The Haunting 1963

Personally, I am a huge fan of classic horror from the beginning of the 1930’s through to the mid 60’s, this film is one of my all-time favourites. Being one of the last true black and white classic horror, what better film to end with than ‘The Haunting’. The story so such a classic old horror tale of a doctor and friends going to Hill House for prove there are such things as ghosts.

The film truly uses the most to the forgotten art of black and white film by having very gorgeous thick visuals. Great depths and stark jet black shadows creates fantastic atmosphere for a haunted house tale. It is filmed so well that as an audience member you are always looking around the corners and into shadows just to make sure everything is ok and settle your nerves. This is what the horror is here and one of the most common and oldest fears, alone with ghosts!

One of the final scenes just sums up the films great direction for me. When Eleanor is making her way up the old crooked spiral stairs. She’s hearing voices once again and now she has to know if there truly is a ghost up in the attic. Making her way up the stairs followed by a beautifully progressive score, the shadows become thicker and darker. The doctor is following behind but the stairs are unstable. She is moving faster and closer to the top and the wining becomes louder along with the score. Finally at the top the doctor grabs her and she comes out of her trace and falls into the doctors arms. As they make their way down the stairs the ghost of Mrs Marquay doesn’t shout or scream but just filters through the darkness and just stares.

This moment as a child petrified me. I found the silence of her movement so haunting. The witnessing of a ghost in this film is done with true perfection.