You may not believe in ghosts but you cannot deny terror.
The Haunting directed by Robert Wise, from the novel by Shirley Jackson and starring Julie Harris is a frightening story of a haunted house called Hill House. This is the original film from 1963 not the re-make done in 1999. This was a scary film in the 60′s and the story still holds up better than the re-make. While not for young children 11 years and up will like this if they can tolerate black and white films. This is truly a classic ghost story or is it all in Eleanor’s (Harris) mind.
Synopsis by IMDB
Hill House has an evil history with tragic accidents, suicide, and human misjudgement. Dr. Markway (Richard Johnson) is a pyschic researcher who assembles a group with histories linked to the paranormal. Eleanor (Julie Harris) was the subject of unexplained poltergeist activities as a child. She also is riddled with guilt over her mother’s death. Theadora (Claire Bloom) is a clairvoyant who befriends Eleanor at Hill House. Russ Tamblyn plays the cynical scion of the owners sent t make sure that the property is not affected by the researchers. Together the group explore Hill House, and their own insecurities. Director Robert Wise created a taught drama where the real question is who is haunted and who may be unstable.
