The Haunting (1999)
Average Rating: 3.7/10
Reviews Counted: 89
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 74
Sophisticated visual effects fail to offset awkward performances and an uneven script.
Average Rating: 3.1/10
Critic Reviews: 25
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 22
Sophisticated visual effects fail to offset awkward performances and an uneven script.
liked it
Average Rating: 2.7/5
User Ratings: 116,908
My Rating
Movie Info
In the 1860's, industrialist Hugh Crain financed the construction of Hill House, a beautiful but forbidding mansion where Crain hoped to house a wife and children. However, Crain died an unexplained death at Hill House, and ever since tales have circulated that the mansion is haunted by evil spirits. 130 years later, Dr. David Marrow (Liam Neeson), long fascinated by the Hill House legend, brings three people there for what he tells them will be a study in sleep disorders. Theo (Catherine
Jul 1, 1999 Wide
Nov 23, 1999
DreamWorks SKG
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Liam Neeson
Dr. David Marrow -
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Theo -
Lili Taylor
Nell -
Owen Wilson
Luke -
Bruce Dern
Mr. Dudley -
Marian Seldes
Mrs. Dudley -
Alix Koromzay
Mary Lambetta -
Todd Field
Todd Hackett -
Virginia Madsen
Jane -
Kelsey Mulrooney
Children
ADVERTISEMENT
The Haunting Trailer & Photos
All Critics (111) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (76) | DVD (28)
All logic is deadened by the obnoxious special effects!
An overpriced mess!
Top CriticTo my surprise, I find myself recommending The Haunting on the basis of its locations, its sets, its art direction, its sound design, and the overall splendor of its visuals.
If you crave horror, you're better off seeing The Blair Witch Project a second or third.
Unfortunately, the film's sets and special effects overwhelm its plot and cast.
High-tech remake is dumb and overblown.
When you're not yawning at the digital ghosts, you're watching a cast of fine actors dogpaddling in cliches and terrible dialogue.
...testament to the fact that well enough should be left alone.
...the scariest scene...was when Nell was sleeping with her feet outside the covers. Forget the Blair Witch. Has she never heard of the Bed Witch?
Audience Reviews for The Haunting
Super Reviewer
-
- Nell: Welcome home Eleanor...
-
- Luke: I didn't do it.
-
- Luke: It's not gonna hold your weight there! It's breaking apart!
-
- Luke: Do you think Dr.Marrow's up to something?
-
- Luke: These carvings are really creepy!
-
- Luke: Wow, You're so dominant!
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for The Haunting yet.
Latest News on The Haunting
May 15, 2009:
Exclusive: The Look of Terminator Salvation with Martin LaingProduction Designer Martin Laing has worked with James Cameron on True Lies, Titanic and Ghosts of...
June 16, 2007:
Next Up for Marvel: "Captain America"Already off to a great start (we hope) with "Iron Man" and "The Incredible...
April 28, 2006:
Thor, Hulk, Captain America ... and a Few More New MarvelsWhile the hiring of Jon Favreau as "Iron Man" director is pretty exciting movie-geek news,...
What's Hot On RT
The Last Stand, Side Effects
Trailer for new Coen Bros movie
Fast & Furious cars gallery
Blockbusters ranked!
Featured on RT
- In Pictures: The Cars of Fast & Furious 0
- Digital Multiplex: Warm Bodies and Aftershock 4
- Discover the Best-Reviewed Films in Summer Movie Scorecard 2013 0
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Last Stand and Side Effects 16
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Star Trek Softer Than Expected at #1 85
- Weekly Ketchup: Will Smith to Star in Wild Bunch Remake? 39
- Critics Consensus: Star Trek Into Darkness is Certified Fresh 107
Top Headlines
-
Which Film Franchise Has Been the Best for Female Characters?
2
-
Damon Lindelof Talks Tomorrowland
0
-
10 Movies About Really Fast Cars
0
-
Poltergeist Remake Synopsis Hints at Plot Differences
6
-
Kristen Wiig Says Welcome to Me
1
-
David Fincher's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Gets Bumped
0
-
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Remake in the Works
0
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
There are so many things here which i admired. First of all, while the whole cast pulls off an terrific performances from them it is still the Hill House itself that is the real star here. With Karl Walter Lindenlaub's elegant cinematography, Jerry Goldsmith's effective score and Eugenio Zanetti's production design The Haunting is destined to take your breath away. Rarely have i seen a spookhouse filled with so much fantastic details and exciting secrets. If you like films that rely more in atmosphere than cheap scares then this is your cup of tea.
The pace here is calm and the film does not rush to be anykind of special effects circus. In the end there are some special effects indeed here and i can understand if everyone are not happy with De Bont's solution to use CGI, but for me it worked well. There are not too many of those scenes with effects and when they appear they suited brilliantly into the film's overall mood.
This is a kind of film that gets made too rarely anymore. It is a good old haunted house story filled with surprises and real finely crafted tension. I really enjoyed Lili Taylor here and this might be her best performance as an actor so far. Owen Wilson and Catherine Zeta-Jones were equally good in a supporting roles while Liam Neeson delivers delicious role as a doctor David Marrow. I have always enjoyed films with small cast and The Haunting is one of those examples where we get to know these characters much better because we get to spend enough time with each an everyone of them.
Overall, while not entirely flawless, i find The Haunting very entertaining film with great artistic touches in it. It is not a horror masterpiece and it does not even try to be but as a solid and gorgeous entertainment it more than succeeds. This is one of the best ghost stories ever filmed and by far Jan De Bont's best film as a director so far.