Customer Reviews

Haunted

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

With the pervasiveness of the slasher sub-genre in the horror marketplace over the last 15 years, it's been rather difficult for more discriminating horror fans to find horror films that disturb and frighten without resorting to decapitation and mutilation of all sorts of obnoxious teenagers. For all the genuine originality and post-modern irony of the original Scream (which - like Unforgiven - should have closed, not reinvigorated,its sub-genre) its novelty has long since worn out thanks partly to its cynical, bland sequels and other putrid imitations. Thankfully, the recent success of The Sixth Sense and - to a lesser extent - A Stir of Echoes and What Lies Beneath suggests there may be light at the end of the tunnel for those of us increasingly tired of endless, infantile and inferior rehashes of Halloween and Black Christmas. But for horror collectors who revere movies like The Uninvited, The Innocents, Rosemary's Baby, The Haunting (original), The Legend of Hell House, The Exorcist, Don't Look Now, The Changeling, Burnt Offerings and the like, the bulk of recent Hollywood horror output has not been kind to our collections. Well look no further horror buffs! Lewis Gilbert's superb Haunted is the unacknowledged classic you've been looking for. Deploying the staples of intelligent classical horror - a haunted mansion; a twisted family history; a sceptical investigator - Gilbert has fashioned a classic of the genre that is destined for cult status. Beautifully set in the rustic south of England following World War One, the story involves a Cambridge professor (Aidan Quinn) who is a renowned debunker of supernatural phenomena. Invited to Edbrook Estate to investigate an old woman's allegations of "evil spirits" haunting the mansion she tends, he encounters the eccentric but charming family occupying the mansion. As his relationship with the sister (Kate Beckinsale in excellent form) grows, dynamics are brought into play which gradually begin to reveal the true evil at the heart of the house and its history. To complicate matters, the young professor is haunted - first emotionally, then literally - by his dead sister, whose drowning at the age of seven he blames on himself. From its wrenching opening scene (recalling Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Know) through to its unsettling concluding revelation (only the sharpest of you will figure it out beforehand), Haunted grabs you and never lets go. Midnight scratches on doors; mysterious gypsey seances; empty chairs rocking vigorously; apparitions swirling across dark lawns; spectral fires springing from nowhere; and something horrid in the lake ... Haunted hits all the right buttons with an admirable lack of embarrassment or irony. This movie is out to scare you and every frame accords to that function. So for those of you unable to get your fix from Jan de Bont's abysmal remake of The Haunting, take my word for it - this is the movie you'd been expecting! This is a horror classic awaiting for your discovery.

This is a little heralded gem of a film and a chilling adaptation of James Herbert's spooky novel of the same name. With a star studded cast, the film does not lack for talent. Beautifully acted, this gothic ghost story is a wonderfully atmospheric, haunted house tale, sparely told.

The film begins with a turn of the century scene in Sussex, England with two children playing in the idyllic English countryside. They are fraternal twins, David and Juliet Ash. While playing, Juliet ends up drowning, and David, to his life long regret, is unable to save her.

Years later, David (Aidan Quinn) is a Professor of Psychology with a penchant for debunking so-called supernatural occurrences. After receiving an intriguing and pleading letter from a Mrs. Webb about ghostly apparitions at the rural manor home in which she resides, David goes there, only to be met by the Mariell clan, consisting of Christina (Kate Beckindsale), and her brothers, Robert (Anthony Andrews) and Simon (Alex Lowe). It turns out that Mrs. Webb is their old nanny, whom they all still call Nanny Tess (Ann Massey). She is clearly terrified of something that is going on in the house, and the Mariells all seem to be humoring her.

The Mariell siblings, at first, appear to be wildly eccentric Brits, but later seem to be more than just a little twisted, as it soon becomes apparent that all is not right in that household. There are things that go bump in the night, strange music is played, and the ghostly apparition of a young girl seems to glide about the house and grounds. Moreover, Nanny Tess always appears to be in a state of acute terror and is even so when the seemingly benign Dr. Doyle (John Geilgud) appears to give her a check up.

As a romance heats up between David and Christina, however, David appears to turn a blind eye to what is going on in the household. Even the apparently unwholesome relationship Christina appears to have with her brothers, especially Robert, initially fails to nonplus David. Too late, he realizes the nature of the evil within this isolated, rural manor house. In the end, it takes the force of something beyond the grave to save him from an almost unimaginable horror.

