I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t seen Robert Wise’s film of The Haunting (1963); nor have I read Shirley Jackson’s acclaimed novel The Haunting Of Hill House. I am, however, familiar with Jan de Bont’s film version of The Haunting (1999). Despite Stephen King’s early involvement with the production, The Haunting never really meets its potential.
My issue with de Bont’s film is that the back story surrounding Hugh Crain is far more interesting than any of the characters that his phantom torments. Which isn’t to say that the details we learn about Hugh Crain really make any sense, but they do conjure a very strong Gothic atmosphere. The film does work primarily due to Lili Taylor (she’s amazing in everything she’s in). Always vulnerable, but never weak or dependent, Taylor’s performance as Nell keeps all of the pieces of the film together.
Owen Wilson’s decapitation may be the most memorable part of The Haunting, but the most compelling is the off handed queerness of Nell’s relationship with Theo (Catherine Zeta-Jones) which is largely staged around each other’s beds. In the scene where the women first meet there’s a deliberate POV shot from Nell’s perspective where she “checks out” Theo’s breasts. Add to this the fact that the Owen Wilson character Luke consistently speaks of his sexual desire for Theo but we never see the two interact except for when Theo confides in Luke her concerns for Nell’s well being. Whether or not the relationship between Theo and Nell was intentionally designed to be queer I do not know; but it does add an intriguing flavor to a “run of the mill” horror picture.
