Based off not only a book but a 1963 movie regarded as a classic, Jan De Bont's "The Haunting" has alot to live up to. Both the book and original movie are held in high regard so the advent of computer special effects should take this story to new heights. Then again, the man who gave us Speed 2 could completely blow it and make one of the most awful movies in recent years. Yeah, that's more like it.
Liam Nisson plays a professor looking to do a research study on fear and its effect on humans. So, he does the logical thing and places an ad in a local paper for people who suffer from insomnia. Once he brings in his test subjects composed of Owen Wilson, Lili Taylor, and Catherine Zeta Jones, he tells the tale of the incredible mansion which has quite the history. They have no idea that they have been brought in simply to be scared but things begin to happen around the house that were not planned. Not only are his subjects confused, but Liam himself begins to get seriously worried as things really start going haywire around the house.
The Haunting is a mess from beginning to end, filled with obvious plot holes, abysmal acting, sad script, and shameful special effects. You simply have to see one of the characters combating a CGI stone statue that has come to life to know just how bad this movie gets. Lili Taylor takes the worst beating. She not only can't act, but is fed some of the most ludicrous lines ever to be spoken in a major Hollywood production. The movie never even becomes the scare fest it claims to be. Unless you've never seen a horror movie in the past 10 years, there is nothing here that will instill fright. The only decent part of the film is the house itself which features some outstanding sculptures and carvings. (* out of *****)
The disc itself is admirable and has become popular for one of it's features. That feature is certainly not the video. Though quite good, there is nothing here that simply screams qaulity. Colors are strong, grain is mostly absent, and compression issues are not noticeable. Still, there is nothing here that will impress people enough to just run out and buy this disc. It's a very soft print that lacks the sharpness of many other discs. It gets the job done, but there is better on the store shelves. (***)
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