The acting is superb in this remarkably told tale of ghosts and things that go bump in the night. This is a well done, stealthily told, haunted house story that is sure to keep viewers glued to their screens. Kate Beckinsale gives a wonderful performance as the seemingly quirky and free spirited Christina. Anthony Andrews is excellent as the slightly sinister, oldest sibling, Robert. Alex Lowe is appropriately eccentric as Christina's off the wall brother, Simon. John Gielgud gives a terrific cameo performance. Aidan Quinn is effective as the erstwhile debunker who loses sight of his mission and is gulled into a false sense of reality.

The only reason I did not rate this film five stars is because the director acquiesced to some need to resort to cheesy special effects at the very end. The superimposed faces on the last fire scene was unnecessary and only served to cheapen what had, otherwise, been a very well done and spooky film. The DVD itself provides crystal clear audio and visuals but little else,

For fans of Kate Beckinsale the movie "Haunted" is certainly a guilty pleasure - why guilty, not because it's a bad movie but simply because the young British actress has more nudity in this picture than in all her other movies combined.
Two years prior to this movie Beckinsale has her first topless scene in the movie "Uncovered," and here she throws all caution to the wind - along with most of her clothes. It's a somewhat uncharacteristically scary movie from Lewis Gilbert, the man who gave us some of the silliest James Bond movies such as "You Only Live Twice" and "Moonraker."
In this 1996 movie the ever-watchable Aidan Quinn plays Dr. Ash, a skeptic who accepts the invitation to investigate supernatural goings-on at a creepy country estate. Once there he begins to witness some unexplainable occurrences and for those of you looking for a twist in the end of your stories - this one has a doozey. Not to give too much away, but nothing is quite as it seems and this one gives they yet-to-be-made "Sixth Sense" a run for its money in more ways than one.
Adapted from the James Herbert novel this movie is probably one of my all-time favorite haunted house tales and joining Quinn and Beckinsale are the likes of Anthony Andrews, Anna Massey and John Gielgud (in what is essentially an extended cameo). It's a brilliant gothic tale with plenty to recommend about it. I saw it with my roomies, who are all horror-movie aficionado's and they all agreed it was a good show.
Is this movie scary - yes, does it thrill - yes it does that too. Is it a good purchase - yes, and if you are a Beckinsale fan it's a definite must for your collection.

This movie is first of all a great haunted house story. If you don't think you like haunted house stories try this one. It's different and clever and eerie. It's also beautifully filmed and acted. Aidan Quinn does a fine job as David Ash, the skeptical investigator of things that go bump in the night who is still troubled by the death of his twin sister years before. Kate Beckinsale steals the show as Christina Mariel the "audaciously charming" girl whose home Ash comes to investigate. Their love story is well done. (When will Kate Beckinsale get the kind of notice she deserves? The lady continues to do superb work in every kind of role.) When you pop this into your VCR (please relaese this on DVD soon!) you're in for a real treat. You won't be safe from goosebumps until the final credits. . . and maybe not even then! See this film!

To be brief,HAUNTED is an excellent ghost story,well acted,well-scripted and beautifully filmed.Why 4 stars? Having had the advantage of seeing THE OTHERS,SIXTH SENSE and THE CHANGELING before seeing HAUNTED,I had figured out everything by the first quarter of the film-AND I WAS RIGHT,TOO!That should not stop you though from seeing this movie highlighted by the performances of the deliciously smarmy Anthony Andrews (of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED fame) as the VERY creepy older brother to and equally chilling Kate Beckinsale as his baby sister.WHAT A PAIR THESE TWO ARE! What can one say about Aidan Quinn but that he is always good at what he does.Had I have seen HAUNTED before the above-mentioned films I probably would have given it the extra star.Still,HAUNTED is sufficiently chilling,creepy,ghosty and spooky-all the things that a good tale of horror should have!

This is a great one! Very interesting and well presented, and it will definitely give you goosebumps toward the end!!

Albeit a bit low-budget with some scene gaffes/continuity mistakes, it's enjoyable just the same. I won't say much about the film as the other reviewers have pretty much clued you in on what happens. I found it a bit sad that David Ash and Christina could not realize their budding relationship...her character was quite redeemable despite the foul influence of her older brother. She truly cared for David.

Much better than the book!

This is not a film with lots of blood and gore. In fact there is no blood and gore. The film "Haunted," was written by James Herbert. I happened to read the book while on a flight from Chicago to L.A., and although I don't read horror books, but do like some of the films in the genre, I found the book interesting and very original. Therefore, I was pleased to see the film when it was released. I believe that this is an underrated gem of a film: And is deserving of 5 stars. David Ash (Aidan Quinn) is a professor who has debunked anything dealing with the supernatural. He has even written a book on the subject. He comes into contact with a woman who has been pleading with him through several letters to help her with the evil spirits in her home.

