The Haunting
17/02/2014 21:53
No, not the 1963 version. No. I am not going to sit here and say one of the scariest horror movies of all time is a Stale Treat. Especially not one that director extraordinaire Martin Scorsese named his number one movies. Mainly because the original version starring Julie Harris is scary beyond terrifying and frightening; a film that will keep you up for nights on end and is a true cinematic icon. No, I am not talking about that 1963 brilliance.
I almost wish I were writing about.
But no, the film I suggest as a stale treat is the 1999 remake version starring Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film revolves around Eleanor "Nell" Vance who is a insomniac, caring for her mother until her death. After being ousted by her siblings of her childhood home, she is invited to a study with other insomniacs in a large mansion house. However, the minute they arrive is the minute spooky goings on start to happen, all revolving around Nell. Nell being the main source of the supernatural warfare that ensues the team. Is there something more sinister going with the haunting?
Why Is It Bad?
It's a sloppy hammed up version of the movie that uses ever horror clich￩ under the sun. Critically acclaimed, it awkwardly clumps it way through loud bangs and slams and fails to drum up some an tension, only drumming up several Razzie awards. It isn't scary and watching it back, the acting is poor and the lead actress Lilli Taylor is whiney and irritating. The plot convoluted it doesn't conjure up creepy and it's much more of a silly romp. Let's not neglect to mention changing a progressive lesbian character (though heavily censored) to bisexual (though, bringing bisexualism into light is always good, especially as it is a sexuality very heavily stereotyped despite stereotyping it in the movie.)
Why Is It Good?
Well, Owen Wilson gets his head sliced off which is a pretty immense image to get out of your head. And the special effects goes, for a nineties movies, they are of a great stellar calibre; managing to make statues come out of the woodwork and statues come to life. And it borders on the so good, its bad because, frankly, it is a laughable remake that fails but has some genuine heart in it. There are moments of goodness if you wade deep enough into the story. It's quite enjoyable at points.
It is also the main spoofed film in Scary Movie 2 which frankly means it is better than that tripe. No it's not scary or particularly great but The Haunting has that nostalgic feel especially if it was one of the first horror movies your parents would let you watch because it's quite tame. Cheesy and it is always nice to see Neeson crop up in movies, it's worth a gander to see some overacting.
Stay tuned for a hilarious reaction from Owen Wilson when he is trapped in a car.
Worth the whole damn movie.
TTFN
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