12 out of 12 people found the following review helpful:

A complete masterclass...

David McGuire from Glasgow, 3rd July, 2004

...in how not to make a scary movie. Or any kind of movie, for that matter. Words fail me. This is utter bilge from beginning to end, but would probably not merit such vitriol on my part if it was not based on what is probably the greatest haunted house movie of all time (yes, including The Shining) - the original The Haunting from 1966. Black and white, hardly any special effects, and it will scare the bejessus out of you. But this is a review of the remake, so with a heavy heart here are some of its many flaws; a house that looks as scary as a ride at Disneyland. No-one builds houses like this apart from movie set designers, so - knock me down with a feather - you should not be amazed that you spend the whole movie very aware that you are watching actors on a set. And not in a Brechtian way, either. Disbelief well and truly not suspended. The CGI is jaw-dropping, but only in the sense that you truly cannot believe how poor, unscary and overused it is. The characters are complete cliches, and none of the actors ever get out of 1st gear. Some of the actors may not have more than one gear, but that is no excuse. The plot is weak and uninvolving, and I cannot remember any of the dialogue at all. The set pieces are bland, lacking in tension or credibility and smothered in CGI icing like a bad cake that is smothered in something very bad indeed (you see - words are failing me). Avoid at all costs. Do not queue this movie, even out of morbid curiosity. It is not so bad it is good, it is so bad that a kindly producer should have shot the movie 10 minutes into its first screening, and told the cast and crew not to be so silly again. On the other hand, Catherine Zeta Jones is in it. Grrrrrrr.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Haunted

Neil from Watford, 28th October, 2005

Words cannot begin to describe how utterly appallingly awful this film really is. I know people are always writing in reviews 'this is the worst film I have ever seen' but for me this one really is. Based on the original novel The Haunting of Hill House and the original film The Haunting - both of which are scarey, creepy, traditional ghost stories this remake had a lot to live up to. Instead of learning from the original though director DeBont walks all over it, destroying the story and making the plot a complete farce. The special effects are used as a substitute for directorial talent, they are no more scarey than a computer game. The acting is terrible as though the cast cannot believe the scripts they have been given and are reading from them half heartedly. As a whole the film lacks any sort of atmosphere or emotional content whatsoever. Where as most bad horror movies are funny this is annoying and hateful in the wake of the original. Please, please, please do yourself a favour and don't watch this mess. If you really want to do the world a favour write to the makers of this film and beg them not to make any more movies. Minus five stars.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

poor

FarrukhsHoney from , 8th April, 2008

The film is ok not one of the better films ive watched lately and certainly does not show off Liam Neesons talents

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Waste of talents

nkxp from London, 14th August, 2004

Possibly the worst 'horror' movie I have ever watched. A waste of talents of what one would think was such a gifted cast.

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The Haunting

legendkilla from , 14th October, 2009

It's good, Good acting!

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Outch...

ErikaFG from , 9th October, 2009

I am generally easily pleased when it comes to films. I saw this one in the cinema back when it came out and it was very difficult not to laugh out loud. Some of the acting is truly cringeworthy, and the CGI... oh dear... I really didn't know whether to laugh or to cry, but I opted for laughing in the end.

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A well told spook story

MrSnaztastic from , 19th June, 2009

This film's more of a supernatural mystery than a full-on horror, unravelling the secrets behind the house and its former occupants. Sure, there are some frightening elements and one or two scenes did creep me out, but the film's not in the same vein as say House on Haunted Hill or Thirteen Ghosts. I like The Haunting because it's as if they gave grade A talent and funding to a cheap B-movie. The story while interesting isn't too complex and the characters are fairly shallow. However, the design of the movie is incredible, the sets, effects and sound all top notch. Jerry Goldsmith's music elevates the film to another level as well, conducting a masterclass in how to make mediocrity menacing. There's nothing here that hasn't been seen in other stuff like the Poltergeist movies, but this film rehashes those elements in a way interesting enough to make the idea of a haunted house not seem outdated or boring. Definitely worth a watch or two.

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The Haunting

HMLloyd from , 15th June, 2009

Actually ordered this film instead of Haunted. Had seen it previously and although the script was a little silly especially at the end, it is still an enjoyable film, although not a true horror film in my opinion. Slight similarity to Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy.

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