Calling All The Haunting of Hill House Fans!

I know, I know, one is considered horror and the other more of a subgenre, a psychological thriller, but hear me out…

Not to shame present day filmmakers, but finding a bone-chilling, nail-biting, fuzzy blanket pulled up over your nose, can’t sleep with the lights off horror movie or show, today – it’s a rarity. Sure, there have been some exceptions. Rarely though, have I found a movie that gives me the chills like watching Karen Black, the original mistress of the dark, portray terror on the screen in such a way, my teeth clench to keep from screaming with her!

Perhaps my love of horror stems from my unconventional upbringing. Let’s just say my mother allowed us kids to watch cult classics like Sleepaway Camp and Motel Hell while other kids were captivated by anything Disney and a hand puppet named Lambchop on Saturday mornings. Was I traumatized as a child by this uncensored and often encouraged right of passage? Probably. Did I allow my kids to follow suit? Absolutely not. However now, I find myself in a horror movie lull. Where has all the “acting” gone in horror flicks of today?

Fellow horror fans of the Netflix show, The Haunting of Hill House, rejoiced at true nod to the genre, an instant classic, rightfully so seeing as it was based on Shirley Jackson’s legendary novel. The acting was incredible, conveying the horror of the unknown across millions of screens, forcing many to fear dark corners and locked doors. When it ended, fans immediately started discussions on a second season and what would that entail. Of course, some were heavily disappointed that there would not be a second season of Hill House, instead a second production from Mike Flanagan sharing a new, stand alone story. In the follow-up, The Haunting of Bly Manor leads us to an eerie manor poised in the English countryside with mysterious vibes emanating almost immediately. While fans of the first season were initially hesitant, most came around. The essence of what made The Haunting of Hill House such a hit was applied in Bly Manor. That psychological thriller base, a must for any genuinely good horror story, needs to be firmly in place to add additional elements that work with the storyline and not against it.

Now, awaiting to see if an additional chapter in The Haunting… series will be produced has left a void for many scare fanatics.

Until Netflix released Behind Her Eyes.

Behind Her Eyes is based on the novel by Sarah Pinborough, then adapted by Steve Lightfoot for a British web series, then onto Netflix. Labeled as a psychological thriller, those same elements we loved from The Haunting … series are in play here. Episode one opens with a young woman, Louisa, awaiting a friend to meet for a rare night out at a pub. Realizing she has been stood up by her gal pal, she decides to leave, abruptly spilling a man’s drink on her exit. After some flirtatious exchanges, the pair sit down and enjoy an evening of laughs and deep thoughts, ending the night with a kiss, visibly regretted by the man who profusely apologizes as he departs her company. Refraining from divulging too much, this series offers horror fans a little bit of everything, mystery, thriller, drama, paranormal, and romance, much like The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor. The plot has several mind bending twists that keep viewers engaged as we follow the story line, changing our predictions with each new revelation.

Behind Her Eyes doesn’t label itself as a horror movie, but it clearly hits all of those classic psychological horror elements – characters we care about, a villain, evoking fear of the unknown, tension evolving story line, and a twisted ending. Jump scares aside, there are plenty of other thrill inducing emotions viewers will endure watching this unique story unfolding on their screens.

If you are missing The Haunting... series, Behind Her Eyes will help fill that emptiness and leave you craving more!

This one my fellow horror fan, gets it right!