*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*
“There’s no such thing as ghosts…”
Haunted Mansion (2023) released in theaters on July 28th 2023. Based on the Disney ride, the remake fantasy comedy film stars LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto. It runs for approximately two hours.
After a woman and her son encounter some ghosts in their new home, they enlist the help of some spiritual experts to get rid of them.
Here is the trailer:
Haunted Mansion brings plenty of nostalgia for fans of the theme park ride while creating a delightful new story filled with spooky fun and heartwarming moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…
The Pros:
An entertaining story with welcomed nods at the Disney ride.
I almost forgot about the 2003 version of this film starring Eddie Murphy. The new remake has nothing to do with that story (although you will see some of the same familiar ghosts floating around).
The new mystery is captivating enough and has a charm of its own. The haunted mansion ride at Disney World was always one of my favorite rides and it was really cute seeing some of those familiar characters pop up again, making this a fun tribute to that while branching off into its own mystery.
Fun characters!
We got a fantastic cast in this one and they really delivered with their characters. At first I wasn’t sure about how I felt about this group, but I quickly fell in love with them and I think they elevated this film in a lot of ways.
It was easy to root for them all and the dynamic between them was wonderful.
The Cons:
Takes a while to find its groove…
The first half of this film felt a little unsure of itself. A lot of the humor didn’t land for me and the ghosts didn’t really do too much damage so I was quickly losing interest. Luckily that changed and the second half of the film really found its magic.
I wouldn’t say that this is a perfect film by any means, but it was still an enjoyable ride and I think that was the point.
So am I in or out?
I’m in!!!
A charming kids-friendly horror entry!
If you’re a fan of the Disney ride or in need of a quick film to watch with the kids, there are plenty of enjoyable moments in this one.
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Haunted Mansion in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…
When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.
Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…
My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!
Scream Hunt is available here!
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