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The Haunting of Hill House: Where to Watch, Episodes, Cast & Reviews

TV Show Expert

26 Jul 2025 — 9 min read

Enter the chilling world of Hill House, where childhood trauma haunts five siblings into adulthood. Mike Flanagan's masterful adaptation transforms Shirley Jackson's classic into a deeply emotional horror series that explores family, grief, and the ghosts we carry. Discover everything about this Netflix phenomenon.

How Many Seasons and Episodes Does The Haunting of Hill House Have?

The Haunting of Hill House is a limited miniseries consisting of one season with 10 episodes1 2. Originally aired on Netflix on October 12, 20183, the series was designed as a complete story without continuation. Each episode runs approximately 50-70 minutes3 4, making it a substantial 10-hour viewing experience.

The series serves as the first installment in Mike Flanagan's The Haunting anthology series, followed by The Haunting of Bly Manor in 20205. While both series share the same creator and some cast members, they tell entirely different stories with different characters5.

What is the Plot/Storyline of The Haunting of Hill House?

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Hill House** is a modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, following the Crain family across two interconnected timelines1. The story alternates between the summer of 1992, when the family first lived in Hill House, and the present day, as the adult siblings confront their traumatic past1 6.

The 1992 Timeline: The Family's Arrival

In 1992, Hugh and Olivia Crain move into Hill House with their five children—Steven, Shirley, Theodora (Theo), Luke, and Eleanor (Nell)—intending to renovate the mansion as a "flip" project7 6. What begins as a promising venture quickly turns nightmarish as the house reveals its malevolent nature. The children experience terrifying supernatural encounters: Nell is haunted by the "Bent-Neck Lady," Luke befriends a mysterious girl named Abigail, and there's a mysterious Red Room with a door that refuses to open8 9.

As unexplained repairs delay their departure, the house's influence grows stronger, particularly over Olivia9. She begins experiencing disturbing visions and becomes increasingly unstable, believing that her children would be safer dead within Hill House than alive in the outside world9. The traumatic climax occurs when Olivia, influenced by the house and the ghost of Poppy Hill, attempts to poison the children during a tea party9. Hugh arrives just in time to save the twins but cannot save Abigail, the caretakers' daughter. In the chaos, Olivia falls down the stairs and dies, her spirit becoming trapped in Hill House forever9.

The Present Day: Adult Consequences

Twenty-six years later, the Crain siblings remain deeply affected by their childhood trauma1. Steven, now a successful paranormal author, has written a bestselling book about their experiences despite not believing in ghosts—a decision that strains his relationships with his siblings7 9. Shirley runs a funeral home and embodies anger, refusing Steven's "blood money"9. Theo works as a child psychologist, using her psychic abilities professionally while struggling with intimacy7. Luke battles drug addiction, cycling in and out of rehab7 9. Nell suffers from sleep paralysis and continues to be haunted by the Bent-Neck Lady7 9.

The Tragic Reunion

The family is forced to reunite when Nell, after losing her husband and spiraling into depression, returns to Hill House and dies by suicide7 6. Her death serves as the catalyst that brings the estranged family back together, forcing them to confront the truth about their mother's death and the house's malevolent influence6. The series builds to a climactic return to Hill House, where the remaining family members must face their ghosts—both literal and metaphorical—to save Luke and find peace10.

Throughout its narrative, the series explores themes of family trauma, grief, mental illness, and the different ways people process traumatic experiences11 12. The house serves as both a literal haunted location and a metaphor for how traumatic memories can trap and consume individuals and families13 12.

What Are the Casts of The Haunting of Hill House?

The Haunting of Hill House features an exceptional ensemble cast portraying the Crain family across two time periods1 14. The series showcases both adult and child versions of the main characters, creating a multi-generational narrative.

