I think the summary about says it all. It has twists and turns and has you guessing all the way through it. And in the end, you find out you were possibly fooled all the time. It was scary at times and I would rate it as an excellent film of this genre. I must admit, that I am a real fan of this type of film.
95 Reviews
Forever Haunted
sol-kay13 June 2009
***SPOILERS*** A bit confusing in the end "Haunted" still is as good a haunted movie that's to come out of Hollywood since the all-time haunted house horror classic film "The Haunting" back in 1963.
In "Haunted" we have Chicago Uiversity psychology professor, and famed debunker of the paranormal, Dr. David Ash,Aidan Quinn, travel England back in 1928 to investigate the Mariell Mansion that's reported to be haunted by an evil spirit by one of its occupants Nanny Webb, Anna Massey. David soon falls in love with the lady of the house Christian Mariell, Kate Beckinsale, who meets him at the train station and drives him to the mansion.
At the spacious mansion David is introduced to Christina's two brothers the overly serious Robert, Anthony Andrews, and joker and in house comedian Simon, Alex Lowe, who together with Christina spend almost all their time doing nothing but partying around and skinny-dipping in the in the outdoor lake. Even though the astute David sees nothing supernatural in Nanny Webb's observations he does see that the Mariell children are somehow totally indifferent to her as if she doesn't even exist at all. As for Nanny Webb she's terrified of them even more then the ghost of Mrs. Mariell that she claims to be haunting the Mansion!
***SPOILER ALERT*** David himself becomes convinced in Nanny Webb's statements of supernatural occurrences at the Mariell Mansion not by seeing the late Mrs. Mariell but in seeing his own long deceased twin sister Juliet, Victoria Shalet. Juliet is trying to get David to leave the premises before something very awful and terrible happens to him. Something that's been planned in advance to happen to David by the Mariell children who are not what they at first seem to be!
Nanny Webb has carried this terrible secret about what really happened to the late Mrs. Mariell since back on that cold February day in 1923. It was the circumstances of Mrs. Mariell's tragic death and what she did after that that has driven Nanny Webb to the brink of madness. A madness that was soon to engulf David Ash in a web of incest murder and arson that will change his opinions about haunted houses ghosts and the supernatural forever!
In "Haunted" we have Chicago Uiversity psychology professor, and famed debunker of the paranormal, Dr. David Ash,Aidan Quinn, travel England back in 1928 to investigate the Mariell Mansion that's reported to be haunted by an evil spirit by one of its occupants Nanny Webb, Anna Massey. David soon falls in love with the lady of the house Christian Mariell, Kate Beckinsale, who meets him at the train station and drives him to the mansion.
At the spacious mansion David is introduced to Christina's two brothers the overly serious Robert, Anthony Andrews, and joker and in house comedian Simon, Alex Lowe, who together with Christina spend almost all their time doing nothing but partying around and skinny-dipping in the in the outdoor lake. Even though the astute David sees nothing supernatural in Nanny Webb's observations he does see that the Mariell children are somehow totally indifferent to her as if she doesn't even exist at all. As for Nanny Webb she's terrified of them even more then the ghost of Mrs. Mariell that she claims to be haunting the Mansion!
***SPOILER ALERT*** David himself becomes convinced in Nanny Webb's statements of supernatural occurrences at the Mariell Mansion not by seeing the late Mrs. Mariell but in seeing his own long deceased twin sister Juliet, Victoria Shalet. Juliet is trying to get David to leave the premises before something very awful and terrible happens to him. Something that's been planned in advance to happen to David by the Mariell children who are not what they at first seem to be!
Nanny Webb has carried this terrible secret about what really happened to the late Mrs. Mariell since back on that cold February day in 1923. It was the circumstances of Mrs. Mariell's tragic death and what she did after that that has driven Nanny Webb to the brink of madness. A madness that was soon to engulf David Ash in a web of incest murder and arson that will change his opinions about haunted houses ghosts and the supernatural forever!
Weird and outlandish ghost story with awesome acting by a nice British cast
ma-cortes5 May 2023
A sceptic University professor called David Ash : Aidan Quinn is summoned to Edbrook House by dotty servant , Miss Webb : Anna Massey . Then David's drawn into the intrigues of its other three inhabitants , Christina : Kate Beckinsale , and the brothers Roberts : Anthony Andrews and Simon : Alex Lowe . Unsettled by the bizarre goings-on , the visiting American David begins to lose his grip on reality ; while Massey's twitchy , unhinged old maid sets the tone for what will follow , and Beckinsale's sexy Christina fuses childlike recklessness with adult manipulation . Along the way , various fantastic events occuring : pianos that play by themselves, fires that spring up from nowhere and housekeepers who see things . You will believe ...!
