One disappointment after another

Rating: 5/10 (30 December 2013)

First of all, I was really looking forward to see this movie, even though it has such a overused topic as haunted house surely is. But I assumed that James Wan would bring something original to it, as he always does. Maybe I should have just watch the trailer, it gives away the plot and all of the good scares anyway.
This movie doesn't bring anything new to the haunted house horror movies subject. We can see everything that has already been done a billion times in all the other films. Family buys a cheap house with unsure history, check. Pet senses there is something wrong with it and then dies from an unsolved cause, check. Child has an imaginary, most possible a ghost friend, that nobody else can see, check. Clocks stop at exact same time every night, check. Family discovers an attic full of some old and creepy stuff, check.
OK, then some strange things begin to happen all over the house, but the family doesn't intend to leave the house. Only one who eventually leaves is the father who lets defenseless women to their destiny.
The major problem of this movie is, in my opinion, that they build up a tension that isn't followed by anything. You can hear strange noises and doors opening by itself all the time, but you never see a ghost or demon. Then, when they finally show you one it's in the cheap jump scare. Also you don't feel like they're facing a real danger when nobody is killed or even injured although there are some pretty dangerous situations.
All in all, 5/10, it's a watchable movie with decent acting and really good camera work, but nothing breath taking.