Adult Cast Members:

Michiel Huisman as Steven Crain - The eldest son and skeptical paranormal author1 14
Elizabeth Reaser as Shirley Crain Harris - The funeral home director embodying anger1 14
Kate Siegel as Theodora "Theo" Crain - The psychologist with psychometric abilities1 14
Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Luke Crain - The troubled twin struggling with addiction1 14
Victoria Pedretti as Eleanor "Nell" Crain Vance - The youngest sister haunted by trauma1 14
Timothy Hutton as Hugh Crain (older) - The father carrying family secrets1 15
Carla Gugino as Olivia Crain - The mother whose spirit remains in Hill House1 14

Child Cast Members:

Paxton Singleton as Young Steven Crain2 14
Lulu Wilson as Young Shirley Crain2 14
McKenna Grace as Young Theodora Crain2 14
Julian Hilliard as Young Luke Crain2 14
Violet McGraw as Young Eleanor Crain2 14
Henry Thomas as Young Hugh Crain1 14

Supporting Cast:

Annabeth Gish as Mrs. Dudley - The house caretaker16 14
Robert Longstreet as Mr. Dudley - The house caretaker16 14
Samantha Sloyan as Leigh Crain - Steven's wife16 14
Anthony Ruivivar as Kevin Harris - Shirley's husband16 14
Levy Tran as Trish Park - Theo's girlfriend16 14

The casting particularly excels in matching adult actors with their child counterparts, creating believable family resemblances14. Many cast members, including Kate Siegel and Carla Gugino, are frequent collaborators with director Mike Flanagan and appear in multiple projects within his horror universe14.

What Are the Reviews of The Haunting of Hill House?

Reddit Reviews

Reddit users consistently praise The Haunting of Hill House as "one of the best paranormal horror shows" and a "masterpiece"17. The series is frequently described as "near-perfect" with users highlighting its character development, storytelling, and atmosphere17. Many Reddit discussions focus on the show's hidden Easter eggs, with users discovering background ghosts and details that reward multiple viewings17. The series is often compared favorably to other Mike Flanagan works, with users calling it "the first great horror TV show"17. Some users note the slow pacing initially but emphasize that "it grows on you" and becomes "awesome in the last few episodes"17.

Douban Reviews

On Douban, China's premier review platform, The Haunting of Hill House has achieved an impressive 8.6/10 rating18 19. Chinese viewers particularly praise the series' "cold texture" (冷峻質感) and psychological depth19. Reviews highlight the show's sophisticated approach to horror, noting how it avoids cheap scares in favor of atmospheric dread and character development20. The series is consistently ranked among the highest-rated Western horror dramas on the platform, with nearly half of viewers giving it five stars19. Chinese critics particularly appreciate the series' exploration of family dynamics and trauma19.

IMDb Reviews

The Haunting of Hill House maintains an exceptional 8.5/10 rating on IMDb based on over 313,000 user votes15 21. Individual episodes receive high ratings, with Episode 5 ("The Bent-Neck Lady") scoring 9.5/10 and Episode 6 ("Two Storms") receiving 9.3/1021. User reviews frequently describe it as "HANDS DOWN the best horror series" and praise its meditation on "death, grief and trauma"22. Many reviewers emphasize that it's "equal parts scary and engaging" with exceptional character development22. The series is consistently ranked as one of the top horror shows on the platform22.

Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

The Haunting of Hill House has achieved "Certified Fresh" status on Rotten Tomatoes with an outstanding 93% critics score and 91% audience score23 24. The critics' consensus states: "The Haunting of Hill House is an effective ghost story whose steadily mounting anticipation is just as satisfying as its chilling payoff"24. Critics praise the series as "unusually cerebral and chillingly absorbing"25. The show initially received a perfect 100% rating during its early reviews26, with critics calling it "the first great horror TV show" and describing it as "perfect Halloween bingeing"26. Professional reviews consistently highlight the series' emotional depth, technical excellence, and Mike Flanagan's masterful direction25.

Where to Watch The Haunting of Hill House Online?

The Haunting of Hill House is available exclusively on Netflix worldwide27 28 29. The series can be streamed on both Netflix's standard subscription and Netflix Standard with Ads27 30 31. Currently, there are no free legal streaming options available for the series27 28.

Additional Viewing Options:

Amazon Prime Video - Available for purchase/rental28 32 31
Google Play Movies & TV - Individual episodes available for $1.99 each33
Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu) - Available for purchase32 31

The series is available in multiple regions including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand31. Netflix offers the series with offline download capabilities, multiple subtitle tracks, and HDR support where available29. An Extended Director's Cut is also available on physical media formats for collectors who want additional content and commentary34.

For viewers in regions where Netflix content varies, the series maintains consistent availability across major English-speaking markets31. As a Netflix Original series, it remains one of the platform's flagship horror offerings and continues to be prominently featured in Netflix's horror category29.