The Crane family thought that they had escaped the clutches of the insidious Hill House when they left all those years ago, but something is calling them back.

Mike Flanagan’s (Oculus/Gerald’s Game) 10-part adaptation of the 1959 Shirley Jackson classic features an impressive opening episode that delivers chills, thrills and twists. Even before the opening credits have rolled we’ve had our first fright, and it gets chillier from thereon in. Unlike many recent horror movies which think that a sudden jump counts as a real scare (yes, we’re looking at you, The Nun!) the frights here are carefully built up and layered and accordingly far more effective.

Jackson’s novel is perhaps best known for its 1963 movie adaptation starring Julie Harris and Claire Bloom, and more forgettably for Jan de Bont’s 1999 clunker with Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Recognising that the novel wouldn’t stretch to 10 hours, Flanagan has taken the source and expanded it to include new characters and situations while still keeping the essence of the original.

The first episode does a good job of introducing the Crane parents and siblings, both in present day and the past. What could have been overwhelming or confusing is well-managed by focusing on a single character and then flipping to and from in their timelines. The director has also dipped into his own repertory group by bringing in his previous leading ladies Carla Cugino (Gerald’s Game) and Elizabeth Reaser (Ouija: Origin of Evil) as well as Henry Thomas (Gerald’s Game). There’s also strong support from Timothy Hutton (The Dark Half) as the elder Hugh Crane and Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones) as son Steven.

Verdict: A thrilling opener that introduces the main players as well as the titular haunted house. Hold on tight for the horrors to follow! 9/10

Nick Joy