Hugh Crain

Hugh Crain is the antagonist of the, its film, and the subsequent remake.

The Haunting of Hill House
Hugh Crain is shown as a tragic villain and somewhat of a womanizer. He had several affairs; his first wife died when she set foot on the House's grounds.

His second wife died when she was returning home and her carriage hit a tree. Hugh was devastated by this and he became a recluse.

It is implied his ghost is the main one who haunts the House.

[[wikipedia;The Haunting (1963 film)|The Haunting
Hugh Crain's story is given as a reason why the Hill House is haunted. Crain married several times and was unsuccessful, all his wives died.

Crain is implied to have been Eleanora's grandfather, and is driving her mad with visions of the past. Hugh is implied to have been the ghost responsible for Eleanora's death.

The Haunting remake
Hugh Crain's role is explored and expanded into that of a villain. Hugh was said to have always wanted children, but in his failure to get natural children from his wives dying he abducted children from the mills round his town and tortured and killed them in his House to be his family.

Hugh Crain's ghost begins threatening the guests upon their arrival by having a piano chord unscrew itself, fly down and scar the assistant when she was about to say Crain was the killer. Next Hugh possesses several objects in the building. He haunts Eleanora and Theodore outside their room by knocking and banging on their door at night. Then he lures Eleanora to an empty room which door is locked; his giant hand erupts out of the door and punches Eleanora out.

Hugh Crain's ghost almost drowns the professor when he realizes he has to leave by possessing a giant statue. When Luke demolishes Hugh's portrait, Hugh goes angry and drags Luke at the fireplace, where he smashes Luke's head off. Then, he manifests. Hugh appears as a giant hooded ghost sneering at them. But Eleanora urges the ghosts of the children to fight him and she banishes Hugh into Hell.