The woman Nanny Tess (Anna Massey) is excellent in her role. I will not give out any spoilers in this review, as to do so will ruin the film for you. He decides to investigate the womans home. It is a mansion at Edbrook, [Edbrook Mansion]. The mansion is occupied by 3 siblings. Two men and one young woman. The elder brother Robert Mariell (Anthony Andrews) is the leader of these young adults. The sister, Christina, is portrayed by the beautiful (Kate Beckinsale). Not everything is what is seems in this mansion. The family physician, Dr. Doyle is portrayed by (John Gielgud). What David encounters is very shocking and haunting. There is more to the occupants of this mansion than he realizes. The ending is terrific, and totally original. You will enjoy this film. Highly recommended.

Although the dreadful Pearl Harbor put British actress Kate Beckinsale on everyone's radar, before that she did the far superior Haunted. An impressive film featuring big stars, based on a James Herbert novel, and executive produced by (among others) Francis Ford Coppola.

Haunted opens in 1905, in the picturesque English countryside, when a young David Ash (Peter England) inadvertently kills his sister, Juliet (Victoria Shalet). During a moment of horseplay, she strikes her head and falls into a stream. David jumps in to rescue her, but fails. Juliet drowns.

Flash forward to 1928, and the adult David (Aidan Quinn) is now an Oxford professor and professional skeptic. He not only discounts ghostly sightings in his well-received book, he spends off-campus hours exposing charlatan spiritualists. Although he's still haunted by guilt and grief, he's accepted his sister's death; now he wants to help others rid their emotional crutches of belief in an afterlife. It's more than a job; it's his calling.

So renowned an author is David, he is deluged by fan mail, including from the elderly but wealthy "Nanny Tess" Webb (Anna Massey), who asks David to exorcise her country manor of ghosts. Dismissive at first, David is convinced to try and help the old woman by his kindly secretary. Not to rid the manor of ghosts, but to prove to Nanny Tess that there are none, and to convince her to seek therapy.

Upon arriving in the country, David is met by Nanny Tess's niece, Christina (Kate Beckinsale). David soon meets Christina's brothers (Anthony Andrews and Alex Lowe), and the hauntings begin.

Complicating matters, whatever spirits are tormenting Nanny Tess are now joined by a rival ghost, that of David's long-dead sister, Juliet, whom only David can see. Just as, at times, only Nanny Tess can see her ghosts.

Further complicating matters is a burgeoning love between David and Christina. Complicated, because it inflames the jealousies of Christina's older brother, who paints nude portraits of Christina. The other brother prefers to spy on Christina, when he's not skinny-dipping with her. And Christina, well, she's not as innocent as David may like to believe. (If you're hankering for nude scenes of Beckinsale, this film delivers.) Those English aristocrats do have their dark wild side, and it is the Roaring Twenties, and David can be such a square...

And yet, despite its risqu? content, Haunted has the ambiance of an old-fashioned English ghost story. Languid pace, period piece decor, classy English accents, rich musical soundtrack, sumptuous cinematography of the English countryside. If Merchant Ivory were to do a horror film, it would look like Haunted.

Yes, there is enough ghostly terror to please horror fans. But there are also lyrical interludes of horseback riding along the white cliffs of Dover in glorious telephoto, lovers galloping through autumnal colored woods, then tumbling in the hay in some absent yeoman farmer's barn. And capping an afternoon so visually resplendent it could be used for a high-fashion photo shoot, along comes a rustic fortune-teller. Her red weather-beaten face and peasant teeth evoke so much local charm, we expect the romantic interlude to end with a prediction of marriage for our young lovers. But instead, the fortune-teller's ominous palm reading (reminiscent of the one in Jacob's Ladder) returns the story to unsettling terror.

Haunted has many unexpected twists, especially as events cascade in the final reel, culminating in a surprise revelation that packs a powerful punch. David's final discovery is an unexpected shock, yet it all suddenly makes sense.

Much as in The Sixth Sense.

Haunted is an obscure film, especially compared to the wildly successful Sixth Sense. Yet it's hard to believe that Haunted did not influence The Sixth Sense.

Odds are most Americans didn't know of Kate Beckinsale until she appeared in Pearl Harbor. In previous films, I found Beckinsale's onscreen persona to be both compelling and annoying (e.g., Cold Comfort Farm, The Last Days of Disco). In Haunted, Beckinsale is ... compelling and annoying. Compelling, because she is attractive, occasionally even sympathetic. Annoying, because her characters are often persnickety, and always conceited, scheming, and manipulative.

This is not to describe Beckinsale, but it's the role she often plays. (She was nobler in Pearl Harbor, but also blander.)

