Haunted Mansion Review
Haunted Mansion feels like a lovely throwback to the family fun Disney films of old.
Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield), a scientist struggling with the death of ghost-obsessed wife, is hired by Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) to help take photos of ghosts in the haunted mansion she inhabits. What he doesn’t realise is that upon arrival, the ghosts latch onto him, and now he is stuck trying to rid the house of its ghostly presence. Gabbie has already brought in a crack team to help her in this endeavour though, all similarly tricked into the task. Between them, Ben, Gabbie, Father Kent (Owen Wilson), medium Harriet (Tiffany Haddish), lecturer Bruce (Danny DeVito) and young Travis (Chase Dillon) will have to discover what has these ghosts worked up, and how they can save them
Directed by Justin Simien, Haunted Mansion is a pleasant little throwback film that feels like it has stepped straight out of the early 2000’s. Its mild humour bubbles along nicely, briefly interspersed with the occasional jump scare and the brief flash of heart.
Owen Wilson and Danny DeVito standout in the comedy sphere, both bringing their respective zany schtick’s to the piece. But it’s Lakeith Stanfield in the lead that really anchors the movie. He’s able to change it up so quickly between heartbreaking backstory complete with tears, and crazy ghost action antics, and funny asides, that it seems nearly miraculous.
Visually, the film is suitably gorgeous from a set design, and if the animation on the ghosts never quite reaches the heights you would expect, it’s not a major detractor from the film. For fans of the Disney ride, the soundtrack will be a welcome addition, consistently playing on the ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’ refrain.
Ultimately, the film probably drags on a little longer than needed. But there is a moment where Stanfield’s Ben recalls his grief that really cuts so quickly to the heart that you’re left a little shell shocked. This is a completely inoffensive, fun time in the theatre, but it also has a sneaky little bit of emotional warmth that will suck you in as unsuspectingly as our lead gets sucked into the Haunted Mansion itself. It makes it feel like a much older movie; something closer to ET than the modern dearth of overly animated kids films. Ben may have resurrected the dead in this film, but with it, Simien resurrects a dead art form; that of the entirely watchable, completely enjoyable, limited ambition family action comedy, and it absolutely works.
