THE HAUNTING
US, 1999, 113 minutes, Colour.
Lili Taylor, Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Owen Wilson, Bruce Dern, Marian Seldes, Todd Field, Virginia Madsen.
Directed by Jan de Bont.
The Haunting is a remake of the 1963 film with Claire Bloom and Julie Harris. It is based on a novel, The Legend of Hell House by Shirley Jackson. It was also filmed by John Hough in the 1970s as The Legend of Hell House.
This film was not well received on its release. It had a very big budget, had lavish sets, special effects. However, the criticism was of the screenplay and its adaptation of the novel and of the earlier film – diminishing the characterisations, the subtle sense of emotions beneath the surface, the nature of the crime and the ghosts.
The film focuses on Liam Neeson as a doctor conducting a controlled experiment about group fear. The group is invited to a huge mansion – and the sets are extraordinary, like several palaces and museums in one. The applicants for the test are Lily Taylor who bears the weight of the film as well as Catherine Zeta- Jones with her glamorous style and Owen Wilson, already showing his comic slacker character. Bruce Dern and Marian Seldes have brief roles as the caretakers of the house. Virginia Madsen appears briefly as Lili Taylor’s sister.
Lili Taylor is good in terms of a strength of character, a woman who has looked after her mother, is susceptible to fear, is the person who sees the ghosts, discovers the truth of what happened in the house – the owner killing his wife and killing young children. At the end, she confronts the ghost, dies but goes into Paradise along with the children.
The film was directed by Jan de Bont, better known for his cinematography work and directing blockbusters, Speed and Twister.
While the film is lavish, it will appeal only to those interested in variations on horror and haunting themes.
1.The quality of the film? Its poor critical reception? Comparisons with the original novel? With the other versions on screen of the story?
2.The plausibility of the plot, characters, the controlled experiment, ghosts and hauntings?
3.The ordinary settings, Eleanor and her apartment, her confrontation with her sister, brother-in-law? Their callous attitude? Her looking after her mother? Her wanting her apartment? The phone call, the advertisement, her accepting to be part of the experiment? Her sensitivities and susceptibilities?
4.Doctor Marrow, his associates, the plan for the experiment and the investigation? The critique of the doctors because of the participants not knowing the truth? His reassurances? His choosing the three candidates? His associates, their going to the house? The associate injured by the loose piano string? The discussions about the control? His being left alone in the house? The gates locked?
5.Mr Dudley, unlocking the gates, his comments to Eleanor? Mrs Dudley?, her sepulchral style, her speech about being distant from the house?
6.Theo, glamorous, artist? The contrast with Eleanor? Their becoming friends, exploring the house? Meeting Luke? His offhand manner? The house itself and their discoveries? The room?
7.The nights, the monitoring of their sleep? The noises – and the explanation of the boiler for the bath? The fears? The cold and the icy breath? The effect of these experiences on each of the three? On Doctor Marrow? His reassurances? His telling them part of the background story – and explaining to his associates how they would embroider the story according to their own fears and interests?
8.The background story, Hugh Crain, his widow, the portraits – and the blood warning them to go? The décor, the children’s faces? Crain and his wanting to have children?
9.The appearances, only to Nell? Her fear, her being chased around the house? The parts of the house expanding, threatening? The special effects? Ghostly? The appearances of the ghosts?
10.Luke, his offhand manner, the slacker? Discussions with Doctor Marrow? Reassurances? The suddenness of his death?
11.The threats to Theo, her supporting Nell?
12.Nell, her susceptibilities, the question whether the house was haunted before she arrived? Her discovery about her ancestry? The fears, the confrontations? With Hugh Crain himself? Her death?
13.The effect on Doctor Marrow, the failed experiment, the ethical issues? Deaths?
14.The build-up to the culmination, the confrontation, Nell’s death – and her apotheosis? Going with the children into Heaven?
