It all began in 1764, when an author named, Horace Walpol, created a set of nine gothic elements to add suspense and mystery which he included in his novel, "Castle of Otrnanto". In the film, The Haunting, Dr. Merrill is in charge of a fear experiment, but misleads the volunteers to thinking it is an experiment for insomnia. Along with the other house guests, he is unaware of the ghostly presence that exists in the Hill House. Gothic elements such as metonymy of gloom and horror, omens, and supernatural events can be seen in the film, The Haunting.
             The metonymy of gloom and horror is a reoccurring gothic element throughout horror stories which includes squeaky doors, wind blowing, and children crying. When Eleanor first enters the castle, she cannot see Mrs. Dudly, but only hear footsteps and doors shutting. This causes her to be nervous about what she hears and cannot see which might conform ghostly images in her mind. At night, sounds of children crying out "Find us Eleanor. . . Oh, Eleanor", can be heard in Eleanor's room. Nobody believes her and suspicions of her mental stability cloud the others' minds, so while Eleanor feels she needs to help the children the rest feel she has gone insane. After sunset, sounds of doors opening and closing can be heard throughout the monstrous mansion. Since there are only a few people in the house, who for the most part stay close together, it seems like a power greater than them is also present. Without the essential element of metonymy of gloom and horror, obtaining the mood of the story would be difficult just as it would be without the gothic element of omens and visions.
             The element of omens, portents, and visions is a helpful and descriptive resource in the sense that it gives us a look at who or what it is that is haunting the film's characters. Eerie portraits of the original owner, Hugh Crane, and his second wife, Carolyn, along with statues of children fill the Hi...