The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNT invites the community to a special screening of ”The Haunting” (1963), with discussion led by senior lecturer Kerry Goldmann, Ph.D.
“‘The Haunting’ [explores] gender, sexuality, psychoanalysis and the occult, [and they’re] all coalescing in one house,” Goldmann said.
The story mirrors a time when women were gaining new independence, and society feared what those changes might bring.
“With horror in general, what we see in the ‘60s is this fearful question about what’s going to happen if women step out on their own,” Goldmann said. “What horrors are out there with this social change?”
The movie’s haunted house feels almost alive, but Goldmann suggested the real terror lies within the characters themselves, especially the protagonist, Nell.
“Nell is this American woman, and she’s breaking down,” Goldmann said. “We’re meant to see this as the death or lull of a traditional sense of womanhood, domesticity and female sexuality. That’s the biggest ghost that is haunting the halls.”
For Goldmann, the film’s subtlety is part of its brilliance.
“We don’t ever really see anything evil. It’s all felt,” Goldmann said. “It’s all in our minds, and our imaginations are forced to fill in the gaps.”
Goldmann believes horror films can teach lessons that traditional lectures can’t.
“When we talk about social ills, it’s something that is really hard to digest, ... especially because as we get older, we become more fixed in our presumptions," Goldmann said. “Horror films are able to puncture and get through to people, to make them see the world differently in a way that proselytizing in a classroom can’t always do.”
Her OLLI events have drawn both newcomers and repeat students, and the learning continues long after the credits roll.
“I’ll get emails from people who want me to connect them with more sources, and sometimes, they’re wanting to say a thought that occurred to them after [the film],” Goldmann said.
Goldmann hopes participants will walk away with a deeper appreciation for both horror and history.
“One thing I want them to take away is culture,” she said. “Even the culture of entertainment is serious business. ... These are really serious historical artifacts that we can learn so much from.”
“[We should] step outside of ourselves a bit and allow ourselves to get lost in the film,” Goldmann said. “[We should] be open minded to the experiences of others, so we can learn through this mode of film and horror and broaden our minds.”
Finally, she hopes the event provides a sense of release.
“A lot of people ... are starting to get into horror more because they feel like they need a release or a reconciliation with the ghosts of the past,” Goldmann said.
She hopes this event gives attendees a chance to experience horror not just for thrills, but as a way to process change and connect with deeper cultural conversations.
This screening is part of OLLI’s Fall 2025 semester, which begins on September 2 and features a variety of other non-credit classes and activities designed to engage lifelong learners across a wide range of interests.
Event details
OLLI at the Movies: “The Haunting” (1963)
- Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2-5 p.m.
- Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 3220 Town Center Trail, Denton
- Cost: $45 per member
