After 8 Years, Mike Flanagan’s 10-Part Miniseries Masterpiece Is Still The Perfect Binge

In a landscape of shared universes and cancellations, the art of the miniseries has become increasingly vital. From The Queen’s Gambit to Watchmen, these one-season wonders have left legacies on par with 5 or 6-season shows, simply by committing to their endings, putting quality over quantity, and refusing to be swayed into inferior second seasons after phenomenal success.

Mike Flanagan has proved particularly adept at crafting the perfect streaming miniseries. Midnight Mass and The Fall of the House of Usher boasted cinematic brilliance and narrative depth in plentiful supply, and both benefited from sticking to a single season. While Midnight Mass and The Fall of the House of Usher are both worthy of a rewatch, however, it’s a different Mike Flanagan miniseries that’s really worth rediscovering on Netflix.

The Haunting Of Hill House Elevated Mike Flanagan To Global Renown

Nell's ghost in The Haunting of Hill House — Nell’s ghost looking sad in front of the red door in The Haunting of Hill House

Released in October 2018, it was The Haunting of Hill House that turned Mike Flanagan into a horror icon known across the globe. The filmmaker had already delivered a string of fair-to-good horror movies like Oculus and Ouija: Origin of Evil, and truly proved his quality with Gerald’s Game in 2017. Rather than following that acclaimed Stephen King adaptation with another big screen release, Flanagan’s next project would be The Haunting of Hill House as a Netflix miniseries.

The Haunting of Hill House quickly became essential viewing that Halloween, ultimately turning into one of the year’s biggest and most talked about shows, not to mention one of the most acclaimed.

It wasn’t just that The Haunting of Hill House terrified audiences (although we still shiver thinking about the Bent-Neck Lady), it was the depth of character each member of the Crain family possessed. How many other shows blend the intricate family dynamics of shows like Succession and Game of Thrones with the bring-spare-underwear scares of a Blumhouse movie.

Staking his claim as a directorial wizard, The Haunting of Hill House‘s miniseries format created room for a level of risk-taking and visual innovation you wouldn’t necessarily see in a movie or a TV series hoping to get renewed. The almost-one-take episode “Two Storms” is still one of the most impressive feats ever seen on television, and the brutality of the Bent-Neck Lady reveal hits even harder because of the camera racing through time alongside Nell.

The Haunting Of Hill House Is Still Amazing, Even When You Know What’s Coming

Adult Luke in The Haunting of Hill House

A large part of The Haunting of Hill House‘s mass appeal in 2018 was unraveling the show’s many mysteries with friends and fellow viewers. Filled with twists and secrets, the guesses and theories were all part of the fun. As such, it’s easy to look past The Haunting of Hill House as a series worth rewatching today, especially in the fast-moving realm of streaming where the need for fresh content is relentless.

That’s an injustice, because The Haunting of Hill House really is a miniseries designed for multiple viewings. The watch and the rewatch are completely different experiences: one where the viewer plays along with the conceit of not knowing each character’s hidden skeletons, and another where knowing the ending enriches the journey by unmasking details and nuances that would’ve gone unnoticed the first time.

It’s easy to be laser-focused on Mike Flanagan’s next project, but looking to the past and revisiting The Haunting of Hill House will only be a rewarding endeavor.

The Haunting Of Hill House’s Spiritual Successor Is Almost As Good

Hannah standing next to candles in The Haunting of Bly Manor — Haunting of Bly Manor Hannah with candles

While The Haunting of Hill House season 2 was never going to happen, Netflix and Mike Flanagan did follow up with a spiritual successor in the form of The Haunting of Bly Manor.

Despite having a strong story in its own right, the tale of Bly Manor wasn’t quite as frightening, showed less creativity, and lacked the same family dynamic that elevated The Haunting of Hill House. Nevertheless, the secret weapon residing at Bly Manor proved to be the devastatingly good love story between Dani and Jamie, which effectively turned Flanagan’s 2020 series into a gothic romance as opposed to an out-and-out horror.

Of the two, The Haunting of Hill House was sharper, smarter, more polished, and the show that most demands to be watched again and again. But if revisiting Mike Flanagan’s original miniseries leaves you wanting more, a trip to Bly Manor is the best antidote.