This is a supernatural tale of love and mystery adapted from James Herbert's novel by veteran filmmaker Lewis Gilbert . An old-fashioned ghost story with convincing interpretations that benefits itself from craftsmanship , but lacks atmosphere and imagination enough . All is present and correct , from Edwardian pile where things go bump at the night , to the ghostly figures by a moonlit lake. Aidan Quinn brings an emotional dimension to the professional sceptic David Ash who like Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle unmasks trickery , false gurus , fake clairvoyants and whose rational beliefs are challenged by a confrontation with the spiritual world . Quinn's disintegrating professor holds things together, his splendid interpretation results to be the solid dramatic axis around which things spin wildly out of control . Along with Kate Beckinsale as the English rose heroine and an arch British supporting cast , such as : Anthony Andrews who's producer as well , Anna Massey , Alex Lowe , Geraldine Somerville and Linda Bassett as Madame Brontski . This one , though , does have an extra touch of class in the splendid form of John Gielgud who at 91 can still give the best acting in the movie . And there's some strong love scenes and nudism , just to remind us that this is 1995 and not some phantom from forty years before , though Kate Beckinsale has a body-double in her naked apperances.
The motion picture was competently directed by Lewis Gilbert who was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1997 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the film industry. Lewis has directed four actors to Oscar nominations: Michael Caine (Best Actor, Alfie (1966); Best Actor, Educating Rita (1983), Vivien Merchant (Best Supporting Actress, Alfie , 1966), Julie Walters (Best Actress, Educating Rita (1983), and Pauline Collins (Best Actress, Shirley Valentine (1989). He was a successful producer and director , getting some hits , such as : Alfie , Operation: Daybreak , Shirley Valentine , H. M. S. Defiant , The 7th Dawn , Light up the sky !, Sink the Bismarck ! , among others . And directing three notable James Bond films : The Spy Who Loved Me , Moonraker , You Only Live Twice . Rating : 6.5/10. Above average . Well worth seeing .
This is a supernatural tale of love and mystery adapted from James Herbert's novel by veteran filmmaker Lewis Gilbert . An old-fashioned ghost story with convincing interpretations that benefits itself from craftsmanship , but lacks atmosphere and imagination enough . All is present and correct , from Edwardian pile where things go bump at the night , to the ghostly figures by a moonlit lake. Aidan Quinn brings an emotional dimension to the professional sceptic David Ash who like Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle unmasks trickery , false gurus , fake clairvoyants and whose rational beliefs are challenged by a confrontation with the spiritual world . Quinn's disintegrating professor holds things together, his splendid interpretation results to be the solid dramatic axis around which things spin wildly out of control . Along with Kate Beckinsale as the English rose heroine and an arch British supporting cast , such as : Anthony Andrews who's producer as well , Anna Massey , Alex Lowe , Geraldine Somerville and Linda Bassett as Madame Brontski . This one , though , does have an extra touch of class in the splendid form of John Gielgud who at 91 can still give the best acting in the movie . And there's some strong love scenes and nudism , just to remind us that this is 1995 and not some phantom from forty years before , though Kate Beckinsale has a body-double in her naked apperances.
The motion picture was competently directed by Lewis Gilbert who was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1997 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the film industry. Lewis has directed four actors to Oscar nominations: Michael Caine (Best Actor, Alfie (1966); Best Actor, Educating Rita (1983), Vivien Merchant (Best Supporting Actress, Alfie , 1966), Julie Walters (Best Actress, Educating Rita (1983), and Pauline Collins (Best Actress, Shirley Valentine (1989). He was a successful producer and director , getting some hits , such as : Alfie , Operation: Daybreak , Shirley Valentine , H. M. S. Defiant , The 7th Dawn , Light up the sky !, Sink the Bismarck ! , among others . And directing three notable James Bond films : The Spy Who Loved Me , Moonraker , You Only Live Twice . Rating : 6.5/10. Above average . Well worth seeing .
Why there aren´t any more ghost movies like this ?...
Alcaminhante8 September 1999
I first saw this a couple of years ago, when it was released on video, and since then i must have watched about two or three times more. Surprisingly for a mistery movie, this doesn´t loose it´s appeal even when we are watching it for the second time. Even when we already know how it´s going to end.
The first time we see it, it´s great and we spend the whole movie trying to guess what is going to happen next, even if the ending might be a bit easy to guess from a certain point in the movie, if we pay atention to some details.
Anyway, this is an excelent movie, the atmosphere is perfect. Very intriguing and misterious, but at the same time set in very normal locations. Normaly ghost movies are associated to lots of scenes in the dark, but this movie is a very bright movie with most of its story set in very iluminated places, contrary to the classic ghost storytelling. But at the same time even during normal scenes whe can feel that there is something wrong in the air, and this is what makes this movie so atmospheric. It realy feels like the whole movie is haunted. We can watch it again, and again and keep finding new small details, that we missed the first time.
But what ghost story would be without scares and chills. Well there are a couple of scary moments in here also and some very good chilling sequences. Most of them is actualy in our minds, because ther aren´t many special effects in, but that´s the way a good ghost story should be presented. The atmosphere in this is so good, that if the few flashy special effects that are present were removed, it wouldn´t make a diference. But fear not, this is not a Spielberg effects film, the atmosphere is what counts here. And it has loads of it.
