Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Ginger Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

willruddock-36172 When I saw this movie in theaters, I couldn't sleep for days. I was 12 and images like Hugh Crane lunging out of the fireplace or his angry face appearing in the window frightened me beyond belief.I watched it last night for the first time in many years a few days after revisiting the 1963 film. And it was just truly awful. I found myself resisting the temptation to quit early because I believe in seeing things true to the end unless I absolutely can't bear it. Annoying acting saved by Liam and Owen. Catherine cannot play terrified and as much as I admire Lili, she's no Julie Harris. I will admit that the face in the window seen still gave me a little bit of a chill but nowhere near what it did when I was 12.One other positive is that it has reaffirmed my enthusiasm for exploring huge houses.

Sandra Milner As a horror, it's not scary. As a mystery, it's not that mysterious. As a thriller, it's not thrilling. as a fantasy, it's not fantastic.I'm not trying to be funny, but this is a horror film that has barely any fear in it. I'm not a fan of jump scares, but at least they scare you. There are no dark scenes, no silences, no creepy music, no scary situations. There's too much light throughout the film. The monsters are primarily furniture - a bad with some sort of sharp tentacles, statues that come to life but go back to being statues after being slapped with a broom for a bit. Also the bed stops attacking when other people are looking at it.There is no real mystery. There's some ridiculous story about children or a painting or whatever, but you don't wonder what's the secret. They're mentioned at times, but it has no consequence on the plot. It's just anecdotes rather than plot points.The whole thing is contrived - a sleep study in a haunted house.The acting is ridiculous, as well as the casting. But I don't blame the actors for this dud of a script.The tentacle bed is the only interesting scene in the film in that it is not CGI.

Python Hyena The Haunting (1999): Dir: Jan De Bont / Cast: Lili Taylor, Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Bruce Dern: Remake of the Robert Wise classic about past incidents that stir horrid images. A group of individuals suffer from insomnia and are summoned to an isolated mansion for treatment. This mansion has a past as the heroine can hear the echoes and cries of children. The film contains an eerie soundtrack and startling images. Special effects are breathtaking with an ominous presence about to give the mansion its haunting appeal. Unfortunately the screenplay presents a formula story with a climax that becomes ridiculous. Director Jan De Bont allows it to get away on him. It is as if he was given all of the budget and he could not figure out what was needed. He made Speed, which is his one worthy film but this film is a tad better than his embarrassing Twister and Speed 2: Cruise Control. Of the ensemble cast Taylor seems interesting as she struggles to figure out the bizarre around her. She comes from a broken home only to learn that she has connections here that elevate to a laughable outcome. Liam Neeson passes as the doctor while Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Owen Wilson wander about as if bored. Bruce Dern plays the gate keeper who is suppose to look sinister and more or less over the top. Special effects are the one saver otherwise it is hauntingly bad. Score: 3 / 10

machoman_19 Because the overall reviews are just so bad i felt compelled to say something. I saw this movie when I was around 15 years old and thought at the time that it was pretty scary, now not so much.I find it to be a Disney horror, if Pixar and Disney were to make a horror movie this is what you would get. you have mystery, action and a feel good ending. I never saw the original and I'm not really someone that likes horror movies so that says enough about the film to know that it really is not that scary. I loved the special effects and build up to the end, although the end is somewhat exaggerated I loved the part when he is defeated and the child ghosts go to heaven.What can I say I love Disney movies.