Product: The Haunting [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 2.0
Get Out of the Way, Stupid!
This movie has a promising start; I liked the re-working of the scene between Eleanore, her sister, and brother-in-law in the beginning because it was the only scene I hated in the original 1963 version. Actually for about the first hour, it was tolerable. But then the special effects kick in and the movie goes downhill. Furthermore, I can think of two scenes where "get out of the way, stupid!" would have applied quite well. I could have done without the effects. I found it particularly confusing that the ghosts of the children were made to resemble the caramelized wood carvings that decorate the mansion. Considering the amount of money spent, the computer effects look cheesy. There was a Disney quality about the ghostly children, sort of like the automations on the "It's a Small World" ride at Disney World. It was just plain silly. This movie was eternal. Hugh Crane's ghost reached a comical cartoon level as his face sails toward the viewer--we get a good view of his big bloodshot eyeball. So is this worth seeing? No. See the original 1963 version instead.