RETURN TO HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL

US, 2007, 81 minutes, Colour.
Amanda Righetti, Cerina Vincent, Erik Paladino, Tom Riley, Andrew Lee Potts, Jeffrey Combs.
Directed by Victor Garcia.

Return to House on Haunted Hill takes up the themes of House on Haunted Hill, the horror film with Geoffrey Rush, 1999.

The film uses similar sets, the visuals of the house. It also draws on the themes of the previous film. However, it also introduces popular themes of ancient cursed statues being hidden and being sought by archaeologists and bounty hunters.

The direction is by Spanish-born Victor Garcia who worked on special effects from films ranging from Almodovar’s Talk to Her to Hellboy.

The film is brief, assembles a group of rather unlikeable characters, sets the plots for the search for the lost statue, takes them all to the haunted house, locks them in, lets loose the ghosts who gradually demolish all the group, starting with the bodyguards for the villains first, and only killing one of the good guys.

The film is strong on special effects, the strongpoint of the director. Some of these are quite effective, like the scene in the water tank. There are effective ghosts – and, for those who indulge in this kind of thing, some rather gory killings.

1.The original film of the 50s? The remake of the 1990s? This film drawing on characters, situations, the haunted house?

2.The Los Angeles settings, the university, the hospitals, the haunted house itself? The décor of the house, the rooms, the high ceilings, the long corridors, the rooms, cellars? The eerie atmosphere? The special effects? The ghosts? The deaths?

3.The credibility of the plot? The search for the statue? The haunted house?

4.Richard, his lecture, the explanation of the statue? His students? The death of Ariel’s sister? Her being in the haunted house? Desmond and his killing her? Wanting the diary? The information about the statue? Desmond having been Richard’s student? Richard and his wanting the statue, going on the expedition to the haunted house? His behaviour, the end, change of heart, wanting the statue at all costs, his death?

5.Ariel, her sister’s death, being a model, Paul as the photographer, their relationship? The information about the diary? Meeting Richard? With his assistant Kyle? Their going to the house? Their being taken by Desmond and his gang? Ariel as strong heroine? Paul left outside with the guard, eventually being brought in? His heroics? Ariel and the confrontations with the ghosts? Her decision about the statue, taking it, throwing it into the canal? Paul and the pursuit of the ghosts? Their surviving?

6.Kyle, agreeable, in the house, witnessing the deaths? His own death?

7.Desmond, student, villain, five million dollars, Michelle, her relationship with Richard, betraying him, the money? Their bodyguards? The tough stances? In the house, pursued, Michelle’s head being crushed, Desmond burnt?

8.The combination of popular ingredients of haunted houses, ghosts who are victims of a mad doctor, vengeance, mysterious statues and superstitions?