This is supposed to be one of the best haunted house movies of all time? Admittedly, when I watched this the first time as a teenager alone at home at night, I was terrified. But seeing it again now, I must sadly say this is a boring, hardly frightening film with too much talking about how evil this house was. Most of all, the lead character is really annoying. Redeeming parts include some nice camera shots of the mansion, and Claire Bloom, who steals every scene she is in.

Can it really be that I have never seen this before? Bit surprising if true but seemingly so, perhaps the fairly generic title is to blame and in my mind I had always confused it with Legend of Hell House (1973). Very good though the Matheson scripted film is, I find I prefer this. Richard Johnson is splendid in the central chief ghost hunter (he even reminds me a little of my late ghost hunting father!) although I was a little disappointed he lacked all the usual paraphernalia. Where are the tape recorders, temperature gauges, camera equipment etc? Well this is a stripped down, full on spooky tale that concentrates on the main four chapters and their experiences of the house and very well done it is too. Claire Bloom especially shines. From the very opening with the measured and effective voice-over, through the really scary mostly sound sourced effects until the scariest spiral staircase in history and the inevitable denouement, this is a great 'old dark house' mystery that really grips tight.

***contains spoilers for the book The Haunting of Hill HouseThe Haunting wasn't a bad film at all. But compared to Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, it hardly holds up. As someone who's an enormous fan of the book, it hurts to see the characters that Jackson created so carefully misinterpreted. For instance, Eleanor has no feelings for the doctor in the book, and his wife only really exists as comic relief. The addition of this subplot felt unnecessary and very much against the spirit of the book. Luke is far more likable in the book, and the callous, obnoxious version of him in the film is almost unrecognizable. Additionally, perhaps the most unsettling scene from the novel was removed- when Eleanor and Theodora experience a vision while walking outside the house. I liked the cinematography, and the exterior of the house that was used was nearly perfect, but overall, The Haunting feels like the director only skimmed the novel that his film was based on. I look forward to the upcoming Netflix adaption of Hill House, and can only hope the creative team will stay true to the novel's plot.

It's been a long while since I've seen this film, just watched it again recently. I have to say that it's even better than I remembered it to be. I would describe the film as suspenseful and thrilling.The story is good but your average story: a group of people get invited to stay in an old mansion that is haunted... but it's the way this story plays out that is above average.What helps this above average ghost story is the cinematography... the movie is beautifully filmed and it really adds a layer of eeriness and suspense that is beyond what you normally see in a film of this nature.If you are looking for a good ghost story then look no further than this "The Haunting 1963". A great late night movie! 9/10