Overall this is at least a very diferent ghost story, and originaly presented. Don´t skip this movie if you like ghost stories.
Excelent.
The first time we see it, it´s great and we spend the whole movie trying to guess what is going to happen next, even if the ending might be a bit easy to guess from a certain point in the movie, if we pay atention to some details.
Anyway, this is an excelent movie, the atmosphere is perfect. Very intriguing and misterious, but at the same time set in very normal locations. Normaly ghost movies are associated to lots of scenes in the dark, but this movie is a very bright movie with most of its story set in very iluminated places, contrary to the classic ghost storytelling. But at the same time even during normal scenes whe can feel that there is something wrong in the air, and this is what makes this movie so atmospheric. It realy feels like the whole movie is haunted. We can watch it again, and again and keep finding new small details, that we missed the first time.
But what ghost story would be without scares and chills. Well there are a couple of scary moments in here also and some very good chilling sequences. Most of them is actualy in our minds, because ther aren´t many special effects in, but that´s the way a good ghost story should be presented. The atmosphere in this is so good, that if the few flashy special effects that are present were removed, it wouldn´t make a diference. But fear not, this is not a Spielberg effects film, the atmosphere is what counts here. And it has loads of it.
Overall this is at least a very diferent ghost story, and originaly presented. Don´t skip this movie if you like ghost stories.
Excelent.
There is something nasty in the Lake.
johnmbale19 February 2005
A modestly effective supernatural thriller based on the James Herbert novel, and directed by veteran Lewis Gilbert. Weakness is the over lighting of many scenes that would have been much better in low key, but there are moments of shock that work well, especially in the early sequences. Quinn is somewhat wooden, and its left to Kate Beckinsale to add zest and glamor, which she does effectively, with several nude scenes and some moments of steamy sex. Lewis Gilbert directs without enthusiasm, though at times can we see traces of his earlier and better screen work. Finally the plot which has a major twist at the ending, is full of red herrings and pot holes, which makes it less than believable. A precursor to "The Others" which handles a similar situation with more classic flair, better cast and direction.
The Edbrook Haunting.
hitchcockthelegend29 November 2013
Haunted is directed by Lewis Gilbert, who co-adapts the screenplay with Bob Kellett and Timothy Prager from the novel written by James Herbert. It stars Aidan Quinn, Kate Beckinsale, Anthony Andrews, Alex Lowe, John Gielgud and Anna Massey. Music is by Debbie Wiseman and cinematography by Tony Pierce-Roberts.
Following the accidental death of his twin sister when they were just kids, David Ash (Quinn) has grown up to be a parapsychologist determined to debunk the existence of ghosts. Receiving an invitation from the Mariell family to investigate supernatural activity at their family home, Edbrook House, David accepts and quickly finds his life flipped upside down
It's from the old fashioned school of horror, a period piece of some worth, but not one for anyone looking to be scared out of their wits. Actually the novel by the late great James Herbert was becalmed when judged by his superb standards, so it really will help any potential first time viewer to go into this expecting a more ethereal chiller than anything else.
There's an air of romanticism constantly hanging in the air, and with Gilbert nodding towards the likes of The Haunting for his scares and Don't Look Now for the meditation on grief angle, it's a film of mixed blessings. Also nice to see very good period design for the 1920s setting, while Roberts' photography skilfully brings beauty to the English countryside and murkier tones for the inner workings of Edbrook House.
Cast are fine, with Quinn and a perky Beckinsale creating good sensual chemistry, and Andrews and Lowe are suitably odd as the clearly off- kilter Mariell brothers. Massey, however, is not challenged by her role and Gilegud is only really filing in for an easy money cameo.
It gets away from itself a little in the final stretch, where it's not helped by some shoddy effects work, but there's good value to be had in the picture. With grief, guilt, redemption and incest bubbling away thematically, and the spectral visage of David's dead sister haunting the edges of the frame, film never lacks for literate effort or a sense of unease. The book is much better, mind. 7/10
Following the accidental death of his twin sister when they were just kids, David Ash (Quinn) has grown up to be a parapsychologist determined to debunk the existence of ghosts. Receiving an invitation from the Mariell family to investigate supernatural activity at their family home, Edbrook House, David accepts and quickly finds his life flipped upside down
It's from the old fashioned school of horror, a period piece of some worth, but not one for anyone looking to be scared out of their wits. Actually the novel by the late great James Herbert was becalmed when judged by his superb standards, so it really will help any potential first time viewer to go into this expecting a more ethereal chiller than anything else.
There's an air of romanticism constantly hanging in the air, and with Gilbert nodding towards the likes of The Haunting for his scares and Don't Look Now for the meditation on grief angle, it's a film of mixed blessings. Also nice to see very good period design for the 1920s setting, while Roberts' photography skilfully brings beauty to the English countryside and murkier tones for the inner workings of Edbrook House.
Cast are fine, with Quinn and a perky Beckinsale creating good sensual chemistry, and Andrews and Lowe are suitably odd as the clearly off- kilter Mariell brothers. Massey, however, is not challenged by her role and Gilegud is only really filing in for an easy money cameo.
