WATCH: The Haunting of Hill House is the most frightening thing on Netflix

New Netflix horror series The Haunting of Hill House is keeping viewers awake at night (and screaming at their own shadows); making it the perfect watch for Halloween.

The 10-part series is based on a 1959 novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson, and follows the fictional Crain family as they move into (and subsequently out of) a haunted house. Flashing between past and present, we observe the fractured family as they confront the memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.

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Directed by Mike Flanagan, the show has been commended for not relying on cheap jump-scares (though, admittedly there are a few). Rather, the audience is left terrified by intense storytelling; with chilling music, relatable family conflict and experiences of loss.

The cast includes Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones and Orphan Black); Carla Gugino (Spy Kids and Sucker Punch); Henry Thomas (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial); Elizabeth Reaser (Mad Men and Law & Order); and Kate Siegel (Hush and Gerald’s Game).

The response

Since it launched on 12th October, the response to The Haunting of Hill House has been overwhelmingly positive. It holds a prestigious 92% rating on movie review site Rotten Tomatoes and is equally popular among critics and general audience alike.

Posts on social media highlight just how frightening the paranormal series is; with some viewers feeling so scared afterwards that they slept with the lights on and pushed furniture behind their doors.

My girlfriend made me watch Haunting of Hill House this week and then I had to stay alone in this cabin in the woods so I slept with the lights on and pushed the dresser in front of the door DONT JUDGE ME THANKS pic.twitter.com/9kVW3PfZKl

— Jaron Myers (@jaronmyers) October 21, 2018

Finished watching Haunting of Hill House, and God, it scared the hell out of me. Couldn’t sleep properly the entire weekend. Finally there’s something on Netflix that is actually scary.

— Mahad Kazi (@mahad_kazi) October 22, 2018

Haunting of Hill House is GOOD. I normally don’t get scared or actually buy into horror films/shows, but dear god this show is creepy as hell. Super tense the whole way, and there’s been some legitimately scary moments that weren’t jumpscares, which is impressive imo. Go watch 😀

— eU Clayster (@Clayster) October 18, 2018

The Haunting of Hill House is available to stream on Netflix now.

Photo: The Haunting of Hill House, Netflix