We Have Always Lived in the Castle: The next The Haunting of Hill House?

If you loved the Netflix adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House, you might be interested in the upcoming movie We Have Always Lived in the Castle. A trailer was just released for the movie version of Jackson’s final novel, and it looks good!

No doubt, the filmmakers are hoping that We Have Always Lived in the Castle will replicate the gold mine struck by The Haunting of Hill House. Though there are no ghosts in this story, there is still the element of a family in peril, there are murders, and all three main characters suffer from mental disorders.

Castle tells the story of the Blackwood family – or rather, what remains of the Blackwood family. Four of the family members perished six years ago after being poisoned by blackberries sprinkled with arsenic-laced sugar.

Still living in the large home are Uncle Julian, Merricat, and older sister Constance (who is suspected by the townspeople of murdering her family, based on the fact that she took her blackberries with no sugar). Merricat was not at dinner on the fateful night, and Uncle Julian survived the poisoning, although he is now confined to a wheelchair.

Uncle Julian and Constance become homebodies, while Merricat runs errands when needed, enduring taunts from the townspeople. All in all, Merricat and her little family are quite happy in their seclusion.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Courtesy Furthur Films

Everything changes when cousin Charles shows up, and quickly wins over Constance, even though he makes many comments about the money the sisters must be hiding somewhere. Both Merricat and Uncle Julian distrust him, and a wedge is driven between the family members.

Based on the trailer, I am personally very excited about this movie, which is based on one of my favorite books. It was filmed in Ireland, and the sets, scenery and costumes look glorious.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle was named one of Time Magazine’s Ten Best Novels of 1962, and is number six on Goodreads‘ list of the most popular books published in that year. Although this is the first screen adaptation, it was adapted for the stage in 1966, and a musical stage version was presented in 2010.

The film stars Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story, The Final Girls) as Merricat, Alexandra Daddario (Texas Chainsaw 3D) as Constance, Crispin Glover (River’s Edge, Wild At Heart) as Uncle Julian and Sebastian Stan (Once Upon a Time, Gossip Girl) as Charles.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Courtesy Furthur Films

The world premier was held at LA Film Festival in September of 2018, and most reviews were positive. We Have Always Lived in the Castle will be released on May 17, and you can watch the trailer below.

Were you a fan of The Haunting of Hill House? Does the trailer for We Have Always Lived in the Castle make you want to watch it as well?  Let us know what you think in the comments section.