It gets away from itself a little in the final stretch, where it's not helped by some shoddy effects work, but there's good value to be had in the picture. With grief, guilt, redemption and incest bubbling away thematically, and the spectral visage of David's dead sister haunting the edges of the frame, film never lacks for literate effort or a sense of unease. The book is much better, mind. 7/10
Starts well, ends badly
grantss23 November 2014
A so-so horror movie. Started fairly well, built well with a fair amount of intrigue, then unraveled to an extent at the end. After all the intrigue, the revelation and punchline just seemed lame and contrived, and created a few plot holes.
Was reasonably entertaining, however.
Movie will mostly be remembered (by men, especially) for Kate Beckinsale. This was one of her first big screen appearances and she is stunningly beautiful, and delivers a solid performance.
Decent performance too from Aidan Quinn.
Cast also includes Sir John Gielgud in a supporting role. He is there to give the movie some credibility and star-power.
Was reasonably entertaining, however.
Movie will mostly be remembered (by men, especially) for Kate Beckinsale. This was one of her first big screen appearances and she is stunningly beautiful, and delivers a solid performance.
Decent performance too from Aidan Quinn.
Cast also includes Sir John Gielgud in a supporting role. He is there to give the movie some credibility and star-power.
This Review is Rife With Spoilers: Internally Inconsistent
skallisjr27 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The story: a university professor who debunks fake manifestations of supernatural events is called to a mansion in England. An old nanny there, he's told, is convinced that the mansion is haunted, or peopled by demonic beings. He travels there, and discovers two brothers and a sister along with the nanny, and the three siblings behave rather strangely, considering.
The nanny is easily frightened, but as the professor, David Ash, stays at the mansion, strange and inexplicable things start happening. Things become weird, then weirder, with fires breaking out, strange noises, and things keeping him from opening the door of his guest room. He sees an image of a young girl, looking remarkably like his late twin sister, but when he tries to follow her, he can never catch her, despite that she's walking and he's running.
Ash is attracted to the sister, whom he eventually has sex with, but she also seems to be attracted, incestuously, to her younger brother. With all this going on, he slowly uncovers secrets, including the death of the sibling's mother, a suicide.
Major spoiler ahead.
Eventually, he discovers that the siblings and the nanny are all dead, and have been so for years. The mother (and we never see her ghost) killed herself because of her children's actions. The siblings try to induce Ash to join them, but the ghost of his twin sister saves Ash from that fate ... at least to the end of the film.
But a film should be internally consistent, and this one isn't. If the nanny and siblings were dead years before Ash visited the mansion, who kept calling his office, pestering him to come? How did the sister pick him up from the railroad station in a car, if neither she nor the car were "real"? How did Ash eat, sleep, and telephone to his office if the mansion had been empty and in partial ruins for years? Most unsatisfactory! If you see this one, you'll have to suspend not only disbelief, but reason, and logic.
The nanny is easily frightened, but as the professor, David Ash, stays at the mansion, strange and inexplicable things start happening. Things become weird, then weirder, with fires breaking out, strange noises, and things keeping him from opening the door of his guest room. He sees an image of a young girl, looking remarkably like his late twin sister, but when he tries to follow her, he can never catch her, despite that she's walking and he's running.
Ash is attracted to the sister, whom he eventually has sex with, but she also seems to be attracted, incestuously, to her younger brother. With all this going on, he slowly uncovers secrets, including the death of the sibling's mother, a suicide.
Major spoiler ahead.
Eventually, he discovers that the siblings and the nanny are all dead, and have been so for years. The mother (and we never see her ghost) killed herself because of her children's actions. The siblings try to induce Ash to join them, but the ghost of his twin sister saves Ash from that fate ... at least to the end of the film.
But a film should be internally consistent, and this one isn't. If the nanny and siblings were dead years before Ash visited the mansion, who kept calling his office, pestering him to come? How did the sister pick him up from the railroad station in a car, if neither she nor the car were "real"? How did Ash eat, sleep, and telephone to his office if the mansion had been empty and in partial ruins for years? Most unsatisfactory! If you see this one, you'll have to suspend not only disbelief, but reason, and logic.
Professor Ash, a paranormal investigator looks for the truth in a reportedly haunted house.
tinman196020034 May 2006
Young David Ash and his sister are playing beside the lake on their family estate. When his sister falls, hitting her head on a stone and drowns in the lake, David is unable to save her. Blaming himself for her death, David becomes a Phd in Paranormal studies. Years later, after a successful career of exposing fraudulent mediums, David is recalled to his former home by an old woman who writes to say the home she works in is haunted.
David is met at the station by Christina (Beckinsale), a bewitchingly beautiful woman, who drives extremely dangerously and thinks nothing of stripping her clothes off and swimming in the nude in front of Dr. Ash, though she has just met him. When one of her brothers also swims nude, David is still more surprised.
The older brother is barely tolerant of David and wants him to do his job as rapidly as possible and not get involved with his sister. David talks to the elderly woman, referred to as Nanny, learning of the tragic death of Christina's parents. During his attempts to understand what is going on David has several very frightening moments. The Special effects are outstanding by the way.
While making his investigation, David comes across a shocking family secret and sees the ghost of what may be his own sister, near the lake. He then has several more strange experiences which cause him to doubt his sanity. The only person who seems to understand his confusion is the elderly doctor who is the family physician. David visits the old man at his home in the village which helps him realize he is not insane, but still leaves him with unanswered questions.
The shocking conclusion will completely twist everything you think you know about ghosts and reality. This film may be the seminal influence in a new era of ghost stories on film, which was lately added to by the talented director, Alejandro Amenabar, who gave us THE OTHERS, starring Nicole Kidman. If you like ghost stories HAUNTED is a must see.
David is met at the station by Christina (Beckinsale), a bewitchingly beautiful woman, who drives extremely dangerously and thinks nothing of stripping her clothes off and swimming in the nude in front of Dr. Ash, though she has just met him. When one of her brothers also swims nude, David is still more surprised.
The older brother is barely tolerant of David and wants him to do his job as rapidly as possible and not get involved with his sister. David talks to the elderly woman, referred to as Nanny, learning of the tragic death of Christina's parents. During his attempts to understand what is going on David has several very frightening moments. The Special effects are outstanding by the way.
While making his investigation, David comes across a shocking family secret and sees the ghost of what may be his own sister, near the lake. He then has several more strange experiences which cause him to doubt his sanity. The only person who seems to understand his confusion is the elderly doctor who is the family physician. David visits the old man at his home in the village which helps him realize he is not insane, but still leaves him with unanswered questions.
The shocking conclusion will completely twist everything you think you know about ghosts and reality. This film may be the seminal influence in a new era of ghost stories on film, which was lately added to by the talented director, Alejandro Amenabar, who gave us THE OTHERS, starring Nicole Kidman. If you like ghost stories HAUNTED is a must see.
I feel like I've seen this story before hand
amandawilcox15 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This movie wasn't bad. But I did predict the ending 1/4 of the way through the movie. So when the ending was upon me I already knew what was going on. I don't like that. I like to be kept in suspense. Maybe it's because I saw the movie "The Others" before seeing this one and they have very similar story lines.
The only thing that was confusing to me was how Aidan Quinn's character could have such close contact with the ghosts. They appeared to him as though they were really alive. With the appearance of his dead sister leading him to the truth. It was a little too far fetched for me. Not that ghost movies should be truthful, but they should at least be slightly plausible. At least that's how I feel.
The only thing that was confusing to me was how Aidan Quinn's character could have such close contact with the ghosts. They appeared to him as though they were really alive. With the appearance of his dead sister leading him to the truth. It was a little too far fetched for me. Not that ghost movies should be truthful, but they should at least be slightly plausible. At least that's how I feel.
Not the book I read
clmrshll-203-3700352 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I Loved the book and found it very scary and atmospheric. The description of the gradual dilapidation of the house and the increasingly disturbing events was paced very well as was the the shocking ending.
However in the film many crucial bits are missing or have been totally altered. The vital precursor to the main plot, regarding Ash's sister was changed completely, as she was portrayed in the film as kind and benevolent whereas in the book she was viciously cruel to Ash whilst alive and dead. The whole point being that his dead sister and the ghostly family gang up on Ash to a prove him wrong and drive him mad. This aspect is mainly omitted.
I can't see why the the film was reset to the twenties. Again in the book Ash is a flawed character - seedy, alcoholic and guilt ridden not a dashing professional. As eluded to elsewhere the incest angle between brother and sister was quite an invention of the film and may have been included as an excuse to portray much female nudity both real and canvas born. Many of the details of the book that show Ash's increasing horror that the family are phantoms, such as a one sided conversation on a tape recorder and the bed he shared with Christina obviously having been slept in by only him are brushed over.
A whole episode in the book where Ash does debunk some hoaxers in a supposedly haunted church is missed out too.
Admittedly as a stand alone ghost movie it is not bad but it cannot be called a close adaption of the book.
However in the film many crucial bits are missing or have been totally altered. The vital precursor to the main plot, regarding Ash's sister was changed completely, as she was portrayed in the film as kind and benevolent whereas in the book she was viciously cruel to Ash whilst alive and dead. The whole point being that his dead sister and the ghostly family gang up on Ash to a prove him wrong and drive him mad. This aspect is mainly omitted.
I can't see why the the film was reset to the twenties. Again in the book Ash is a flawed character - seedy, alcoholic and guilt ridden not a dashing professional. As eluded to elsewhere the incest angle between brother and sister was quite an invention of the film and may have been included as an excuse to portray much female nudity both real and canvas born. Many of the details of the book that show Ash's increasing horror that the family are phantoms, such as a one sided conversation on a tape recorder and the bed he shared with Christina obviously having been slept in by only him are brushed over.
A whole episode in the book where Ash does debunk some hoaxers in a supposedly haunted church is missed out too.
