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Entertainment • TV Series

The Haunting of Hill House

The Haunting of Hill House is a 2018 American horror drama miniseries created by Mike Flanagan for Netflix.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Haunting of Hill House is a 2018 American horror drama miniseries created by Mike Flanagan for Netflix. It is a loose modern adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel, following the Crain family across two timelines as they deal with trauma, grief, and supernatural events tied to Hill House. The series is available to Canadian viewers through Netflix, a platform that also distributes series such as Stranger Things season 5.

Premise

The series follows the Crain family before and after their time living in Hill House, where they encounter escalating paranormal events. The narrative moves between childhood and adulthood as the family confronts the long-term effects of the house. The series is an example of a television drama that explores complex family dynamics, a theme also central to series like Euphoria (TV series).

Production

Mike Flanagan created the miniseries for Netflix as a modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson’s novel. The series was produced as a 10-episode run and premiered in October 2018, adding to Netflix's library of original scripted series such as Obsession (2023 TV series).

Cast and characters

The ensemble cast portrays the Crain family across two timelines, with different actors playing the children and their adult counterparts. Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, and Timothy Hutton are among the featured performers.

Reception

The series received notable attention for blending supernatural horror with family drama and psychological themes. It was widely discussed as an emotionally driven horror series and led to further interest in Flanagan’s Netflix projects.

Key facts

  • The series is a loose adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel rather than a direct retelling.
  • It centers on the Crain family, whose experiences in Hill House affect them into adulthood.
  • The story alternates between flashbacks to 1992 and the characters’ adult lives.
  • Mike Flanagan created the series and Netflix released it in 2018.
  • The series was followed by a separate anthology installment, The Haunting of Bly Manor.
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Canadian context

The series is available to Canadian viewers through Netflix and is part of the broader international popularity of streaming-era horror television among Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Haunting of Hill House based on a book?
Yes. It is a loose adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel of the same name.
Who created The Haunting of Hill House?
Mike Flanagan created the Netflix miniseries.
How many episodes does it have?
The series has 10 episodes.
When did it premiere?
It premiered on Netflix on October 12, 2018.
Is it a direct adaptation of the novel?
No. It keeps the Hill House premise but changes the story and characters significantly.

References

  1. Netflixhttps://www.netflix.com/title/80189221
    Supports: Official listing for the series; confirms year, episode count, rating, genre, creator, cast, and premise.
  2. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haunting_of_Hill_House_(TV_series)
    Supports: Provides detailed series information including plot, cast, and production context.
  3. TVmazehttps://www.tvmaze.com/shows/29191/the-haunting-of-hill-house
    Supports: Confirms format, episode count, network, genre, creator, and series status.
  4. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_haunting_of_hill_house
    Supports: Supports synopsis, creator, network, genre, and release date details.