Netflix's Haunting of Hill House Gets October Premiere Date

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Netflix's upcoming series The Haunting of Hill House receives an October premiere date, alongside a batch of first look preview images. There are certain horror stories that endure throughout generations, earning them multiple film or TV adaptations. Stephen King classics like The Shining, Carrie, and IT have all been adapted more than once for the screen, as have public domain tales like Dracula, Frankenstein, and the terrifying works of H.P. Lovecraft. Another celebrated piece of horror literature to already receive the adaptation treatment more than once is Shirley Jackson's 1959 gothic ghost story The Haunting of Hill House.

The first feature film adaptation of Jackson's book came in 1963, directed by Hollywood legend Robert Wise. Entitled simply The Haunting, Wise's film earned raves from both critics and audiences, as well as praise for its embrace of the old adage that less is more when it comes to horror, and that fear of the unknown and unseen can trump bloody displays of gore when it comes to effectiveness. Conversely, 1999's second movie adaptation, directed by Jan de Bont, was roundly criticized for going the opposite route, stuffing the film full of bombastic CGI scares. Despite a talented cast consisting of names like Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta Jones, Owen Wilson, and Lili Taylor, the 1999 version tends to be dismissed as inferior to both the book and Wise's film.

Last year, Netflix announced that they were set to adapt The Haunting of Hill House again, this time as a TV series. Encouragingly, the series is being created, produced, and directed by rising horror star Mike Flanagan, helmer of acclaimed indies like Absentia and Hush, as well as last year's Netflix adaptation of Stephen King's Gerald's Game. Netflix (via EW) has revealed an October 12 premiere date for Haunting of Hill House, and also provided a batch of new first look images. Check them out below.