In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, we begin a two-part discussion of The Haunting of Hill House, focusing on Episodes 1 through 5. We start by tracing the series’ literary roots back to Shirley Jackson’s original novel, a foundational work of psychological horror that reframed haunted houses as emotional spaces shaped by grief rather than simple sites of terror. We also acknowledge earlier film adaptations, The Haunting (1963) and The Haunting (1999), before examining how Mike Flanagan reimagines the story for television, shifting the emphasis from a single haunted location to a fractured family haunted across decades.

From there, we break down the opening episodes of the series, beginning with “Steven Sees a Ghost,” which establishes Hill House as a living presence and introduces the Crain siblings as adults still shaped by childhood trauma. Steven’s skepticism and denial, Shirley’s obsession with control, Theo’s guarded empathy, Luke’s addiction and bargaining, and Nell’s growing isolation form the emotional backbone of the show. Rather than treating these characters as archetypes, the series positions them as embodiments of the five stages of grief, each coping differently with the same formative loss.

As the episodes progress, we explore how funerals, addiction, psychic sensitivity, and sibling estrangement function as extensions of the haunting itself. The Bent-Neck Lady is introduced not simply as a ghost, but as a mystery tied to time, memory, and inevitability, culminating in Episode 5’s devastating revelation that reframes the entire series.

Throughout this discussion, we return to a central question: is The Haunting of Hill House more effective as a horror series or as a family tragedy, and does the distinction even matter?

This episode examines how trauma lingers, how grief reshapes identity, and why Hill House continues to follow the Crain family long after they leave its walls.

In 2026, So, You Like Horror? turns its focus to horror television and how fear unfolds over time. Across twelve episodes released throughout the year, the show will examine how episodic and serialized horror builds tension, develops character, and reflects cultural anxieties in ways that film often cannot.

Each month centers on a single series, exploring themes, narrative structure, historical context, and why the show continues to resonate. The lineup spans decades, formats, and audiences, from gateway horror and classic anthology television to modern prestige streaming series.

The 2026 series schedule includes The Haunting of Hill House, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Midnight Mass, The Twilight Zone, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Tales from the Crypt, Welcome to Derry, True Blood, Black Mirror, The Fall of the House of Usher, Lovecraft Country, and Them.

This year isn’t about rankings or shock value. It’s about understanding how horror changes when it has space to linger, how fear evolves through repetition, memory, and time.

New episodes release every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month throughout 2026. Watch along, revisit the shows, and explore what horror television reveals when the story doesn’t end after two hours.

Thank you, everyone, for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠@so_you_like_horror⁠⁠⁠ or email us directly at soyoulikehorror@gmail.com. We're open to all conversations, suggestions, topics, and criticisms.

In this episode, I take a solo look at Black Christmas from 1974, a film often cited as a precursor to the modern slasher but better understood as a study in atmosphere, ambiguity, and unease. Set during Christmas break at a sorority house, the film builds tension through obscene phone calls, off-screen violence, and the unsettling idea that the threat is already inside the home.

Rather than focusing on gore or body count, Black Christmas relies on restraint, long takes, silence, and point-of-view shots that deny the audience clarity or comfort. The killer remains unseen and unexplained, turning absence itself into a source of horror. I discuss how this creative choice separates the film from later slashers and why its refusal to provide answers is central to its impact.

The episode also explores themes beneath the surface, institutional failure, dismissal of women’s fears, and the collapse of perceived safety. I examine the film’s bleak ending, its influence on later horror, particularly Halloween, and why Black Christmas still feels unsettling more than fifty years after its release. This is a conversation about dread over spectacle and why ambiguity can be more disturbing than resolution.

Thank you, everyone, for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠@so_you_like_horror⁠⁠⁠ or email us directly at soyoulikehorror@gmail.com. We're open to all conversations, suggestions, topics, and criticisms.