When Netflix unveiled its original production, The Haunting of Hill House, in 2018, it instantly became one of the platform’s most adored horror shows. While the jump scares are an exciting flair, the series’ emotional undertones offer an in-depth take on the genre. With plenty of ghosts and a range of complex characters, fans were left wondering if any of the plot is based on a true story.
Although the show feels as if it could have been ripped directly from the pages of a paranormal investigative journal, the truth is that The Haunting of Hill House isn’t based on real events. However, it reportedly draws inspiration from places, including the infamous Winchester Mystery House, which was featured in the 2018 film named after the haunted mansion. Additionally, Business Insider notes that Mike Flanagan’s creepy creation pulls a few ideas from Shirley Jackson’s 1959 gothic horror novel, also titled “The Haunting of Hill House.” The book is said to have been influenced by the early 20th-century paranormal investigations.
Where was ‘Hill House’ filmed?
The Haunting of Hill House follows the Crain family, who in summer 1992, move into the ailing Hill House, with creepy elements like the Winchester. Set in Massachusetts, the couple – along with their children, Steven, Shirley, Theodora, Luke and Eleanor – plan to live in the home, renovate it and then sell it. However, unexpected repairs force them to remain in the residence longer, where they each begin to experience increasing paranormal phenomena.
Although the show is set in Massachusetts, it was actually filmed in Georgia as Atlas of Wonders reports. Exterior shots of the Crain family home came together at Bisham Manor, a four-story castle-like estate in LaGrange, Georgia.
Ironically, former owners Neil and Trish Liechty (who purchased the property in 2013), claim that before Hill House cameras started rolling, they had plenty of real-life ghosts preoccupying the home. In 2018, they told The Blast that music would randomly play and tobacco smoke would often fill the air. According to the couple, at least “four or five” spirits roamed the property, which they sold around 2017.
Interior scenes were shot at Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta, where soundstage sets were built to create the home’s eerie atmosphere. Other standout scenes were filmed in separate locations around Atlanta. Exterior shots of the funeral home where Shirley Crain lived and worked were filmed in Marietta at the historic Whitlock Inn, while Atlanta’s Greenwood Cemetery was used in the series.
What do the kids in ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ represent?
Per TV Insider, each of the Crain children symbolizes one of the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Such symbolism has been a key point of discussion online. Steven (played by Michiel Huisman and Paxton Singleton), the eldest, represents denial. He remains a skeptic for quite a while, refusing to believe in the supernatural or confront what took place in his childhood home. Shirley (Elizabeth Reaser and Lulu Wilson) embodies anger, which stems from her grief and the events of The Haunting of Hill House.
Theo (Kate Siegel and Mckenna Grace) seems to represent bargaining, as she struggles to keep her distance from pain by wearing gloves, which appear to be comforting for her until she finally removes them. Luke (Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Julian Hilliard) represents depression, as he battles addiction to help him cope with the events of Hill House, which have followed him and his twin sister, Nell (Victoria Pedretti and Violet McGraw), for years. She represents acceptance, even for the terrifying “Bent-Neck Lady,” who has tormented her for years.
How did Hugh die in ‘Hill House’?
The patriarch, Hugh, is the anchor of the Crain family. Portrayed by Henry Thomas (young Hugh) and Timothy Hutton (older Hugh), the devoted father and husband is plagued by guilt over his wife Olivia’s (Carla Gugino) death. The suffering of his children also weighs heavily on Hugh.
While his death is not seen, it’s clear what became of him. In the finale of the Netflix original, Hugh allows his remaining children to escape, while he remains in Hill House. This was the ultimate sacrifice, allowing the relentless mansion to take him, the same way it had Olivia, who died there by suicide. It’s heavily implied that he, too, passed away by suicide. Collider examines this decision as one that transforms Hugh’s guilt into a sense of peace.
Who killed Nell?
One of the show’s most memorable twists is Nell’s death, which comes following years of being haunted by the “Bent-Neck Lady.” After being lured back by visions of her late mother, Nell was severely manipulated by the house’s strong forces. This led Nell to hang herself – a fate she’d accepted years prior. What shocked fans most about this sequence was that the “Bent-Neck Lady” was Nell all along.
The apparition was Nell’s future ghost, which had long revealed to her the manner in which she would die. Sadly, the house trapped Nell, forcing her to become the ghost that terrified her younger self. As GamesRadar explains, Nell’s death symbolizes how trauma repeats itself across generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes are in The Haunting of Hill House?
The series consists of ten episodes, all of which were released on Netflix in 2018. It also spawned The Haunting of Bly Manor, which debuted in 2020 with nine episodes.
What is the scariest episode of Hill House?
Many viewers online have agreed that episode five, “The Bent-Neck Lady,” is the most terrifying and emotionally devastating chapter.