|
Films -
Movie Reviews
|
Reviewed by Carol Sullivan
Genre:Thriller, Supernatural Horror
Released: March 27th, 2009
Rating: PG-13
Film Credits
Director: Peter Cornwell
Starring: Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Elias Koteas
|
|
When I originally saw the ads for The Haunting in Connecticut, I instantly remembered the Discovery Channel episode, A Haunting, that I had seen some years ago. This Discovery Channel episode featured a recreation of a family's terrifying 2-year long ordeal which began in 1986. That particular episode had scared the you-know-what out of me at the time and the thought that they had finally made a movie about it was all I needed. I made plans to see this movie as soon as it came out. Though the filmmakers did take some creative license with the story, The Haunting in Connecticut makes for a pretty cool horror/thriller with some definite Boo-Factor...
The story begins as a young family is forced to relocate within driving distance of their son's hospital. Handsome teenager, Matt (Kyle Gallner) has been suffering from a brain cancer which requires constant and painful treatments. Needing a cheap rental fast, Matt's mother (Virginia Madsen, Candyman) rents a beautiful old home but neglects telling her young family that is was once a mortuary.
Soon after move-in, Matt begins to suffer from horrific hallucinations and with the help of Reverend Popescu (Elias Koteas), Matt and his family will do battle with the forces of evil that threaten to tear his loving family apart...
I did enjoy watching this movie as I munched my pop-corn (a guilty pleasure I cannot seem to see a movie without) but after a while the Boo's got to be a little expected. Thanks to the PG-13 rating, most of the scares come via a shadow slipping across a wall just out of the character's view. While the special effects created most of these moments, the audience always gasps; feeling like they know something the characters do not. But, just when I thought that these small little Boo's were all this movie had to offer, I realized that I had just screamed! I won't give away the scene, but from that moment on, the movie had me pretty well locked-in and interested.
The last 1/2 hour of this film is its best, but all in all the movie was fun to watch without being overly scary. While definitely not intended for little kids prone to nightmares, this would make a good choice for families with teens...
Though it's not a big WOW, it is worth the price of a ticket for sure!
Overall Rating: 2 1/2
| MORE VIDEOS |
Official
Trailer | Teaser | Official Trailer | TV Spot 1 | TV Spot 2 | TV Spot 3
|
|
|
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 March 2009 10:47 )
|
