When couples marry they agree to be united 'til death do us part'; a romantic notion that takes an ominous turn in The Haunting of Bly Manor. This gothic romance explores the lengths at which we will go to be with those we love, even when that means staring into the ghostly face of death itself. Adapted from the works of Henry James, this series weaves a tapestry of interlocking tales of love, loss, regret, and redemption that is guaranteed to make your spine tingle and your heart ache. Blending real life fears with supernatural frights The Haunting of Bly Manor crafts an intricate puzzle that is certain to haunt audiences long after its final episode is viewed.
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| There's no place like home... |
The story begins in 1987 London as American teacher Dani Clayton accepts a job working as a nanny to two young children at a sprawling country estate. In spite of the staff's warm welcome, Dani immediately senses that all is not as it appears at Bly Manor. While the children, Miles and Flora, are every bit as clever and talented as their uncle described they are also in the throes of grief after the recent loss of both their parents and their former nanny. Although the staff dismisses the siblings' unsettling behaviors as harmless coping mechanisms, Dani quickly begins to suspect that something more sinister is at play. Centuries of tragedy and trauma collide forcing each of the estate's residents to confront the darkness lurking within both the walls of Bly Manor and the confines of their own souls.
Critics and fans alike have lamented that The Haunting of Bly Manor is not as scary as its 2018 predecessor, The Haunting of Hill House, but in my estimation, it is in many ways even scarier. While the halls of Bly Manor may not contain the obvious thrills and jump scares that seemed to wait around every corner of Hill House they do reveal something altogether more terrifying. Whereas The Haunting of Hill House used a host of gruesome ghouls as apt metaphors for childhood trauma, The Haunting of Bly Manor explores the all too real psychological horrors that we inflict upon ourselves and those we love. The series then adds another layer of terror to its proceedings by highlighting the ways in which that same pain and suffering can live on even after we die. Even as it captures the foreboding spirit of classic gothic literature The Haunting of Bly Manor pushes beyond genre limitations to explore existential questions surrounding memory, mortality, and isolation that will leave even the most self-assured of viewers pondering the ghosts in their own lives As the series' central mystery unfolds each of its clues proves more unnerving than the last as it gradually builds to a conclusion that is nothing short of devastating. For a ghost story which is sure to haunt you long after its final credits roll be sure to pay a visit to Bly Manor.
The haunted happenings at Bly Manor come to eerie life thanks to the expert work of the series' cast. The Haunting of Hill House alums Victoria Pedretti and Oliver Jackson-Cohen return in roles that could not be more different than their turns as tortured twins Nell and Luke. Pedretti infuses her performance as Dani with warmth and strength in equal measure. Jackson-Cohen conveys con-man charm and an underlying menace in his magnetic turn as valet Peter Quint. Henry Thomas also returns and outshines his performance in The Haunting of Hill House in his tormented portrayal of the children's uncle, Henry Wingrave. Tahira Sharif is nothing short of hypnotizing as the children's first nanny, Rebecca Jessel and portrays Rebecca's downward spiral with heartbreaking realism. T'Nia Miller steals each scene in which she appears as the manor's loving but haunted housekeeper, Hannah Grosse. Rahul Kohli is endlessly endearing as the manor's good natured chef, Owen Sharma. Amelia Eve infuses gruff gardener Jaime with a wit and charm that is nothing short of infectious. Amelie Bea Smith and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth both turn in star-making performances that belie their years as Flora and Miles.
Throughout the series the characters describe Bly Manor as 'a great, good, place', a description that applies equally well to the series that bears its name. Through its maze of plot twists and emotional turns of the screw the series weaves a spell which will keep viewers captivated long after they leave the grounds of Bly behind. Thanks to the expert work of its cast the series pays a heartbreaking homage to classic horror while still offering plenty of fresh chills. For viewing to die for, treat yourself to a perfectly splendid stay in The Haunting of Bly Manor.
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| What, me creepy?! |
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