The Big Picture Fans of Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese may be surprised to learn that the two directors share a favorite horror movie. When Scorsese was asked to compile his 11 scariest movies of all time, he put 1963's The Haunting at number one. It also had an impact on Spielberg, so much so that he once set out to remake it with Stephen King. Directed by Robert Wise, The Haunting is an adaptation of author Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, The Haunting of Hill House.
The Haunting GHorror Dr. John Markway, an anthropologist fascinated by psychic phenomena, assembles a small team to investigate the eerie Hill House, notorious for its tragic and violent history. Among the group are Eleanor, a fragile woman with a troubled past; Theodora, a mysterious and perceptive artist; and Luke, the skeptical future heir of the mansion.
Related From 'The Sound of Music' to 'Star Trek': The 10 Best Robert Wise Movies, Ranked It'd be Wise to check out this Hollywood legend's filmography. 'The Haunting' Is One of the Seminal Psychological Horror Movies Close Another part of what makes The Haunting so scary is Eleanor’s creeping psychological decline. Screenwriter Nelson Gidden used many exact passages from the novel in voice-overs of Eleanor's internal monologue, where she describes the watchful, seductive power of the house and tries to figure out what the others think of her.