A prosperous man named "Crain" constructs an imposing, gothic-style home in a secluded area of New England, intending it to be a residence for his new wife and daughter. Sadly, she doesn't live long enough to ever reside there. Fast forward nearly one hundred years, and the house stands dilapidated and neglected, now passed down to a relative of the daughter. "Dr. Markway" (Richard Johnson) is set on examining this place, having persuaded the current owner, "Mrs. Sannerson" (Fay Compton), to permit him and his group to definitively determine whether ghosts exist. The house seems like an ideal location for their work, with help from her somewhat unreliable nephew "Luke" (Russ Tamblyn), the spiritualist "Theodora" (Clare Bloom), and the young "Nell" (Julie Harris), who appears unusually attuned to the home's history and hidden aspects. As darkness descends over the following days, disturbing stories emerge concerning this building, involving instances of physical and emotional mistreatment among former inhabitants. Predictably, these events deeply trouble “Nell,” and her anxieties appear to spread as everyone soon becomes frightened by a series of unsettling and unexplainable occurrences within the house. The central question is whether these are supernatural phenomena or if someone’s deliberately manipulating things. This is a genuinely frightening film based on the book, employing dark cinematography, carefully crafted sound design, and noteworthy performances from Bloom and Harris to build an increasing feeling of dread as reason gives way to panic. It's not a horror movie that depends on gore; it's more refined than many similar films, actually creating a sense of danger right up until a conclusion I didn’t see coming. Watching this on a cold winter evening with the wind howling outside would be an excellent experience—though perhaps not for those easily frightened.

Source on TMDB