Dr. John Markway invites three distinct individuals to the eerie and isolated Hill House to be subjects for a sleep disorder study. The unfortunate guests discover that Markway is far more interested in the sinister mansion itself — and they soon see the true nature of its horror.
The artful cinematic strokes of director Robert Wise and staff are not quite enough to override the major shortcomings of Nelson Gidding's screenplay.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
25 Sep 2007
fresh:
Pretty effective when it came out; it may be a little stiff in the joints by now, but it's still a much better scare show than the recent stinker remake.
– Jonathan Rosenbaum,
Chicago Reader,
25 Sep 2007
fresh:
What makes the film so effective is not so much the slightly sinister characterisation of the generally neurotic group, but the fact that [director] Wise makes the house itself the central character, a beautifully designed and highly atmospheric entity.
– Derek Adams,
Time Out,
23 Sep 2006
rotten:
Makes more goose pimples than sense.
– Bosley Crowther,
New York Times,
9 May 2005
rotten:
People stare about in terror and squeak: 'The house, it's alive!' The picture, it's dead.