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Mike Flanagan has proven his mastery in the art of horror filmmaking, and with successful shows likeThe Midnight ClubandThe Fall of the House of Usher, it’s easy to see why he’s the go-to director when it comes to adapting horror stories for the screen.
Also known for helming the widely acclaimed Netflix seriesThe Haunting of Hill House, the filmmaker knew exactly how to go about the project in a way that would not compromise the story. His familiarity with Shirley Jackson’s novel allowed him to see the elements he could take from it and mold it into a new story that still respects the source material.
How Mike Flanagan cracked the code in hisThe Haunting of Hill Houseadaptation
For those who have read the novel and decided to watchThe Haunting of Hill House, you’d know that they do not share the same narrative. It’s more of a loose adaptation, and it did share many elements found in the book. How didMike Flanaganwork around this project?
When Amblin Partners approached him to bring the story to life through a television series, he told them that it wasn’t possible. “My first response was that you couldn’t do it. It doesn’t fit a ten-hour format,” he said viaDen of Geek.
It also didn’t make any sense to helm another version of the story because Robert Wise’sThe Hauntingalready exists, and it was a spectacular film. Flanagan believed he would not benefit from trying to outdo what the late filmmaker had done. Still, he thought of ways to pull this off and expanded it into a series just as the producers wanted. Finally, he thought,
It was more interesting to break down the book and pull out the characters and the themes and individual moments and pieces of prose… and try to rearrange it.
That’s it – he finally cracked the code and looked at the project as some sort of remix. Jackson’stale of horrortruly only fits a feature film format, and to attempt to stretch it into a ten-episode series would only damage the story.
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What’s the difference between the novel and the TV series? The book is centered on four individuals led by Dr. Montague as they live inside Hill House to test for the existence of ghosts. The show, on the other hand, saw five siblings who returned to the haunted house they lived in when they were young to confront the ghosts of their past.
The Haunting of Hill Houseemerged as a critical success
Flanagan confessed feeling scared at first when he decided to “remix” the story ofThe Haunting of Hill Housebecause he didn’t know how loyal readers of Shirley Jackson would react to his interpretation.
Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass Almost Didn’t Get Made After Every Single Network Discarded It Till This Happened
Thankfully, the show was well-received by fans and critics as evident in its impressive 93% approval rating onRotten Tomatoes. Viewers considered it as an effective ghost story that is grounded on emotions, and, at the same time, provides a chilling and creepy storyline.
The Haunting of Hill Houseis currently available to watch on Netflix.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3532
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
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Mike FlanaganThe Haunting Of Hill House
