Haunted Mansion: A Movie Review

Plot

Haunted Mansion follows the story of single mother Gabbie, who hires a group of experts—a tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a historian—to help her exorcise the ghosts in her new mansion. Many spirits from the mansion's past are awakened due to a series of events, trapping Gabbie and her nerdy 10-year old son Travis inside. Together with a motley crew of quirky characters, they must navigate the haunted mansion and its ghosts to find a way out and uncover the secrets of the house.

Acting

The cast of Haunted Mansion delivers solid performances, with standout performances from LaKeith Stanfield as a grieving man, Rosario Dawson as the determined single mother, and Chase Dillon as her nerdy son. Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, and Danny DeVito also provide excellent support in their respective roles. However, some cameos fall short of utilizing skilled actors like Jamie Lee Curtis and Winona Ryder.

Cinematography

The production design by Darren Gilford and costumes by Jeffrey Kurland are top-notch, capturing the eerie and spooky atmosphere of the haunted mansion. The visual effects are also impressive, creating a visually immersive experience for the audience.

Direction

Directed by Justin Simien, Haunted Mansion brings the iconic Disneyland theme park ride to life. While the film lacks twists or shockers, Simien skillfully blends horror and comedy throughout the movie. The pacing of the film is a bit uneven, with some moments of tension and others that fall flat. However, Simien's direction brings a sense of fun and playfulness to the movie.

Overall Review

Haunted Mansion promises a thrilling experience, transporting viewers into an imaginative world of ghosts. While the story may lack depth and the evil ghost's backstory is underwhelming, the film succeeds in providing an entertaining and visually immersive experience. The acting performances, production design, and visual effects are the highlights of the movie. Although it falls short of being a truly remarkable horror-comedy, Haunted Mansion offers a good time with friends and family who love spooky thrills.

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