Steven Sees a Ghost

A family who lived in what appears to be a haunted house start to relive the horror.

This starts off with a scary atmosphere as we see the Crane family living in Hill House. The imagery used in the opening scenes filled me with dread pretty much from the first few seconds. Having vulnerable characters just about visible in big dark rooms where the background is in darkness never fails to create tension.

The story jumps to different points in time to drip feed information about Hill House and to establish who and where the characters are in the present time. Some are more interesting than others but it did pique my interest in what's to come.

Cinematography, sound and editing are all top notch and have the desired affect. The camera moves with deliberate slowness and make us wonder what could be behind people or round the corner. There are a few great scenes that appear normal on first glance at the image before something is revealed that swiftly makes that same image quite disturbing.

It might not be enough to creep out hard core fans of the horror genre but as its a mini-series it's wise not to use up all the scary sequences too early. That being said there were a few jump-scare moments but really just to set a creepy tone for what is to come.

I am now five episodes in and have gone back to episode 1 for this review to urge patience and enjoy the build up. The first introduces the main sitting (Holl House) and flits between past and present to set the scene. Later episodes explore in more detail each character giving them each the space to breathe and develop as individuals. That is so worth the wait. So enjoy it like a really good meal that is being prepared - don't rush it and dismiss too soon because you expect it all in one go. Just think of it as several courses that make each one taste better. Genuine craftsmanship in telling this story...

'Steven Sees a Ghost' starts the series off on a high note, mixing the right amount of spookiness with a deep dive into family dynamics that are as complicated as they are fascinating. The episode lays down the groundwork for both the supernatural and the emotional hauntings the Crain family faces, with Steven's skepticism about ghosts setting a compelling contrast to the rest of his family's experiences. The storytelling is top-notch, flipping between past and present to slowly unravel the mystery of Hill House and its impact on the Crains. It's not just about the scares; it's the human element, the broken relationships, and hidden traumas that really make it stand out.

What really sets this episode apart is how it balances the horror elements with character development, making you care about the characters while also dreading what's lurking in the shadows. The ending of the episode, where Steven's disbelief is challenged, sets the tone for the entire series, promising more than just your average ghost story. It's an 8/10 for me because while it's incredibly engaging and beautifully shot, there are moments when the pacing slows down just a bit too much, losing some of the tension. However, the eerie atmosphere, combined with the complex characters and their tangled pasts, makes 'Steven Sees a Ghost' a compelling start to what promises to be a hauntingly good series.

This was super well done! And it's only the first episode! The acting is super good so far, even some of the child performances. I also thought the scares were really well done, the opening act being perhaps the spookiest part. Genuinely the most scared I've been in a while. Above all of this, we already have some pretty well established characters! I'm very excited for the rest.

Ok - so 3 bad reviews so far. I'm going to go the opposite and say I really enjoyed it. It's seems people want all action these days, what this programme is doing is taking its time to build story and atmosphere. I feel the comments on the kids acting is pretty harsh as most of them had very little to do in this episode. The scares were good and really enjoyed the last couple of minutes. If it keeps this up it will be a great series.