10 Small Details You Only Notice Rewatching The Haunting Of Hill House

5. The Porch Light Flashes Twice To Bring Nell Home

Haunting Of Hill House Spooky Pooky
Netflix

Remember when you would be playing outside as a kid, and your mother would call you in because it was getting late? The Haunting of Hill House murders that nostalgia with a chainsaw and turns it into something far more sinister.

In episode two of The Haunting of Hill House, Olivia gives young-Nell a set of instructions: “when the porch light flashes twice, it’s time to come home.” There’s no problem with that inherently unless you’re against even numbers, but come episode five, when Nell returns to Hill House, Olivia’s rule takes a dark turn. Having been drawn back to the house, Nell pulls up the dilapidated building and sits in her car. She calls her father, terrified, but doesn’t get far into her conversation before she sees it – the porch light flashing twice. Nell hangs up the phone and heeds her mother’s call for the final time.

If you missed the flashback where Olivia explained the porch light rule to Nell then the subtle flashes of light in episode five may have been lost on you. If you were a particularly keen viewer, however, this played as one overtly spooky moment.

Contributor
Contributor

Dan is a writer and actor originally from South Australia who now lives in a constant state of anxiety... and Los Angeles. Whether writing about movies, watching movies, or binging the Great British Bake-off, Dan approaches any endeavour with a steely resolve which is rivalled only by his ability to lie about his strengths. For professional inquiries, call Melissa Cropley - Dan's mum; she wishes he would call more often and you'd really be doing him a favour.