Admittedly as a stand alone ghost movie it is not bad but it cannot be called a close adaption of the book.
"We're all mad, you know"
Rainysky7 April 2002
About once a year, a film impresses me so much that i have to call or write to all my friends immediately, demanding that they watch it too. Haunted is one of the finest movies i've seen in many years, and it's really a shame that not many people have seen it.
The cast is superb, with each character standing out, even those with just a couple lines (the fortune teller who reads David and Christina's palms is a good example). The stars, Aidan Quinn and Kate Beckinsale, are in excellent form, but Anthony Andrews steals the show in this one. He plays the character of Robert, the jealous and controlling big brother. There is a brilliant shot of his pale, depressed face surrounded by mocking darkness that perfectly defines the tortured-soul of the character. Anthony Andrews has such a strong, masculine English voice that makes him wonderful for all sorts of different roles. Just as entertaining is the younger brother, Simon (played by Alex Lowe), who is an obnoxious prankster with a playful soul. The late, great John Gielgud is also memorable in this movie for his portrayal of a kind, but mysterious doctor.
Lewis Gilbert's direction is absolutely flawless, and i definately look forward to seeing his other films. Haunted is such an attractive movie: everything looks so heavenly and enticing. In the daytime, Edbrook is such a charming place; a wonderful place to spend your childhood, but when night creeps up, it shows a perfect gothic presence.
Haunted is probably the best ghost story i've ever experienced. It's unpredictable, charming, touching, frightening, and constantly entertaining. Perhaps my favorite scene is when David tries to trap a possible ghost outside of the Mariell mansion, and from out of nowhere, a cloud of dust spins in fascination. Soon after, a distorted ghost that sobs uncontrollably is conjured that floats away, beckoning David to follow it to the angry lake. This is one of the many truly magical moments found in this one-of-kind film. The sound effects are just as impressive as the visuals (the sounds of the howling wind and crashing rain are terrific). Also, the score is heartbreakingly lovely.
Even if you don't like horror movies, you need to give this one a shot because it has so much to offer. There is no gore, so squeamish-stomach people should have a pleasant time with this one.
Rent or buy Lewis Gilbert's Haunted now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* * * * * (out of 5)
"You had your chance to leave, David"
The cast is superb, with each character standing out, even those with just a couple lines (the fortune teller who reads David and Christina's palms is a good example). The stars, Aidan Quinn and Kate Beckinsale, are in excellent form, but Anthony Andrews steals the show in this one. He plays the character of Robert, the jealous and controlling big brother. There is a brilliant shot of his pale, depressed face surrounded by mocking darkness that perfectly defines the tortured-soul of the character. Anthony Andrews has such a strong, masculine English voice that makes him wonderful for all sorts of different roles. Just as entertaining is the younger brother, Simon (played by Alex Lowe), who is an obnoxious prankster with a playful soul. The late, great John Gielgud is also memorable in this movie for his portrayal of a kind, but mysterious doctor.
Lewis Gilbert's direction is absolutely flawless, and i definately look forward to seeing his other films. Haunted is such an attractive movie: everything looks so heavenly and enticing. In the daytime, Edbrook is such a charming place; a wonderful place to spend your childhood, but when night creeps up, it shows a perfect gothic presence.
Haunted is probably the best ghost story i've ever experienced. It's unpredictable, charming, touching, frightening, and constantly entertaining. Perhaps my favorite scene is when David tries to trap a possible ghost outside of the Mariell mansion, and from out of nowhere, a cloud of dust spins in fascination. Soon after, a distorted ghost that sobs uncontrollably is conjured that floats away, beckoning David to follow it to the angry lake. This is one of the many truly magical moments found in this one-of-kind film. The sound effects are just as impressive as the visuals (the sounds of the howling wind and crashing rain are terrific). Also, the score is heartbreakingly lovely.
Even if you don't like horror movies, you need to give this one a shot because it has so much to offer. There is no gore, so squeamish-stomach people should have a pleasant time with this one.
Rent or buy Lewis Gilbert's Haunted now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* * * * * (out of 5)
"You had your chance to leave, David"
Unique ghost movie
jordondave-280856 April 2023
(1995) Haunted
HORROR
Co-written, co produce and directed by Lewis Glbert adapting a novel written by James Herbert, starring Aidan Quinn as an instructor of skeptic of the unknown as a result of his own personal experience when he lost a twin sister from a drowning. He is then hired to investigate a manor inhabited by an adult sister, Christina Mariell (Kate Beckinsale) and her 2 brothers Robert (Anthony Andrews) and Simon (Alex Lowe) Mariell living amongst them is their with their nana. At this point, viewers are oblivious about the history of the manor until the movie is progressing. The revelation is twisted but in this day in age it's quite tame now. This is another unique haunted house movie that has never been shown before and is self- explanatory.
