Product: The Haunting [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 3.0
Could Have Been Better . . .
Liam Neeson, Lili Taylor, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Owen Wilson spend a special effects laden night in a haunted house in "The Haunting", the new thriller from "Twister"-"Speed" director Jan De Bont. The film starts at a slow pace, getting to know characters Elenore (Taylor) and Dr. Morrow (Neeson). Then moving on to a night in Hill House: a beautiful turn of the century mansion in New England. The three (others Zeta Jones and Wilson) are there under the watchful eye of Morrow, all there for a study in insomnia. But, insomnia study is just a red herring for Morrow's real study: fear. For there is a long ago urban legend about Hill House- that the original owner named Crane, haunts the very bowels of his huge home. Soon enough, everyone (still alive) are running from collapsing stiar cases, bulging floors and celines, possesed windows, a lion headed pendulum, a huge Eagle stutue brought to life, and Crane's own powerful ghost. The movie seems to be redeeming itself for the slowness, until an ending (which I won't reveal) that just dosen't make sense. The special effects aren't bad, the acting is about as good (really only by Taylor), but the way the story is executed is wrong. "The Haunting of Hill House" is a horror story. 1999's version of "The Haunting" is a big flashy action extravaganza. Someone like Richard Donner ("The Omen", "Leatal Weapon 1,2,3, and 4") or Stephen Sommers ("Deep Rising", "The Mummy") or even Joe Dante ("Gremlins, Small Soldiers") should have directed this movie. Oh well. There are always more fx movies, especially this year. My opinion: see "The Haunting" if you wish, but first, see "The Matrix", "The Mummy", and to a lesser extent "Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace."