A Personal Look at ‘The Haunting of Hill House’
The Haunting of Hill House came out on Netflix in 2018, and it quickly gained a lot of attention. The series was created by Mike Flanagan and was inspired by Shirley Jackson’s classic novel. It tells the story of the Crain family and how their lives were forever changed by the time they spent in Hill House. If you're a fan, you've probably read a lot of reviews about this TV series. But beyond the scary story, it actually carries a lot of depth in terms of the pain we carry as people. Who would've thought, right?
Having watched The Haunting of Hill House on my mobile phone whenever I’m traveling to and from work and during my breaks, I’ve had the chance to focus on the story beyond the jump scares (thanks to my reliable cell phone service, of course).
Family Trauma and the Ghosts We Can’t Escape
The red door in The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
It seemed like a typical haunted house story when I first watched it. But as I kept watching, I realized it was really about the Crain family and how this house left scars that never healed. The Bent-Neck Lady was Nell's tragic ending. Luke turned to drugs to numb the pain. Shirley tried to control everything around her. Theo built walls to protect herself. And Steven chose not to believe at all. We all carry our own ghosts in real life. That's what happened to them. Each of them carried Hill House with them even when they weren't living there anymore.
In a psychological sense, the house became a symbol of everything they couldn’t escape. And it’s not purely fictional because many of us carry something similar. It might not be ghosts hiding in the dark, but it could be grief, regrets, or old wounds that still affect us today. The episode where the family gathered for Nell’s funeral should have been a moment to comfort each other.
But of course, that’s not what happened. It only brought out more pain, blame, unspoken resentment, and other emotions they had buried for years. Instead of finding peace, they ended up reopening old wounds that never got the chance to heal.
It’s a beautiful story—scary, yes—but if you’re planning to stream it, make sure you have a fast wireless service so you can enjoy it.
The Heavy Cost Families Pay for Staying Silent
Silence is something many families know too well. Sometimes we avoid the hard talks because it feels easier, or because we’re afraid of what might come out. It's an escape, but unfortunately, silence doesn't make the pain go away. It actually makes it worse most of the time.
The Crains never spoke openly about Olivia’s death, so each child carried their own painful version of what happened. Theo kept her ability a secret, building walls around herself. Luke struggled with addiction, but instead of real conversations, his siblings kept their distance. Steven chose disbelief by shutting down any honest talks about their past. And even the Red Room itself became a symbol of what they didn’t understand or discuss until, well, it was too late.
The moral of the story? Speak up. Talk. Have conversations. Even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. Especially when it’s difficult or uncomfortable, because in most cases, it’s what’s needed to sort out what needs sorting.
If you have family issues, this series might hit you like a truck. But for you to actually understand it, make sure your internet provider is up to the task when you stream, so you can really get a deeper understanding of the story itself.
The Real Ghosts We Carry With Us
The weight of silence, grief, regret, and everything in between is what this TV series is all about. It's not the ghost in the halls or the jump scares that made it trend. And for me, the scariest part of it all is the way we see how avoiding the truth pulled the family apart. That felt all too real, because many of us know how unspoken pain can linger and change the way we connect with the people we love.
The show made me think about my own life and how important it is to face the things we’d rather bury. The Crains carried their ghosts everywhere, and it kept them from healing. I know a lot of people are experiencing the same thing. But I don't want that for myself. In real life, we can choose differently. We can talk, we can listen, and we can face the hard stuff together. That’s the only way to stop the ghosts we carry from following us forever.
The Haunting of Hill House is an eye-opener to us that the real ghosts are the ones we carry with us, and the only way to move forward is to stop hiding from them.
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