Haunted mansion

Walt Disney Pictures presents its second film based on the famous "Haunted House", a coveted attraction for Disneyland park guests. We're plunged into the heart of New Orleans, renowned for its voodoo lands where magical folklore is at its peak. Here, the mansion is no playground, and traps you once you've set foot inside. There's no turning back. And it's not the main character, Ben, played by Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out), who will tell you otherwise.

Caught up in a whirlwind of non-stop action, with (almost) no downtime, the pseudo-experts who have come to the aid of the new residents, a mother doctor (Rosario Dawson) and her son (Chase W. Dillon), are totally helpless in the face of a host of ghosts who never sleep and who have decided to haunt them forever until their dark secret is revealed.

The unsurprising script makes the film too smooth and expected at times, but the cast is a real feast for the eyes. The various characters are all funny in their own way, and the genre references are numerous. From the exorcist priest (Owen Wilson) to the voodoo priestess (played by Tiffany Haddish with a subtle nod to Marie Laveau), not to mention the dreaded moment when the clock strikes midnight, the film's solid foundations are subtly placed, and will please even the most expert of the horror genre without overdoing it.

Walt Disney Pictures doesn't renew the horror-comedy genre, remaining true to its "all's well that ends well" approach, but it does stand out with its numerous special effects, plunging us into a horde of ghosts, each more angry than the last, with a special mention for the film's great and powerful medium, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, locked in her crystal ball following a spell cast against her. It's a good time to spend with the family this summer, to thrill with pleasure and raise the temperature even higher.

Haunted Mansion
Directed by Justin Simien
Written Katie Dippold
Based on The Haunted Mansion by Walt Disney
Produced by Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich
Starring LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto
Cinematography : Jeffrey Waldron
Edited by Phillip J. Bartell
Music by Kris Bowers
Production companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Rideback
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date : July 26, 2023 (France), July 28, 2023 (United States)
Running time : 122 minutes

Viewed July 10, 2023 at The Walt Disney Company headquarters in France

Sarah-The-Witch's Mark:

Walt Disney Studios' attempt to bring their beloved theme park attraction Haunted Mansion to the big screen is a spellbinding endeavor that ultimately fails to live up to its frightening potential. Despite an impressive cast and promising visuals, the film's disjointed narrative and lackluster execution prevent it from fully captivating its audience.

LaKeith Stanfield stars as Ben Matthias, a troubled astrophysicist seeking contact with the afterlife after a tragic loss. Teaming up with a motley crew of characters, including an eccentric priest (Owen Wilson), a sassy psychic (Tiffany Haddish) and a knowledgeable historian (Danny DeVito), the group finds itself trapped in the haunted halls of Gracey Manor, now inhabited by a single mother, Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), and her son Travis (Chase W. Dillon).

The film's premise is full of potential, blending humor, supernatural elements and profound themes such as grief and redemption. However, the execution stumbles over comic moments that often fall flat and stakes that fail to be truly threatening. As the characters navigate the eerie corridors of the mansion, the ghosts themselves become mere CGI spectacles, lacking the spooky presence necessary for a haunted story.

The film's climactic sequence, instead of offering a haunting crescendo, devolves into a chaotic mess of cartoonish action, undermining the film's early attempts to build tension. The emotional core of the story, in particular the relationship between Ben and Travis, lacks the depth needed to anchor the supernatural narrative. Despite outstanding performances from veteran actors like DeVito and the charismatic chemistry between Stanfield and Dillon, the film struggles to forge a meaningful bond between its characters and its audience.

The thematic potential of Haunted Mansion is very close, but frustrating. While the film occasionally flirts with introspective examinations of grief and life after death, it ultimately fails to fully explore these ideas, letting them dissipate like ghostly apparitions in the night.

In its attempts to conjure up a mix of humor, dread and emotional resonance, Haunted Mansion ends up resembling a patchwork of disparate elements. Disney's ongoing quest to transpose the magic of its theme parks into the cinematic realm continues to be a challenge, and this latest attempt serves as a cautionary tale of missed opportunities and unrealized potential.

While there are moments of genuine entertainment and creativity, Haunted Mansion ultimately struggles to establish a coherent identity, leaving audiences waiting for a more spellbinding and satisfying journey through the supernatural. As the curtain closes on this spectral misadventure, we can't help but wonder whether Disney's cinematic interpretation of the iconic attraction will ever find its spell.

Haunted Mansion
Directed by Justin Simien
Written Katie Dippold
Based on The Haunted Mansion by Walt Disney
Produced by Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich
Starring LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto
Cinematography : Jeffrey Waldron
Edited by Phillip J. Bartell
Music by Kris Bowers
Production companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Rideback
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date : July 26, 2023 (France), July 28, 2023 (United States)
Running time : 122 minutes

Viewed August 12, 2023 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 5, seat A20

Mulder's Mark: