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This guide covers Mike Flanagan’s 2018 Netflix series, not Shirley Jackson’s novel or earlier screen adaptations. The 10-episode limited series follows the Crain family, whose childhood in Hill House continues to shape their adult lives. Netflix’s official synopsis puts it this way: “Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.”
Who is in The Haunting of Hill House cast?
The central family is parents Hugh and Olivia Crain and their five children: Steven, Shirley, Theodora, Luke, and Nell. The series moves between the siblings as children and adults, so each of the five has a separately credited younger portrayal. The pairings below follow the principal roles on Mike Flanagan’s project page; it is a substantial guide, not an exhaustive list of every performer.
| Character | Adult performer | Younger performer |
|---|---|---|
| Steven Crain | Michiel Huisman | Paxton Singleton |
| Shirley Crain | Elizabeth Reaser | Lulu Wilson |
| Theodora “Theo” Crain | Kate Siegel | Mckenna Grace |
| Luke Crain | Oliver Jackson-Cohen | Julian Hilliard |
| Nell Crain | Victoria Pedretti | Violet McGraw |
| Hugh Crain | Timothy Hutton | Henry Thomas |
| Olivia Crain | Carla Gugino | Not listed on the project page |
Netflix’s title page also lists Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Timothy Hutton, Henry Thomas, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, Victoria Pedretti, Lulu Wilson, and Mckenna Grace. Its cast field is selective rather than a full credits roll.
Who plays Nell Crain?
Victoria Pedretti plays adult Nell Crain, and Violet McGraw plays Nell as a child. Nell is Luke’s twin sister. Netflix’s episode descriptions connect her story with the Bent-Neck Lady; the guide’s cast identification does not require revealing the mystery behind that figure.
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Who plays the young Crain siblings?
The younger versions are Paxton Singleton as Steven, Lulu Wilson as Shirley, Mckenna Grace as Theodora, Julian Hilliard as Luke, and Violet McGraw as Nell. Their adult counterparts are Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Victoria Pedretti, respectively.
Who plays Hugh and Olivia Crain?
Timothy Hutton plays Hugh Crain as an adult, while Henry Thomas plays the younger Hugh. Carla Gugino plays Olivia Crain, the siblings’ mother. Those roles anchor the story’s family history alongside the five siblings.
Rank #2
- EXCITING THIRD EDITION: This edition of the Betrayal at the House on the Hill game is rich with horror-based content, gaming elements, and characters not seen in previous versions
- HAUNTED HOUSE TRAITOR GAME: Players must work together to survive the nightmare…but beware . The house turns one player against the others in this cooperative strategy game
- GREAT FOR NEW PLAYERS: This 3rd Edition of the game features artwork, rule books, trackers, and cards that will help new players navigate the game and jump right in
- MODULAR BOARD PIECES: The Betrayal at House on the Hill tabletop game features 50 blood-curdling scenarios. Each trip to the house promises fresh horrors and a new story is created every time you play
- MINIATURES BOARD GAME: The game includes 6 finely detailed character figures, each with a removable colored disc, and features 12 diverse characters not seen in previous editions
Which supporting actors appear?
The project page also credits named supporting characters including:
- Anthony Ruivivar as Kevin Harris
- Samantha Sloyan as Leigh Crain
- Robert Longstreet as Mr. Dudley
- Annabeth Gish as Mrs. Dudley
- Olive Abercrombie as Abigail
- Logan Medina as Jayden Harris
- May Badr as Allie Harris
Netflix’s episode descriptions point to the Dudleys’ connections with Hill House and to Mrs. Dudley’s interactions with Olivia. The supporting-role list here is not meant to include every guest or background performer.
Rank #3
- RE-PLAYABLE NARRATIVE BOARD GAME: Tile by tile, terror by terror, build their own haunted mansion and then try to escape it alive. The game is for 3-6 players and takes about 60 minutes to play
- MODULAR BOARD PIECES: The Betrayal at House on the Hill tabletop game features 50 blood-curdling scenarios. Each trip to the house promises fresh horrors and a new story is created every time you play
- HAUNTED HOUSE TRAITOR GAME: Players must work together to survive the nightmare…but beware! The house turns one player against the others in this cooperative strategy game
- MINIATURES BOARD GAME: This second edition of Betrayal at House on the Hill includes 6 pre-painted plastic explorer figures, 80 cards, 149 tokens, 44 room tiles, 2 haunt books, and more
- IMMERSIVE NARRATIVE: Get ready for an unpredictable and thrilling exploration of the haunted house. Encounter witches, dragons, zombies, and other spooky and bizarre B-movie horror clichés
What are the Crain family roles in the story?
The five siblings’ adult lives reflect the different ways they carry their childhood experiences. Netflix’s episode descriptions offer spoiler-light orientation: Steven is a skeptical writer investigating a ghost story; Shirley faces memories connected with loss; Theo’s perceptiveness and work with a troubled young patient are emphasized; Luke struggles with addiction and fears for his twin; and Nell is haunted by the Bent-Neck Lady. Netflix identifies Luke and Nell as twins.
The parents are Hugh and Olivia Crain. Amblin says the family moved into the allegedly haunted house to restore and resell it, and that their summer there changed their lives and afterlives. Netflix Media Center describes the siblings reuniting after their youngest sister’s suicide to confront ghosts of their past, both mental and potentially supernatural.
Rank #4
- Expansion. Requires Betrayal House on the Hill
- Compatible with all editions
- 50 new haunts, 20 new room tiles, 30 new cards (11 items, 11 events, 8 omens), 78 new tokens
- Never before explored new floor THE ROOF.
Is the Netflix series the same as Shirley Jackson’s book?
No. Netflix describes the series as a modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson’s novel. Amblin distinguishes the stories by their central characters: Jackson’s novel follows researchers who visit Hill House to investigate supernatural activity, while Flanagan’s series follows the Crain family. The television story is inspired by the book, not a scene-by-scene adaptation.
| Netflix series | Shirley Jackson’s novel | |
|---|---|---|
| Central characters | The Crain family | Researchers visiting Hill House |
| Format | 10-episode limited series | Novel |
| Relationship | A modern reimagining inspired by the novel | The source work, with a different central story |
If you want to read the book that inspired the series, look for Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House. The Crains and the show’s family plot belong to the television reimagining; they should not be mistaken for the novel’s characters.
What kind of series is The Haunting of Hill House?
Netflix identifies the 2018 series as horror, rates it TV-MA, and lists 10 episodes and creator Mike Flanagan. Amblin also describes it as a 10-episode limited series. The episode count and rating refer to this Netflix series, not to Jackson’s novel.
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