Disney has mined fairy tales and folk stories for their animated films for years, but when it comes to their live-action films they’ve taken some direct inspiration from themselves. The Disney theme park rides have gone from fun family day outs to huge big-budget action blockbusters, and it all started with Pirates of the Caribbean. We have in recent years had films such as Tomorrowland: A World Beyond and Jungle Cruise, but today I am talking about another Disney attraction with Haunted Mansion. You’re probably thinking that they’ve already made a film based on this attraction and you’re right. There was an Eddie Murphy film back in 2003 based on the famous Haunted Mansion but it didn’t do too well critically but it did commercially, so the question is, will this reboot be able to win both audiences and critics?
This version of Haunted Mansion feels bigger, flashier, and it also boasts a great A-list cast. There are a lot of characters within this film. The film centres on Ben, played by LaKeith Stanfield, who unfortunately experiences a heavy loss at the start of the film and his grief carries the film. He is a struggling astrophysicist turned ghost tour guide, and one of his inventions has the attention of Father Kent, played by Owen Wilson. From this point on the two are summoned to Gracey Manor where there are a lot of reported hauntings from a mother and son, Gabbie and Travis, played by Rosario Dawson and Chase W. Dillon. The cast, which also includes Jared Leto, Danny DeVito, Tiffany Haddish and Jamie Lee Curtis, is impressive and the characters are fun and great. They all get intertwined in the mystery of the manor, and the film starts promising but then the CGI ghosts become more reoccurring and the horror aspects are replaced with humour, resulting in a bit of a messy third act.
Some of the effects are pretty chilling and scary in the more subtle elements of the film, especially at the start when statues move in between shots and paintings move ever so slightly. These moments do give you slight chills but then film becomes more Ghostbusters in terms of the designs and the manifestations soon remind you that you are watching a Disney film. It is not a bad thing but you would’ve expected something more different, and thankfully in the end it is the story manages to hold the film together. There are a few twists and turns where some characters are not who they say they are, and some mysteries are revealed to be genuinely surprising. Considering we’ve had some great visuals with the Pirates of the Caribbean films and other live-action films such as The Lion King, it is a shame to go back to the messy visual effects that Disney has been known for.
Haunted Mansion is good Disney family friendly fun, and the kids will enjoy it as it isn’t too scary and it does have a lot of physical comedy which a lot of children will enjoy. The story and the cast make this film worthwhile, and it is great to see the culture of New Orleans brought to life in another Disney film as the music, the locations and the story do make this film stand out. Sadly though this is not enough and the film could have benefitted with a “less is more” approach. For what it is Haunted Mansion will probably be seen as just another addition in its long legacy, and maybe it will one day become one of the films to watch every Halloween.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Final Verdict:
Haunted Mansion balances the humour with horror, and moments of emotional pain and trauma with lighthearted quips about the importance of friendship. Sadly these points don’t help the film which delves into an abundance and over-reliance on visual effects and the scares sadly become more diminished. LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson are highlights, and their stories manage to save the film, but this is a family film and it does appear to appeal to all audiences. So it is a win from Disney, but not a big win.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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