The Haunting Of Hill House Review: 7 Ups & 2 Downs

6. It's An Insanely Atmospheric Slow Burn

Pretty much every single frame and shot in this show contributes towards crafting an atmosphere so thick you feel like you're about to choke on it. Considering that Flanagan and his cast appears to be working within a very familiar haunted house framework, it's not easy to take those tropes and make them feel fresh again.

Flanagan clearly has respect for his audience and has faith in their ability to pay attention even through some more patient, slower sections.

With a smart focus on eerie quiet over bombastic thrills, the writer-director somehow manages to sustain suspense and intrigue over the 10 hours. Considering most horror directors can't even do it for just two hours, it's mightily impressive.

The best thing you can do to get maximum enjoyment out of this show is to switch your phone off, watch it in complete darkness and maybe even wear a nice pair of headphones if you're viewing it alone. You won't regret it, at least until you're heading to bed.