ted her entire life for something---anything---to happen to her. So, when she receives a letter asking her to take part in an experiment at a historic New England mansion--she jumps at the chance to leave her dull home and start living a new life. This is her chance to find excitement and romance. Instead, she finds a nightmare at Hill House, a mansion with a ghostly and murderous past. What she doesn't know is the experiment is to prove that ghosts are real, and Hill House is full of them. The original owners were a bit twisted and there were several deaths in and around the house. People had been driven mad who stayed there--some committing suicide.
Eleanor arrives at Hill House and before leaving her car realizes that she is in grave danger. The house is rotten and vile. The sense of evil and danger is all around and she quickly feels like she's been swallowed alive by the house. But her life is so bad at home and so boring, that feeling fear is better to her than feeling nothing and being alone. She makes friends with the others... Dr. Markway--the leader of the experiment to prove the existence of ghosts...Luke, a playboyish relative of the current house's owner and a skeptic of the supernatural...and Theodora, a holder of ESP psychic ability and a hint of lesbian interest towards Eleanor. They retire after dinner but, the house introduces itself to them, sending the men on a chase outside after a ghostly dog, and scaring the crap out of the ladies by trying to break down their bedroom door and scratching at the glass window above it.
They tour the rest of the rooms of the house by the safety of daylight. But the frights from the night before have taken hold. There is plenty of tension and bickering between them.
Along their tour, mishaps occur. Luke has a shakeup while on the spiral staircase. While Eleanor almost falls from a balcony. They find cold spots, odd art and learn more about the house's original owners. And more things go bump in the night.
Filled with tension and jealousy, the ladies start picking fights with one another. Theo's esp and reading into Eleanor's thoughts has reached a boiling point between the two. Theo has proved to be like a cat that toys with a mouse and angry that the group--in spite of Theo's charm, beauty and esp--prefers to give their attention to Eleanor. And that includes the house too---it wants Eleanor. That is, until the arrival of the Dr's wife Grace (played by Lois Maxwell--Miss. Moneypenny from several of the James Bond movies. Here playing opposite Richard Johnson who she would have acted repeatedly with had he accepted the role of James Bond) she doesn't believe in ghosts and thinks the whole experiment is stupid and a waste of time. She wants her husband to pack up and leave in the morning. But first they have to get through their final night in Hill House.
The house makes it's move, dividing the group. The Dr and Luke watch it bend doors making them "breathe" with life. While the house manipulates the others into rooms by crashing mirrors and destorying itself. Tricking them into a trap.
The story spirals like the library staircase into a spinning climax...
You'll have to watch the movie or read the book to find out how this classic ends. But you won't be disappointed. There's a reason this movie has stood the test of time and inspired a remake. And considering they manage to scare you and hold your attention for so long with little special effects---just good story telling and acting---and all within a "G" rating----SERIOUSLY it's rated "G" but it's good---you'll jump a few times, trust me :)
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