Haunted Mansion’ Review: Disney’s Safe Ghost Ride Offers Mild Thrills, Not a Ton of Chills
On the heels of the box office success of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” in 2003, the idea of making a movie based on another Disney theme-park ride, the Haunted Mansion, seemed promising. However, the 2003 Eddie Murphy film turned out to be a disappointment.
Now, twenty years later, director Justin Simien’s new “Haunted Mansion” brings together an impressive cast, including Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, and Jamie Lee Curtis, for a supernatural comedy with some charm. While it is a significant improvement over its predecessor, this family-friendly ghostly adventure falls short in delivering both humor and scares.
The story follows single mom Gabbie (Dawson) and her son Travis (Chase W. Dillon) as they move into a haunted old New Orleans manor. To solve the paranormal mystery, Gabbie enlists the help of an optimistic priest (Wilson) and a motley crew of paranormal experts, including an antisocial tour guide (LaKeith Stanfield), an over-the-top medium (Haddish), and a grumpy history professor (Danny DeVito).
As they embark on their spooky journey, they encounter ghostly encounters and learn about a crystal ball with the head of a psychic (Curtis), 999 trapped souls, and a malevolent phantom known as the Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto).
The movie captures the essence of the iconic Disneyland ride, with impressive visual effects and nods to the attraction’s elements. However, the characters in the film feel like they are in archetypal roles they’ve played before, leaving the core story of Gabbie and Travis somewhat overshadowed. Nevertheless, Stanfield’s performance as a skeptical shut-in is a highlight, providing a touching and enjoyable aspect to the story.
Jamie Lee Curtis shines as a disembodied head, adding a fun element to the movie. While “Haunted Mansion” may lack significant fear factor and at times leans into slapstick comedy, it offers a pleasant and fantastical experience with the afterlife, making it suitable as a first horror movie for young audiences.
