He plays Dr. David Marrow, a psychologist doing a study on fear. In order to keep his study a secret, Dr. Marrow claims to his subjects that he is doing a study on sleep disorders. It doesn't take long before the participants learn the truth about their participation, or for the house to come monstrously to life. Marrow tries to convince them that it's all part of the study, but when the supernatural events start becoming malevolent, it's every man and woman for themselves. De Bont's major misstep is his insistence to put everything up on the screen.
Nothing is left to the imagination.
You could close your eyes and describe the action on the screen with little or no problem. Unfortunately, the images in your mind would be far more horrific than those on the screen. You have to admire the technical aspects of the film. The production design is incredible, with some of the biggest sets I have ever seen in a film. They are truly cavernous, giving the film a depth of field that is uncommon.