The Red Room: The True Meaning Behind ‘The Haunting of The Hill House’s Most Mysterious Room

The Red Room is one of the most terrifying aspects of ‘The Haunting of Hill House’, which is based on Shirley Jackson's book and is full of psychological terror and unsettling symbolism.  This sealed room is kept a secret throughout the series until the last episodes, when it is revealed to be the house's evil heart.

The Crain family tries and fails to unlock the door of the Red Room, giving the impression that it is inaccessible at first.  Later on, it is discovered that the room was actually never locked; rather, it only changed its appearance based on who entered.  It was distinct for each member of the family: a gaming room for Steve, a dance studio for Theo, a reading room for Olivia, and so forth.  Because of its evil flexibility, Hill House was able to take advantage of its residents' vulnerabilities and anxieties.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Red Room's function is what makes it very terrifying.  It serves as the house's gut, digesting visitors and entangling them further in its mystical hold, rather than only being a physical area.  It is a symbol of both security and captivity, gradually poisoning its victims' minds while seducing them with the appearance of safety.  In particular, Olivia Crain succumbs to its power, which results in her terrible destiny and her family's disintegration.

 In the end, the Red Room represents unresolved pain and the way bereavement consumes individuals who are unable to leave it.  It serves as a potent metaphor in ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ for how people fabricate falsehoods to evade confronting unpleasant realities, only to discover too late that they have been imprisoned all along.

–Farheen Ali