31 More Days of Horror: The Haunting (1963)

Most likely, you've seen this movie in some form.  There are two versions of House on Haunted Hill.  Liam Neeson starred in an OK version alongside Owen Wilson and Catherine Zeta-Jones.  If you've seen any of those then this B&W version starring Julie Harris and Russ Tamblyn is a must see.

Typical of films of this nature, it's the direction that builds the creep factor.  Director Robert Wise (see also: The Day The Earth Stood Still) executes frame after frame of lurking shadows to build tension that drives the viewer to near insanity.

Moody and atmospheric, it's Julie Harris as Eleanor Lance that delights.  Her slow spiral into madness is subtle and perfectly nuanced.  Eleanor is of fragile mind thus her invitation by Dr. Markway (Richard Johnson).  Having survived the only recorded poltergeist experience, Markway hopes to use Eleanor to learn from the Hill House.  But Eleanor might not make the weekend.

The Hill House is perfectly macabre.  Gothic before Goth was cool, the set is eeriely detailed with strange statues, hinges, mirrors, and wallpaper.  Oh God!  The wallpaper!!  The ultimate creep-out is a few wonderfully composed seconds with a door knob.
Wise builds the history of Hill House through Dr. Markway's narrations so the viewer has a heighten sense of awareness, but ultimately leaves you, the viewer to frighten yourself.  To really enjoy The Haunting, you must ask yourself one question.  How good is your imagination?