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The Haunting
1999
Hill House was built one hundred and thirty years ago and is filled with tales of tragedy but has the house really been left uninhabited? A century later Dr David Morrow brings three people to Hill House and soon the ghosts of the past manifest themselves in terrifying visitations. Was this the reason that the group was warned .. Read more
| Starring | Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta Jones, Lili Taylor, Owen Wilson |
|---|---|
| Director | Jan De Bont |
| Genres | Horror |
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The Haunting
Hill House was built one hundred and thirty years ago and is filled with tales of tragedy but has the house really been left uninhabited? A century later Dr David Morrow brings three people to Hill House and soon the ghosts of the past manifest themselves in terrifying visitations. Was this the reason that the group was warned that no one stays in the house at night... in the dark...?
| Starring | Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta Jones, Lili Taylor, Owen Wilson, Bruce Dern, Marian Seldes |
|---|---|
| Director | Jan De Bont |
| Studio | DREAMWORKS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 18 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Horror |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 27 Nov 2000 Production year: 1999 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (5)
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Nothing to scream over, and certainly little to shout about, director Jan De Bont's remake of Robert Wise's 1963 classic tries hard but fails to live up to the original. The 12 certificate says everything about this frightless wonder, which isn't the least bit scary despite using computer-generated animation to show all the poltergeist activity (effectively unseen in the original, but overblown here). Thinking they have been ushered to the notoriously haunted Hill House for an insomnia study, withdrawn Lili Taylor, bisexual Catherine Zeta-Jones and cynical Owen Wilson soon discover they are really there to test out doctor Liam Neeson's theories on the origins of fear. Hokey in the extreme, this is lifted by the quality cast, who all take it amazingly seriously, and the imposing and beautifully designed baroque sets are impressive.
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Tepid, effects-stuffed horror in which the cast is out-acted by the decor; Neeson wanders through it looking as though he has been hit over the head with a very blunt instrument, such as the script.
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Most helpful member's review
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12 out of 12 people found this review helpful
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.
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Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Worth a quick watch !
Most reviews have trashed this and I think that is unfair. OK it's not exorcist scary, but some good effects and some reasonable acting.
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News and features
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Owen Wilson's Arrested Development
- 25 Mar 2008
People talk about "courageous" performances all the time, though it's doubtful that actors are really any braver than, say, firemen, policemen or nurses. Still, it must have taken some guts for Owen Wilson to stand up and present an Oscar this year. A worldwide audience of up to a billion people flashing back to headlines about the star's suicide attempt last August. It was shocking news - suicides often are - and especially because Wilson would seem to be living the dream. He's earning $10... Read more
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Hill House was built one hundred and thirty years ago and is filled with tales of tragedy but has the house really been left uninhabited? A century later Dr David Morrow brings three people to Hill ... -