Product: The Haunting [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 3.0
High-Tech Kills Suspense
Why do we get scared, why do chills run down our back? It's the fear of the unknown, the awaitening of the menace that is brewing above us. The main ingredient of the artistic success that made the 1963 original a classic in its genre was the lack of effects (which might have been technically impossible at that time anyway).As soon as the evil becomes visible, it materializes and we can face it and battle against it. This was avoided in the original and stressed to the maximum in this remake.In the former version, the protagonists are haunted psychologically and the viewer as well. In the latter, Hugh Crane seems more like an alien. The technical execution (which is perfect) undoubtedly causes excitement but not fear, thrill but no chill. That's why I would call the film (at least the last third)a science fiction or an action movie rather than a horror picture.Although this all is true, I'd consider the many negative critics unfair, for there are quite some moments (especially in the first third)that really scared me and which made the film bitwise even superior to the original. This production will certainly not belong to the career climaxes of all the persons involved in, but it won't affect them either, for it's an enjoyable piece of nowadays' mainstream cinema after all.