Disney's 'Haunted Mansion' Review Thread

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion's talented cast makes the movie a pleasant enough destination, although it's neither scary nor funny enough to wholeheartedly recommend.

Reviews

The Hollywood Reporter:

Beats waiting in line for the ride, but just barely.

Variety:

While the visual effects are surprisingly weak for a film of this scale, the script proves far better than anyone might expect, establishing an emotional foundation for what might otherwise be a gimmick-driven haunted house movie.

IndieWire (C-):

Too scattershot and herky-jerky to ever approximate the feeling of a ride, the ghost sequences stop and start without any sense of place, rhythm, or purpose.

TotalFilm (4/5):

Family-friendly, spooky fun with surprising emotional heft and an ensemble cast clearly having a ball.

Collider (B+):

It might not be deeply hilarious or legitimately scary, but that's exactly what a narrative adaptation of this ride needs to be, threading that line while also remaining fun throughout.

The Wrap:

“Haunted Mansion” is a fun summer throwback to the likes of 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” Inventive fun for every member of the family with a phenomenal lead performance by Stanfield.

AV Club:

It would be interesting to see the version of Haunted Mansion that star LaKeith Stanfield seems to think he’s in—one where his jaded, grieving, scientist-turned-wannabe believer in ghosts could see his grounded performance matched

Screen Rant (3.5/5):

Thanks to a fun and simple script, enhanced by Justin Simien’s exhilarating and creative direction, Haunted Mansion is a welcomed surprise.

Los Angeles Times:

Because no effort has been expended to make any of this even remotely scary -- there are only so many times you can watch Stanfield dodge a flying CGI axe -- you might at least hope for a belly laugh or two, or at least a few decent jokes.

Polygon:

The subset it resonates with, Haunted Mansion is a grim, grinning delight.

ComicBook.com (4/5):

At long last, Haunted Mansion finally gets the adaptation the beloved ride has always deserved – a fun, scary, and surprisingly emotional time at the movies. It’s certainly Disney's best live-action movie since Pirates of the Caribbean.

USA Today (2.5/4):

A good first horror movie for youngsters where a ghostly mummy won’t have them running for their mommy.

IGN (8/10):

A soulful ghost story that does an unexpectedly solid job speaking to younger audiences about the afterlife, nailing the film’s appropriately spooky gateway-horror ambitions.

The Guardian (2/5):

In the end, it’s another piece of Halloween merchandise.

Seattle Times:

Alas, Haunted Mansion is yet another reminder that the assembling of a great cast does not guarantee a great movie. Director Justin Simien and screenwriter Katie Dippold can’t seem to find any kind of comedic rhythm

Washington Post (1.5/4):

It’s too dark for a family film, too weightless and juvenile for grown-ups. In a season notable for high-level action spectacle and important auteur projects, Haunted Mansion is not just confused but inconsequential.

Synopsis:

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.

Cast:

  • LaKeith Stanfield as Ben

  • Tiffany Haddish as Harriet

  • Owen Wilson as Father Kent

  • Danny DeVito as Professor Bruce Davis

  • Rosario Dawson as Gabbie

  • Chase W. Dillon as Travis

  • Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota

  • Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost

  • Winona Ryder as Pat

Directed by: Justin Simien

Screenplay by: Katie Dippold

Produced by: Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich

Cinematography: Jeffrey Waldron

Edited by: Phillip J. Bartell

Music by: Kris Bowers

Running time: 123 minutes

Release date: July 28, 2023

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