The Haunting in Connecticut

[Highly rated reviewer]

Another 'based on a true story' lie!

Saw this in the US last week. This is possibly the worst film I have ever seen! Total garbage! the preview shows you the best bits of the film (excited eh?). apparently the family involved in the 'based on a true story' have totally denied everything shown in the film!

No scary bits, no story, no acting. Lets face it, the Americans can't make good horror, they let the French, Spanish and Japanese make the best films and then try to copy them, with poor results. Avoid at all costs, just when you think you've seen the worst horror film ever made, along comes this trash!

Well worth a watch..

Saw this film at the cinema tonight and it was really good..

Who cares if its true or not or whether it is made up..The fact is that it is genuinley a creepy little film..the house that it was shot in just oozes evil itself..with several 'jump out of your seat moments' and a morbid atmosphere this film is well worth a watch.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Don't turn round....yawn....oh there's a gho.....zzzzz

WHY DON'T HOLLYWOOD KNOW HOW TO SCARE PEOPLE ANYMORE???

I mean, what is going on? All that money they spend on films, effects, actors, etc and they still can churn out absolute droll stories like this.

This movie had so much potentail and with the additional benefit of being 'based on a true story' this could have been the new Amityville Horror. But not only do they keep repeating the same old horror cliches all the way through the film (including, yet again, a shower scene) but they fail to produce anything that's actually terrifying and....well...new!!

The characters get quite annoying half way through this film and I found myself not even caring about their outcomes.

If you love horror, please stay away, as you could watch a classic which will achieve what this film tries so hard to do.

Scary, but for the wrong reasons!!

[Highly rated reviewer]

OK but Flawed

A decent story with some good acting by some of the cast help keep this on track but you can't help pick fault with some very annoying moments.

Without spoiling any of the films premise for those considering renting there is a point when the whole family have seen what the son has been seeing for some time and they all huddle together on a bed....the next scene they're all back to sleep in their own rooms as if nothing had happened. I don't know about you but if dead people were haunting my house we'd be out of there.

There are hints that the father may have had a drink problem in the past but we don't see this or the effects it had, we see him overworked and a bit tired and stressed with all of the traveling he has to do but then he turns up raging drunk one night and goes ballistic. It comes from nowhere, is badly done and is unconvincing. Either the backstory should have been explored or it should never have been an issue. I think the director wanted a way of getting all the lightbulbs smashed in the house and this is the best he could come up with.

Overall though, an OK film, some decent shocks but let down by these flawed moments.

Enjoy.

[Highly rated reviewer]

the haunting in connecticut

this was a good horror,a chilling true story about a old funeral parlour that became a house,this is a horror you would love to see,i enjoyed it alot.

The Haunting in Connecticut

Brilliant, very scary, made me literally jump 4-5 times. After the shock it has a really good story line and once you understand it, its not scary at all.

The Haunting in Connecticut

Wow! I'm always put off by intros that say 'based on a true story' so I ignore them. I look at a film for what it is and how it affects me. In this case, not only did I jump a few times AND look away (ok, so I'm a little squeamish!) but I also shed a tear or two (inside of course!) as I completely immersed myself in Matt and Jonas' characters. This was a film that I know to be a horror but that left me feeling happy yet wrenched in my heart. Now if this does or did happen in real life then all I can say is that there's a means to an end and sometimes it's a tough journey getting to a nice end!!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Just when they really need dad to comfort and protect them, he gets drunk

From the offices of Showbiz Jon, please find review…….. Kindest personal regards.. Tristram de Beauvoir (PA)

THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT. (no spoiler)

The Campbell family move to Connecticut to be near a hospital for a new trial treatment for their cancer suffering son, Matt. From the off it’s refreshing to care for the family. Renting a large, musty Victorian home with a ‘history’ (used to be a funeral parlour.. hmmmm) the subtle build up of tension dovetails sharply into the loving family scenario; and some gutsy hints of what’s in store… it’ll make your eyes water.

It becomes obvious that Matt is the focus of events as his hallucinations (?) intensify; and when the four kids are left alone for the day some seriously creepy b & w flashbacky stuff spurs Matt to seek help from a supportive reverend who scares ‘em even more with tales of body snatching and necromancy… As all the family start to share the fear more and more concrete evidence surfaces fleshing out past horrific supernatural shenanigins ( we see dead people..). Just when they really need dad to comfort and protect them, he gets drunk and terrifies the lot of ‘em…. Numpty. Mum calls in the Rev’, a faintly heard echo of the Excorcist, and as the soundtrack creeps under your skin, it all kicks off… and it’s over…. AS IF… you so know it’s not, and the ride gets faster…

‘All that’s left is the rage’ pushing all the right buttons, with homage to The Shining and Psycho, this tight,traditional, classy and skilful horror delivers nicely.Solid casting too. Turn out the lights and don’t blink.

Haunting in Connecticut

Really good film. Great for those people who like to watch films based on true stories.

[Highly rated reviewer]

So loved this movie

the cinematography was good, lots of discomfort.

Not sure how it relates to the true story (did they lag the special room in only a 100 bodies and not hundreds?) So I take the 'true story' bit with a pinch of salt.

I really enjoyed this movie and put it on a par with 'The Skeleton key' tho not as artistic.