HAUNTED MANSION – Review by Emma Badame
Disney’s first attempt at turning their popular, gothic Haunted Mansion ride into a film gave them a hit at the box office, but was widely panned by critics. Cut to 20 years later and the House of Mouse has decided to revisit the idea – clearly hoping to recreate that movie-goer mojo but this time, capture the goodwill of the critics too.
The ride and the lore at the centre of its story are certainly rife with cinematic possibilities that were fairly squandered the first time around, but does director Justin Simien (Dear White People) do any better? Thankfully, the answer is yes. The talented filmmaker is helped along in this version of Haunted Mansion by a stellar cast – seriously, it’s an embarrassment of riches – and a thoroughly entertaining script by Katie Dippold (Ghostbusters, The Heat). Everyone involved seems to have thoroughly understood the assignment, providing just enough depth and substance to the narrative and to the characters to be intriguing, while nailing the disbelief, one-liners and asides that carry a movie made to entertain and thrill the audience.
Centred in and around New Orleans, Haunted Mansion introduces us to cynical local tour guide Ben (LaKeith Stanfield). A former scientist interested in capturing the unseen, a tragedy in his life has turned him into an unhappy and directionless loner. When a local priest (Owen Wilson) procures his expertise to investigate the paranormal happenings at an old mansion out of town, newly acquired by a single mom and her young son (Rosario Dawson and Chase W. Dillon), he’s forced to examine his attitude to life and those around him. The small team soon realise they’re dealing with far more than they bargained for and so enlist the help of a psychic (Tiffany Haddish), and a college history professor (Danny DeVito), to combat the spirits they encounter. You can pretty much guess what happens next. Predictable though it is, in this case, it doesn’t take away from the entertainment value at all.
Each of the actors in the ersatz Scooby Gang is a joy to watch. Stanfield, in particular, is the heart of the film and the actor proves, once again, that he can handle any role thrown his way with aplomb. He’s riveting from the word ‘go’ and juggles Ben’s cynicism, sadness, and hope perfectly, providing more depth and emotion than is strictly necessary for a supernatural horror comedy but that’s what elevates this go-’round over the 2003 version.
In a film filled with scene-stealing thesps, everyone has a go. Haddish is perfect as Harriet, the psychic (apologies…”medium”) and both Wilson and DeVito get the most out of every minute of screen time. Dawson balances the careful caring of a single mom with a comical resignation to the fact she’s now the keeper of this manion filled with troubled ghosts and ghouls. A pleasant surprise too is Dillon as Gabbie’s son, Travis. He’s required to do far more than just scream in the face of the unexpected housemates, and he manages to hold his own in all his scenes. He’s the first to encounter the ghosts and his reaction – a perfect combination of terror and sarcasm – sets the tone of the whole film.
Haunted Mansion has its fair share of cameos too. From Winona Ryder and Jamie Lee Curtis to Hasan Minaj and Dan Levy, there’s a bevy of familiar faces to catch your eye throughout. But given the excellence of the main cast, their presence is almost superfluous.
Dippold (and the cast) clearly had a ball turning certain haunted house tropes on their heads. There’s one moment in particular involving Owen Wilson that had even a cynical room of critics laughing heartily out loud. It’s those moments – where script and actor perfectly mix – that elevate the film from the mediocre.
Visual effects have come a long way in the period between this version and the original, and that shows too. The supernatural entities (of all kinds) all look real enough, without going so far as to scare younger viewers. If you’ve ever visited the attraction itself, in any of its iterations, you’ll recognise some specific characters and set pieces, along with plot points. Enjoyable easter eggs for those in the know, but not so important that prior knowledge is necessary.
It’s truly a delightful surprise that Haunted Mansion is as enjoyable as it is. Particularly in light of its predecessor. It’s truly the perfect summer-movie fare and a great way to spend an overheated afternoon or evening for film fans of all ages. For lovers of the spooky and supernatural, it delivers there, too.
