Spine-Chilling Tales: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Haunted Mansion
An immersive journey through the ethereal realms, the Haunted Mansion unveils mesmerizing glimpses of existence amidst the spirits, captivating and enchanting visitors with its eerie allure
Children's entertainment in the past decade often aimed to give kids a fright, with films like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Coraline, Monster House, and others that fondly reminisced about the PG horror genre. However, Haunted Mansion disappoints by offering slapstick comedy and only mildly spooky CGI effects. While it may please the Halloween-loving seven-year-olds, it only serves as a mild distraction for their parents.
Director Justin Simien gained recognition for his 2014 satire Dear White People and his 2020 horror film Bad Hair, which shared similarities with Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist. He was chosen to revive Haunted Mansion after Guillermo del Toro's promising version unfortunately fell through. Although an unconventional choice, Simien is both responsible for and brings out the best aspects of the material.
An hour north of New Orleans, the self-proclaimed most haunted city in the world, stands an abandoned estate that has found a new owner. Gracie Manor, once a thriving residence, now belongs to Gabbie, a single mom, and her socially-inept son Travis. Unfortunately, their purchase of the estate through Zillow turns out to be ill-advised. As Gabbie envisions transforming the mansion into a cozy bed and breakfast, her dreams quickly crumble when she discovers an army of restless spirits roaming the halls. Realizing the dire situation, Gabbie wisely decides to pack up her belongings and seek refuge in the hills. However, no matter how far she runs, the ghosts persistently follow her. Desperate for a solution, Gabbie seeks the help of an eccentric priest who, in turn, reaches out to a seasoned expert in dealing with the supernatural. Together, they enter the renowned château and unwittingly find themselves ensnared within its walls.
LaKeith Stanfield portrays the film's central character, who stands out amidst the exaggerated and fantastical characters. In the opening scene, Ben Matthias, a distinguished astrophysicist, meets the love of his life in a bustling bar in New Orleans. Their connection is immediate, and Alyssa becomes the missing piece that completes Ben's life. However, tragedy strikes when Alyssa dies in a freak accident after years of a beautiful yet imperfect relationship. Devastated, Ben struggles to describe their ordinary moments together through tears. While Stanfield's powerful performance carries the weight of the character, glimpses into Ben's personality reveal untapped potential and depth.
Ben's driving force connects to the film's unexpected aspect, its message. Haunted Mansion boldly explores the theme of grief, unapologetically presenting its moral lesson. It delves into the experience of carrying the memories of someone who has passed away. This underlying theme becomes explicit when the villain manipulates his victims by using their deceased relatives. The film emphasizes that moving forward is not just advice, but the only way to overcome the antagonist. Unlike typical children's entertainment that often glosses over death, Haunted Mansion deals with loss head-on. The characters navigate the difficult journey of acceptance and learn to live each day, making choices aligned with their departed loved ones' wishes. With remarkable maturity, the film tackles these complex topics, standing out in the realm of children's entertainment.
Haunted Mansion isn't just about Ben Matthias, a grieving widower—it's primarily a comedy. However, these human elements seem completely out of place alongside the unmissable physical comedy of Danny DeVito and the hilarious line delivery by Tiffany Haddish. While some jokes may land, most will fall flat for audience members over the age of ten. It's a mixed bag. Each viewer will have their own unique experience. On the other hand, the horror aspect remains consistently creepy. This film probably won't scare anyone, except maybe the most easily frightened children. Both the scares and the jokes are crucial elements of the movie, but unfortunately, they tend to fall flat more often than they succeed. In fact, the final scenes become rather embarrassing as they devolve into ghost-themed superhero antics. The focus of the film seems to have wandered into strange corners of the Haunted Mansion. Most viewers will discover something enjoyable, but very few will leave fully satisfied.
Haunted Mansion is a perplexing film, both due to its ensemble cast and weak writing. Without its few redeeming qualities, the film would easily be forgotten after only an hour. Unfortunately, these redeeming aspects only make up a small portion of the overall runtime. Consequently, it is difficult to recommend this project. Guillermo del Toro's interpretation of the material could have been groundbreaking and distinct, bringing a sense of purpose to its existence. In contrast, Haunted Mansion feels like a film created by a director desperately attempting to inject some vitality into its supernatural narrative. The specific and limited audience for Haunted Mansion would likely be content to wait for its release on Disney Plus.
