Review of The Haunting (1999) by Daniel H — 02 Oct 2011

If you want to be entertained and horror is what floats your boat, 'The Haunting' will definitely leave you wanting more. Personally, I'm not so concrete-bound; when I watch a movie I'm looking for conceptual subtext and meaning--rather than gratuitous blood and gore for seemingly no reason--and I'm a big fan of films that stand on good principles (as opposed to those that toss principle aside, or worse, revel in evil). If you're like me, and you can stomach the horror genre adding a little spice to the literary soup, this film is absolutely wonderful.

Yes, there is a haunted house, ghosts, creaky noises, and frightening suspense. But there is also a very firm statement about standing up to evil and putting it in its proper place. This is a story about justice. And though I believe it must correctly still be categorized within the horror genre, it produces an effect in the intelligent, perceptive watcher that no other horror film (that I have seen does):

When you feel sorry for the characters "stuck in the house" in other films, you get upset when they die. When you hate them all, you find yourself "rooting for the house" sometimes. In 'The Haunting,' Hugh Crain (the evil ghost) may not be the most terrifying thing you've ever seen in a film, but he's no picnic; you'll be peaking around corners a little bit afterward. But, when Eleanor (the protagonist) puts all the pieces together to discover what monstrosities he's committed, she calls him out, gets right in his face and screams, "I'm not afraid of you!" And you're cheering right alongside her; if you're engaged with the film, her blindingly bright courage will wipe away any fear you have, and you'll be ready to help her send him straight to Hell.