The Haunting Details

A complete masterclass...

...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.

[Highly rated reviewer]

poor

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