Co-written, co produce and directed by Lewis Glbert adapting a novel written by James Herbert, starring Aidan Quinn as an instructor of skeptic of the unknown as a result of his own personal experience when he lost a twin sister from a drowning. He is then hired to investigate a manor inhabited by an adult sister, Christina Mariell (Kate Beckinsale) and her 2 brothers Robert (Anthony Andrews) and Simon (Alex Lowe) Mariell living amongst them is their with their nana. At this point, viewers are oblivious about the history of the manor until the movie is progressing. The revelation is twisted but in this day in age it's quite tame now. This is another unique haunted house movie that has never been shown before and is self- explanatory.
Ha Ha Ha
108YearsOld21 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Totally watchable, but there are several problems, and a major one at the end of this post. The time is suggested to be 1928 but the Broadway song "But Not For Me" played during the dance between David and Christina was not even released until 1930. Moreover, the music David's mother and Christina play on the piano sounds too much like contemporary pop, it doesn't sound like music people play in that era. The sex scene is also very unprofessional, doubles are clearly seen and so is the red physical coverage over Christina's breasts during the scene. Last but not least, how in the world would the nanny still be in the mansion for years since it has long been vacant and defunct after the great fire in 1923, and more importantly she is indeed the one who sets fire to kill all the children?
An overlooked spooky story
Paul P23 January 1999
This movie must not have gotten much attention when it was released because I had never even heard of it when I happened to catch it on a cable movie channel. As somebody who likes spooky (but not conventional horror/ gross-out) films, I found it to be a real sleeper.
The story is about a psychologist who specializes in debunking the supernatural and his becoming a house-guest in an old mansion that one resident claims is haunted. For a while, the plot remains pretty conventional, with a lot of strange and unexplained events that may or may not be practical jokes, dreams, psychological delusions, or a real ghost. But before it is over, there are several twists that I did not expect and had not seen before. Give yourself a treat. This one has been largely overlooked.
The story is about a psychologist who specializes in debunking the supernatural and his becoming a house-guest in an old mansion that one resident claims is haunted. For a while, the plot remains pretty conventional, with a lot of strange and unexplained events that may or may not be practical jokes, dreams, psychological delusions, or a real ghost. But before it is over, there are several twists that I did not expect and had not seen before. Give yourself a treat. This one has been largely overlooked.
No frights in this frightful movie.
drew-12116 October 2002
This had the potential to be a great film as it was based on a great story, but it didn't come out that way.
The film did not contain any of the suspense or chills of the book and in fact was not scary at all.
Shame really, because Aiden Quinn and Miss Beckinsale could do better and Lewis Gilbert certainly has done better.
The film did not contain any of the suspense or chills of the book and in fact was not scary at all.
Shame really, because Aiden Quinn and Miss Beckinsale could do better and Lewis Gilbert certainly has done better.
The Perfect Ghost Story For The Non-Thrill-Seekers
LexiWolfe29 October 2012
As a long-time ghost story fanatic, this is the kind of story which gives the other gently terrifying stories of the same genre, such as The Others, a real run for their money. Thrill-seekers who want a good ghost story are after A-bump-a-minute scenarios which, thankfully, this film does not have, instead garnering a slow but natural and steady pace which involves wonderful hints and twists throughout and a wonderful, touching and ultimately, creepy conclusion.
I have never been a great fan of Aidan Quinn or Kate Beckinsale, though their chemistry here makes the film very watchable, and Quinn is acceptable as a hapless if not quite lovable hero. Beckinsale is also on generally good, charming form and, to be fair to both actors, there are several points in the script where the dialogue is so shallow and blunt, that Laurence Olivier and Gielgud himself (who appears and is wonderful as the local doctor) would have struggled to bring any more life to them without making the words seem silly and unrealistic.
The show-stealer, as per usual in almost everything he is in, is undoubtedly Anthony Andrews, as the understatedly creepy yet charmingly alluring elder brother. Andrews is a very-much underrated actor as it is, but his performance and changes in attitude towards Quinn as the guest in their sprawling home, very much makes the film and most of the tension therein.
Anna Massey too is wonderful as the housekeeper/nanny and creates a very sorry character with whom one instantly feels sympathy, playing out her pivotal role right until the very end with her usual grace and unabashed talent.
To one who knows the ins and outs of modern twists and turns in movies and stories such as these, the ending is not altogether unpredictable, but the well-disguised yet compelling hints throughout make it all much more exciting, and the scenes of ghostly appearance are, for a change, nicely inserted without too much musical decoration or unnecessary special effects, making the whole thing very watchable. The sets and locations are stunning and elegant at all times, bringing up both the believability and charm of the story. This film, overall, falls into the category of a sadly overlooked, but wonderful fireside story, which deserves more publicity than it gets.
I have never been a great fan of Aidan Quinn or Kate Beckinsale, though their chemistry here makes the film very watchable, and Quinn is acceptable as a hapless if not quite lovable hero. Beckinsale is also on generally good, charming form and, to be fair to both actors, there are several points in the script where the dialogue is so shallow and blunt, that Laurence Olivier and Gielgud himself (who appears and is wonderful as the local doctor) would have struggled to bring any more life to them without making the words seem silly and unrealistic.
