Some of the best jump scares in the horror genre are from movies, but one Netflix show manages to execute one of its jump scares so brilliantly that it easily blows every horror film out of the water.
More often than not, jump scares come off as cheap narrative devices in horror movies and shows, intentionally planted in the story to elevate a viewer’s pulse. They usually feel forced and lack enough narrative heft. However, every once in a while, a movie or show manages to masterfully execute them.
Since jump scares are designed to instill shock, almost all of them effectively leave audiences stunned. However, the best and the most memorable ones are those that linger beyond the initial fright. One of the greatest Netflix horror shows delivers an incredible jump scare that is perfectly rooted in timing and context, staying with a viewer long after it appears.
The Haunting Of Hill House’s Nell Jump Scare Cemented It As Netflix’s Best Horror Show
Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House is jam-packed with several effective jump scares. Almost every jump scare in the series carries narrative heft. However, the best one among them appears almost towards the end of the show. Viewers familiar with the series might have already guessed it was the Nell jump scare from the car scene.
The scene in question begins at the 1:36 mark in the video below:
Jump scares, for obvious reasons, are always meant to catch viewers off guard, so it should not be surprising that the Nell car scene manages to achieve the same. However, what elevates it above other jump scares from movies and shows and enhances its shock value is the sequence’s narrative context and the subtle but unpredictable buildup to it.
Why The Haunting Of Hill House’s Iconic Car Scene Works So Well
The Haunting of Hill House is terrifying in every sense when it comes to storytelling alone. Even the show’s atmospheric cinematography immerses viewers into its drama and forces them to experience the terrors and traumas faced by the central family in the titular house. However, its biggest strength lies in its character beats and the performances of its cast.
There are many engaging sequences in the show that are purely driven by the conversations between the main characters. Even in the car scene, as Cate Siegel and Carla Gugino’s characters argue with one another, it is hard not to fully lose yourself in the raw emotions and anger the two characters display.
However, this is where Mike Flanagan tricks viewers. By leading them into believing that the scene is another portrayal of the central family’s tainted relationships, Flanagan prompts audiences to let their guards down. That is when Nell suddenly pops up from the backseat and screams at her sisters.
Many filmmakers allow audiences to anticipate jump scares either through background scores or subtle visual hints. Flanagan could have achieved a similar effect by unfolding the scene from a front-facing shot that highlighted the empty, dark space in the car’s backseat. However, he intentionally chooses not to give any prior warnings or cues.
Without the warnings, he ensures that viewers end up feeling as helplessly terrified as Cate Siegel and Carla Gugino’s characters in The Haunting of Hill House when Victoria Pedretti’s Nell erupts from the back seat.
The Haunting Of Hill House Puts Even The Best Horror Movies To Shame
What makes the scene from The Haunting of Hill House even more memorable is that one cannot help but chuckle soon after it happens, and its tension de-escalates. Once you start processing the scene as a viewer, you realize that the jump scare came from one of the most innocent characters from the series.
Even in the scene, Nell’s ghost has no ill intentions. She only screams at her sisters because, for once, she does not want her family to argue and expects them to trust one another. The way the scene perfectly manages to portray the ghost’s good intentions while making her look absolutely terrifying speaks volumes about Flanagan’s ability to merge horror with humanity.
Although a lot of horror movies have incredible jump scares, they lack the humanness that Flanagan brings to the table with the Nell scene in The Haunting of Hill House. One of the best movie jump scares from recent memory is from Zach Cregger’s Weapons.
This isn’t a criticism of Weapons‘ jump scare, but rather an explanation of what makes The Haunting of Hill House‘s Nell scene stand out.
The director brilliantly layers one jump scare after another in the sequence where Julia Garner’s character first has a scary nightmare and then suddenly has a vision of Amy Madigan’s Gladys hanging down her ceiling. Even in this sequence, viewers are prompted to let their guards down after the nightmare.
Cregger also distracts audiences by making them focus on the empty space beyond the character’s bedroom doorway before the real threat unexpectedly pops down from the ceiling. However, what makes this different from the Nell scene is that it is supposed to be a display of sheer menace and something sinister that has been stripped of its humanity.
Nell’s appearance in the scene is as scary as Gladys’ in the Weapons scene (if not more), but still evokes feelings of empathy and sorrow once the initial terror fades away.
Mike Flanagan’s Netflix Series Proves That Horror TV Can Be Just As Effective As Films
Horror shows usually have smaller budgets, which significantly limits what they can achieve with CGI. However, Mike Flanagan proves that good storytelling and well-timed practical scares are enough to leave a lasting impact on audiences. The Haunting of Hill House marked Mike Flanagan’s TV debut.
Although he had a few successful horror movies under his belt before he helmed The Haunting of Hill House, he had yet to build his reputation as a master of long-form horror storytelling. With the Netflix show, he not only cemented himself as a visionary horror creator but also proved that horror TV, if done well, can even surpass the cinematic experience both in scale and emotional heft.