Product: The Haunting [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 4.0
This house is haunted
I first rented THE HAUNTING after its release in 1999 and was extremely impressed with the state of the art special effects. It managed to capture the essence of the original movie released in 1963 based on Shirley Jackson's novel, THE HAUNTING ON HILL HOUSE. I recently purchased it and somehow was not impressed as the first time (somewhat like a roller coaster ride, it's always the best the first time around), it seemed somewhat dated and lost in translation but still retained many other fine qualities. Lili Taylor did a believable job as the neurotic, insecure, and hypersensitive Nell but let's face it, no one could ever compare to the superb performance of Julie Harris. As the saying goes "it was an evil house from the beginning, a house that was born bad". Dr. Marrow (Liam Neeson) conducts a number of experiments involving the supernatural by using 3 subjects, Nell (Lili Taylor), Theo (Cathrine Zeta Jones), the condescending, superficial fashion plate who's clairvoyant, and Luke (Owen Wilson), the boy nextdoor who's in it for the ride (a spooky one). Nell is particularly drawn to the house, summoned by the very spirits who inhabit the house. She holds the key which will unlock the mysteries to Hill House, forbidden to the outside world. This adaptation could never compare to the original movie which has more atmosphere. There is something about black and white and low tech movies that captures the essence, the marrow itself. Hill House is alive, breathing, morphing, you can feel its very blood flowing through the walls, the pipes, its very foundation, the uncontrollable evil that thrives on good. So prepare yourself, be scared, you've been warned.