But David Ash is the main character in Haunted, and Aidan Quinn effectively predominates the film. His David is sympathetic, courageous, sensitive, multi-textured, buffeted by events as he struggles to understand and aid and comfort, fighting for new love while still grappling with guilt and grief over his past.

Quinn and Beckinsale both perform splendidly, but so too the entire cast. One expects slick craftsmanship from a Merchant Ivory film, and Haunted delivers that (although not a Merchant Ivory film). But Haunted also succeeds as an entertaining and atmospheric English ghost story, full of mystery and terror and suspense, and a powerful surprise ending.

Certainly not a world beater but Haunted is a somewhat haunting movie that you may enjoy. In some respects it's an older and distant cousin of the Nicole Kidman movie The Others, a little less confusing but with an equally bizarre twist.

The skeptical Parapsychology Professor David Ash (Aidan Quinn) has written a bestseller which refutes the supernatural and spirit world and teaches such a course in an unnamed British university(perhaps Oxford). He also spends some of his free time exposing charlatans, debunking their paranormal activities. (seances, fortune telling, etc.)

David is intrigued when among his daily fan mail he receives a note from an elderly lady, not too far away, imploring him to come to Edbrook and eliminate the ghosts that are haunting her.

Of course David knows there are no ghosts but he feels he may be able to help her understand and therefore overcome her delusions.

The story begins in 1905, where tragedy strikes when young David is playing with his twin sister Juliet suddenly falls in a pond and drowns.

The story continues twenty-three years later when David now a professor at Oxford University accepts an invitation to country manor for the purpose of helping a terrified old woman who is being haunted by ghosts only she can see.

Once arriving at Mariell Manor David meets and is captivated by the free spirited, child like, beauty, Christine. Next he meets the object of his travel, the somewhat catatonic, Nanny Tess (Anna Massey), who may or not be Christina's aunt.

Eventually we meet Christina's childlike brothers, Robert (Anthony Andrews) who seeming has nothing to do except paint canvases of his lovely sister in the nude and Simon (Alex Lowe) who fancies himself as a jokester.

Yes this is indeed a peculiar family and just how aberrant becomes evident to David as he watches Cristina undress and jump into a small lake, followed by Simon, also nude.

Later strange occurrences begin, some of which could be explained as pranks but others like being caught in a fire only find out he imagined it, has our cynical professor confused and bewildered, unable to reconcile these bizarre events. David is also conflicted as his feelings for coy, ever flirting, Christina escalate and apparently she for him but brother Robert is obviously envious of the attention she bestows on David.

As a romance heats up between David and Christina, however, David appears to turn a blind eye to what is going on in the household. Even the apparently unwholesome relationship Christina appears to have with her brothers, especially Robert, initially fails to distract David. Too late, he realizes the nature of the evil within this isolated, rural manor house. In the end, it takes the force of something beyond the grave to save him from an almost unimaginable horror.

CONCLUSION

No, Haunted is no world beater of a movie. It's relatively small budget and has an even smaller cast with only five primary actors, (John Gielgud has more of a cameo part) and only a few others, namely young David and Juliet and later David's secretary. However I was pleasantly surprised by the movie as one of the more intriguing, well done ghost stories I've ever viewed. As in almost all so called horror movies there are lose ends or questionable directions, which did which did occur to some extent in Haunted but not nearly as much as similar contemporary movies.

The acting is superlative. This is an extraordinary tale of ghosts and otherside but it is subtle. It doesn't hit you over the head with unbelievable concepts and cheesy special effects. (except for a little at the end) This is a well done, stealthily told, haunted house story that is sure to hold viewers interest throughout. Kate Beckinsale give a wonderful performance as the seemingly quirky, provocative and free spirited Christina. Anthony Andrews is excellent as the slightly sinister, oldest sibling, Robert. Alex Lowe is appropriately eccentric as Christina's off the wall brother, Simon. John Gielgud gives a terrific cameo performance. Aidan Quinn is effective as the erstwhile debunker who loses sight of his mission and is mislead into a false sense of reality.

As I mentioned, Quinn and Beckinsale both perform splendidly (she can ask me out anytime she wants to), but so too does the entire cast. The reason I did not rate Haunted five stars is because of the application cheesy effects near the end. Shame on the director for devising or allowing it but it did not detract from the overall effectiveness of the film.

So, though Haunted may not be a world beater in general it may be one in its genre. Haunted succeeds as an entertaining and atmospheric English ghost story, full of mystery and terror and suspense, and a powerful surprise ending. I think it is one of the best haunted house movies I've seen but I'll let you be the judge.