Starring: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Lili Taylor
Rating: ***
The Haunting is a fairly inane movie. A couple of times during this alleged horror movie, I was startled. Being startled is not the same as being scared. The acting is perfunctory at best. The sets, however, are stunning.
- Basic Plot
- Dr. Marrow (Neeson) entices some insomniacs to spend time at Hill House to be "cured". In reality, he wants to study the reactions fear produces in people, and he knows the reputation of the house. Nell (Taylor) begins hearing voices and experiencing other "supernatural" phenomena shortly after hearing the history of the house. Non-hilarity and non-scariness ensues.
- What I Didn't Like
- It's easier to read the section on what I liked and then extrapolate from there that anything not mentioned is something I didn't like. That would be pretty accurate. In particular, the passage of time is scoffed at, or even just plain ignored. Two characters that appear destined to play bigger parts from the beginning are taken out rather unexpectedly and for no good reason. They at least would have been good ghost fodder.
- What I Liked
- The sets are gorgeous. The set decorators obviously had a blast going wild with the different rooms. Very ornate, stunning, ond massively over-sized, I'm sure watching this movie on my 27" tv did not do it justice visually, yet the visual is the only part of the movie I liked. The mansion looks fairly spooky. The effects are fairly spectacular as well, though the story is kind of outlandish at the use of some of them. (i.e., effects good, story bad)
- Spiritual Content
- The idea that we are held here after our death for unfinished business just doesn't fly with me. Our lives are the timeframe we have to take care of our business here on earth. Once we die, that's it. We'd like to think there's one more chance to make it right, and it would be great if that were true. But, accepting the Bible as the inspired Word of God, I find nothing in there to indicate a second chance after this life, but I do find many things indicating that we do not have this option.
- Recommendation
- There are several reasons to watch this movie: to see how poorly it compares to the original; to see the beautiful sets; because you're required to. Only the middle one is worthwhile, but it's not much worth. You'd do much better to find pics on the internet of the sets than watching this trifle of a movie.
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