★★★
Director Justin Simien (Bad Hair) takes a solid script by Katie Dippold (Ghostbusters – 2016) and turns it into the surprisingly good film Haunted Mansion. Unlike the original movie from the same theme, the 2023 film pays homage to the perpetually popular Disney ride without being trite or scaring the audience too much.
Brilliant astrophysicist Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield) is in a grief-stricken funk. After losing his wife, he turns away from his career and takes over her work, giving haunted tours in New Orleans. Even though he doesn’t believe in ghosts, he’s invented a camera lens to detect the ghost particle in hopes of reaching out to her. This invention is why Father Kent (Owen Wilson) approaches him about a mansion an hour from the city. It seems that the house is not only haunted but also never wants to let go of anyone who crosses its threshold. Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her son Travis (Chase Dillon) are trapped there as a result, and Kent wants Ben to help prove and get rid of the spirits. But they will need some help in the form of scientific expert Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito) and a questionable medium named Harriet (Tiffany Haddish). More than that, this group of grievers, loners, and self-doubters will need to learn to work together, or they’ll be torn apart by the Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto), who only needs one willing soul to escape his prison.
Simien and Dippold both get what the Disney ride is about. There are a few scares and many references to elements in both the Disneyland and Disneyworld ride versions. While a little slow to start, it is a thrill ride once the script gets going. Despite what could have been another throwaway story, Dippold does an excellent job of including important themes – dealing with grief, discovering your strength and worth, and finding your people. The cast is a weird mix that works. Stanfield is great as Ben, and Dillon stands out for his performance as Travis. The rest of the cast does a fine job of not taking themselves too seriously, and Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota is spot-on.
The special effects are outstanding and also respectful of the ride. Some popular characters get updates, but they’re still easily recognizable and retain the whimsical nature of the attraction. This recognition is aided by over-the-top costuming for all the background characters. The interior of the house and the way it is laid out are quite good, particularly in action scenes and callbacks to familiar optical illusions. There aren’t many songs in the film, but the ones present are well-placed and intertwine with the rest of the soundtrack.
Haunted Mansion doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t, which is why it works so well. A few scenes are scarier than the ride, and younger viewers might have a problem with these, but they’re brief, so most audience members should be fine. Any viewer looking for a gripping scare might be disappointed, but it is an excellent primer for budding horror fans. Most importantly, this version manages to capture the spirit of the ride and bring it home.
