kcw | reviews | dvd << Previous Page | Next Page >>
Year:   1999
Studio: DreamWorks SKG
Movie:  3/5
DVD:    2/5

Teaser

Three people with sleep disorders -- Eleanor (Lili Taylor), Theodora (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Luke (Owen Wilson) -- take part in a scientific study held at a huge mansion on a hill, nine miles from any other human habitation. Conducting the study is Doctor Marrow (Liam Neeson), who is actually conducting a study on the psychology of fear. But when unexplained things start happening is it all part of the Marrow's plan or is the house really haunted?

Movie

"The Haunting" is a horror/thriller that I thought was fairly scary. With only four possible victims, much of the first half of the movie is set up and buildup. You get introduced to the characters and the house and then slowly things happen. And not until the last third of the movie do we really find out whether or not the strange things are just delusions or actual supernatural phenomena.

Actors

Although the other actors are fairly good, Lili Taylor steals the movie with an amazing performance of an emotionally scarred woman. You really feel that she has issues and that maybe she's really crazy in a not easy to tell sort of way.

DVD

The movie is in wide screen format with a 25-minute behind-the-scenes feature. The theatrical trailer is also included.

Recommendations

Not a bad movie but not especially recommendable. By its lackluster box office I guess that horror fans didn't like it.
Copyright (c) 2003 Kevin C. Wong
Page Created: December 1, 2003 Page Last Updated: December 1, 2003