can't escape their childhood trauma. For this reason, The Two Storms isn't just a technical marvel but an emotional one.