By now, American filmmaker Mike Flanagan has made a well-deserved name for himself in the horror genre. Movies such as Doctor Sleep, Hush and Gerald's Game are among the films he's succeeded in and as of 2018, he moved over to the television show industry. It's safe to say he started out with a bang and has got people talking about his success with The Haunting of Hill House. Based on a novel, Flanagan focuses on the Crain family, as they battle family demons and actual demons, alike. The story is heartbreaking and really shows a side of grief within a family that cuts the audience to its core.
Like other television shows, not every secret is caught on screen. There's a lot that goes into the makings of a well-made show and The Haunting of Hill House presents that well. From beginning to end, a show's journey is eventually aired out to the public for everyone's reading pleasure.
Statues Were Often Moved To Give An Eerie Effect
Besides the eerie Easter Eggs that are found in Hill House throughout the series, there are also moving statues. They aren't actual moving statues, but the crew made it seem that way by moving them between scenes to make it appear as if the statues were moving as the Crain family passed them.
Even though the Crain's never noticed, it was an ode to viewers to make them aware and utterly creeped out; as if everything else weren't enough.
Elizabeth Reaser Worked With An Actual Mortician To Prepare For Her Role
Actress Elizabeth Reaser plays big sister Shirley Crain, who becomes a mortician when she grows up. Reaser understandably had no experience with this line of work, so she did as much research as she could on her own by reading articles watching videos and even learning from an actual mortician.
She learned to have an appreciation for it as the mortician's helper explained to her that it's more about putting the person to rest properly, than gore.
Throughout Filming, The Cast Was Disturbed Because Of The Storyline
Actor Oliver Jackson-Cohen mentioned in an interview that the cast was often spooked because of the premise of the storyline. He mentioned that even though the aspect of ghosts and hauntings aren't real, the tie-in with family drama and grief makes it much more terrifying of a story and an experience.
If the show is terrifying to the cast, audiences know that they're in for a treat when they watch.
Initially, There Was More Of A Backstory About The Previous Owners
Throughout the series, there were moments that the audience got to see the history behind Hill House and what made it the way it is at present day. There's a lot of dark experiences swarming this house and viewers may have wanted a deeper look at the past residents that made an appearance throughout.
Initially, Mike Flanagan had that idea too, but decided to stick to the current family and reveal less about the previous owners. In fact, Flanagan mentioned that he was planning on opening every other episode with five minutes dedicated to the history surrounding Hill House, but axed it before final production.
Hidden Figures Can Often Be Seen In The Background Of Shots
A lot of movies and television shows insert Easter eggs into the background to keep things interesting and The Haunting of Hill House had no shortage of these eggs, as well. If viewers didn't see the hidden figures in dark shadows or background shots the first time around, they certainly will now. This was purposeful to really make the house seem like it was filled with unresolved spirits that were interested in the new owners.
Fun fact? Actor Bruce Greenwood, who played opposite of Carla Gugino in Gerald's Game, was one of the hidden figures.
The Original Ending Was Much Darker Than The One Seen In The Show
Even though all of the family (spoiler!) didn't make it out of Hill House at the end of Season 1, that doesn't mean it wasn't a peaceful ending. In fact, Mike Flanagan was planning on creating a much darker ending that involved the entire Crain clan never leaving the house.
Originally, the idea was about the Crain's thinking they beat the house, but the ending would show them all eternally trapped in The Red Room. Flanagan decided it was "cruel" to do so and changed it last minute.
It Was Shot As A Movie, Rather Than A Television Show
Television shows usually opt to shoot each episode individually, but with this television show, things were much more prolonged. Mike Flanagan purposely shot The Haunting of Hill House as a movie that resulted in exhausting scenes and long hours on set. At some points, Flanagan would pair three episodes together to get the best effect possible and it's clear it worked and was something that's doable.
One Of The Main Musical Pieces In The Series Was Composed On A Piano During Lunch Breaks
Pairing with the fact that hidden ghostly figures were seen under the Hill House piano, it was also actually used for the television show's score. Some of the musical themes were composed when people would take breaks from shooting and that is proof that this cast and crew used good time management to pass their extra time.
The Bisham Manor, Where The Series Was Filmed, Is An Actual Haunted House... Supposedly
Sometimes, 100% of the film set for television shows are built for that specific reason; but when it comes to exterior shots of The Haunting of Hill House, they wanted the real thing. Located in LaGrange, Georgia, The Bisham Manor was built in 2002, even though it looks like it's seen at least a century of life.
On that note, other homes have stood in the exact place, dating back to the 1800s, but have been torn down over the years. There's been whispers of this home being haunted, but Ghost Hunters hasn't made it official yet.
There Was Discussion About Burning The Hill House Down In The Finale
Some television shows go to great lengths to make a scene believable and that leads to sacrifices and a bit of pyro fever. When Mike Flanagan was asked about the actual house all the exterior shots were located at, he mentioned that he almost made the decision to burn the place down. He changed his mind when he realized it wasn't right to burn down something so meaningful and change courses.