Mike Flanagan's excellent and deeply moving Netflix Original horror series The Haunting of Hill House remains one of his best works and one of the best Netflix shows ever released. It's a brilliant series with stunning performances and eloquent writing across the board. And while it wasn't Flanagan's first project, it was the one that really catapulted his name and made everything he touches a must-watch for horror fans.
After The Haunting of Hill House, many of us (myself included), had to go back and watch everything he'd ever touched and continue to follow his career to this day. For those looking to watch something similar to The Haunting of Hill House, the following guide offers some great recommendations, several of which come from Flanagan's own Letterboxd list recommending companion films and shows! Definitely check out his official list for even more options.
The Haunting (1963)
Before The Haunting of Hill House there was The Haunting, the brilliant first adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel. Director Robert Wise and the production design team on this film worked hard to create and incredibly detailed Hill House set for the actors to work within. Wise’s adaptation is much closer to Jackson’s original work, making it a great companion to Flanagan’s show. Many consider The Haunting to be a classic horror film and one of the pioneering “haunted house” films.
The Others (2001)
This 1945-set gothic psychological thriller starring Nicole Kidman is still revered as one of the scariest and most suspenseful ghost stories of all time. The Others is genuinely a masterclass in tension-building, not many other films come close to what writer/director Alejandro Amenábar accomplished here.
Kidman plays Grace, a mother to two children afflicted with a light sensitivity that makes it so they must avoid sunlight. Because of this, Grace keeps all of the house drapery closed by day. She hires servants to help attend the sizable manor and not long after they arrive, the children begin experiencing terrifying supernatural phenomena.
Hannibal
Hannibal is a great choice for anyone who enjoyed The Haunting of Hill House but wants to follow it up with something even darker, especially if you're into more crime-heavy series. Like the title suggests, the NBC series is based on the characters from Thomas Harris' original novels, including Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham. The show is quite different from the movies, however, and that's a good thing! It makes for a very compelling and sinister character study of its main characters.
The Lovely Bones (2009)
Tonally, The Lovely Bones has a lot in common with The Haunting of Hill House. Both the film and the Netflix series have a relatively somber and melancholy tone. They're also rooted in familial relationships and the exploration of grief.
Based on Alice Sebold's novel of the same name, Saoirse Ronan stars as a young girl who is kidnapped and murdered, resulting in her spirit going to a purgatory-like place where she can watch over her family. She becomes conflicted between moving on and trying to get revenge on her killer.
Six Feet Under
While not featured as a choice you can add to your diary on Letterboxd, Flanagan specifically mentions that Six Feet Under was one of his most significant influences on The Haunting of Hill House in the description for his list, describing the series as "gorgeous" and featuring one of the best series finales of all time. His opinion on the show are the majority, as many people love this HBO show about the complicated family at its heart who own and operate a funeral home.
Lake Mungo (2008)
A psychological horror story filmed documentary-style, Lake Mungo is frequently praised as being disturbing and I think it is, but based on my experience with the film, you'll get a lot more out of it if you're really willing to embrace its premise.
Try to view it as a genuine documentary, something real, and watch it alone, in the dead of night. The ambiance and environment where you watch this one makes a big difference, in my humble opinion. Lake Mungo revolves around a girl named Alice who supposedly drowns while swimming. But when her family begins to investigate her death, they begin to unravel some of Alice's many dark secrets.
Oculus (2013)
Out of all of Flanagan's projects, this is the only movie he added to his Haunting of Hill House companion list, which I think makes it an important one to watch if you haven't already.
Adult siblings Kaylie (Karen Gillan) and Time (Brenton Thwaites) are still haunted by the violent and mysterious deaths of their parents a decade earlier. They believe that the misfortune plaguing their family could be linked to an antique they had in their own, a mirror called the Lasser Glass that infects the mind of anyone who looks into it.