Dr Markway (Richard Johnson) brings together Eleanor (Julie Harris), who experienced poltergeist activity as a child, the psychic Theodora (Claire Bloom), and Luke (Russ Tamblyn), the cynical heir to Hill House. Eleanor, who spent years caring for her sick mother, is thrilled to be part of something at last.
The house is the real star. Built with strange angles and full of heavy decoration, it seems to watch its guests. Wise's wide-angle lens and tilted camera make every room feel wrong.
The famous night scenes are terrifying: loud pounding on the door, voices in the dark, a door that bends inward. None of it is shown, which makes it even worse. Julie Harris's nervous, heartbreaking performance makes Eleanor's descent painfully real.
Its pace is slow, and the inner monologue can feel dated. But The Haunting is a masterclass in suggestion and still one of the most frightening haunted house films ever made.
