Haunted Mansion – Film Review
by Fran Winston

Directed by: Justin Simien
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto
In cinemas on August 11th

This is the second all-star adaptation of this theme park ride, following on from the Eddie Murphy film from 2003. This version originally had Guillermo del Toro attached to write and produce. I get the feeling it would have been far less family-friendly if he had remained. As it stands this has a 12A rating as some elements may be a bit too much for some younger children.

The plot sees Ben, an astrophysicist turned ghost tour guide, employed by a woman called Gabbie who has moved into the Haunted Mansion of the title with her young son Travis. She wants him to get rid of the spirits, but he doesn’t take her seriously – until a spectre follows him home. Realising that this haunting will require more expertise than he alone possesses, he assembles a motley crew and together they try to figure out the mansion’s secrets and release the spirits. Except the reason so many souls are trapped there is far more sinister than they could imagine and an evil entity needs just one more in order to walk the world again.

It’s a pretty straightforward premise elevated by some fantastic performances and decent enough special effects. While some people may think that the effects are lacking (given Disney’s usual standard)  having done this ride several times in the past, I can assure you that they are an authentic nod to what you experience. I was delighted to see the homages to the source material.

All of the cast really throw themselves into it with LaKeith Stanfield as Ben having some amazingly moving scenes. Jamie Lee Curtis shows her comedic side as Madame Leota, the psychic responsible for unleashing the ghosts. Danny DeVito is also impressive as Bruce Davis, a college historian who is somewhat obsessed with the house.

However, despite their best efforts, this remains merely a pleasant watch that raises a giggle and leaves you with a smile on your face. While I enjoyed it, it didn’t stir any strong feelings in me either way. I love horror and comedy, but this didn’t have enough of either for my liking. It’s as if, while trying to tread the fine line required to make it suitable for general viewing, the premise became diluted. It felt more like a Disney+ movie than a big-screen offering, but as a family outing during the school holidays, you could do worse.