Product: The Haunting [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 2.0
Do You Believe in Ghosts?
The Haunting, 1999 filmIt starts with a bird's eye view of an apartment house. Two women argue over back rent and an inheritance after their mother's death. "Its in the will." Eleanor, the unmarried daughter, took care of her Mom for 11 years, but the property was split equally. Eleanor reads a newspaper ad for a "research test subject". The Hill House Project will study fear. Can it be an ethical study? Eleanor's twenty year old Gremlin arrives with her. [The heating and cleaning bills for that castle must be enormous!] Mrs. Dudley shows her the bedroom, the Red Room. The town is nine miles away. The next guest arrives and tells about herself (as if seeking approval). They inspect the house. The next guest arrives. Dr. Marrow arrives with his assistant. The guests talk about themselves. [Vulnerability?] Dr. Marrow tells about the history of this house.Then a spring breaks and cuts the assistant! They learn more about the past of this house, a new secret. Luke is startled. Nell is awakened by thumps on the wall. There is another strange noise and cold air. "It's over." Luke asks if they are ok. Did the plumbing cause the noise? A window opens and the wind enters. Nell does paper work until something scares her. "Who wrote that?" Nell arises at night and goes to the library. She reads an old ledger book that records deaths. She combs her long hair. Luke suspects a trick. Nell finds an old picture album, then goes to that fireplace. She finds bones in the ash grate! Who is in the house? "None of this is real." They learn about the test. Dr. Marrow tries to open the ash grate. Nell sees strange shadows. She sees a strange reflection in the mirror. Are those spirits? That staircase is shaky, then collapses. [The stunt double hangs on.]They can't leave the house until the morning. Someone must watch Eleanor. Something happens to Dr. Marrow. Nell sees strange monuments in her room! The door can't be opened at first. Then they can't open the locked gate. Where's Nell? Eleanor tells about her past. [Is it true?] They run away, doors slam closed. "He's not going to let you go." [Huh?] Can they get out by the windows? A pendulum suddenly hits Luke. Ashes blow out of the grate. [The special effects are aided by dim light.] The ghost of Hugh Crain appears to them. Nell tells him where to go. Demons take him there. The spirits of the children float in the air. The caretaker arrives in the morning to unlock the gates. "Did they find out what they wanted to know?"This is based on a novel by Shirley Jackson. The credits name the players and the support staff. It seems incredible that a large building would remain vacant for decades. It could be used as a resort hotel, a hospital, or a boarding school, etc. The taxes would require some commercial use. If left unattended it would decay until it had to be torn down. Watching this movie suggests the story is incredible. When the police find two dead bodies the survivors would have to answer a lot of questions (as in "And Then There Were None"). Could that house be used for a "research project" if such scary things were going on for years?