The show-stealer, as per usual in almost everything he is in, is undoubtedly Anthony Andrews, as the understatedly creepy yet charmingly alluring elder brother. Andrews is a very-much underrated actor as it is, but his performance and changes in attitude towards Quinn as the guest in their sprawling home, very much makes the film and most of the tension therein.
Anna Massey too is wonderful as the housekeeper/nanny and creates a very sorry character with whom one instantly feels sympathy, playing out her pivotal role right until the very end with her usual grace and unabashed talent.
To one who knows the ins and outs of modern twists and turns in movies and stories such as these, the ending is not altogether unpredictable, but the well-disguised yet compelling hints throughout make it all much more exciting, and the scenes of ghostly appearance are, for a change, nicely inserted without too much musical decoration or unnecessary special effects, making the whole thing very watchable. The sets and locations are stunning and elegant at all times, bringing up both the believability and charm of the story. This film, overall, falls into the category of a sadly overlooked, but wonderful fireside story, which deserves more publicity than it gets.
Good spooky mystery
helpless_dancer30 July 1999
I am not usually scared by spook films and this one was no exception. However, I considered it to be a good mystery with a chilling twist. A college professor of psychology is called to a home to prove or disprove the presence of ghosts which appear to be haunting the mistress of the house. Lots of creepy things happen while the professor is there, and they all seem to center around three siblings who live in the house with their aunt. The professor, who does not believe in ghosts, comes to question those beliefs as his stay in the house progresses. Worth seeing.
The movie Stephen King would deny ever writing the book for.
aranea-diademata9 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
James Herbert is a genius. For me, he is, apart from Clive Barker, the very best British writer today. He is like how Stephen King should be. He does not make compromises; he tells a story, and it's not oh-so-bad-forces from oh-so-far-away, but his heroes are anti-heroes, his world is black and rotten. His books have inspired many a writer and director so far. Also, he takes a theme and varies it in different books; the denying sceptic from Haunted can also be found in Moon. What I want to say, read his books; they are no mainstream, but books like "The Fog", "The Spear" and "'48" will be different and stimulating reading.
That said, let's review "Haunted". Haunted, the first in the series of anti-hero David Ash (second being "The Ghosts of Sleath"), one of his best (and best-selling) novels, is set in modern-day Britain. The title has more than one meaning; apart from Edbrook Manor being haunted, David Ash himself is by the ghost of his evil older sister, Juliette, who drowned when she fled from the sudden anger of David after torturing him again; since then, she tortures him in his dreams - and found ideal companions in the Muriell family.
David, himself, has a drinking problem, and is one of the best investigators of the "Psychic Institute" with a reputation to expose frauds. He denies the existence of ghosts, but not of para-psychic phenomena. As he enters stage, his driving license is lost. Again.
Enter the Mariell family - prankster Simon, upright Robert, and schizophrenic Christine, stewarded after the deadly car accident of their parents by crazed Tess Webb. Having made an arrangement with evil Juliet, they order an investigation of the Psychic Institute in order to torture David. Dead all of them, Christine and her dog incinerated after Simon locked them in the cellar, Robert died trying to save them, Simon hanged himself within the week of their deaths.
That is the reason for Davids experience in the book, revealed at the very end of a suspenseful Fantasy/Horror tale. The torture starts subtle, and becomes more and more blatant, at the end leaving David questioning his sanity and being saved by nanny Tess alone.
If you watch the movie to view a mediocre ghost story, the lacking of all of the above may not disturb you. If you watch it to view what you read in the book - given all the deficiencies dramatisations have -, you think wine and get stale water.
Lewis took the story to 1928, and Prof. Dr. David Ash is not the borderline-alcoholic borderline-failure haunted man we know and love from the books, but a stable, successful teacher. Instead, we get incest in the Mariell family - if Herbert wanted incest, he would have put it into the book. Apart from that, we get cardboard characters where Herberts book stressed on the discovery of the characters and character development, and shallowness where Herbert delved into the deep. The delicate effects of Herbert that left Ash wondering whether he hallucinated, or whether all was simply a normal circumstance, are totally left out (and where they are, they are totally unmotivated - Ash being not the subject of their torture, and we ask ourselves why nanny Tess keeps her secrecy - plot holes where Herbert put delicacy). The fire in the wine cellar where Christina, Robert and the dog died, for example - in the book, David extinguishes it, and stops seeing it - but still /hears/ it and /feels/ its heat, one of the finest effects in the book - is totally low-budget SFX in the movie. Kate Beckinsales nude and sex scenes are enjoyable and lead to the (male) viewer's strong identification with David - the character development of Christina is totally left out (which I am sure Beckinsale as an actor would have been capable of). When David discovers that Edbrook is a totally different world than the outside, and is not what it seems, this is done step by step adding suspense the movie lacks.
All in all, this movie adds to the B-grades Kate Beckinsale made between "Much ado about nothing" and "Underworld" - why? She's intelligent, educated, a much better actor than Catherine Zeta-Jones and many others, why is she selling herself so cheaply and does movies like "Van Helsing"? You would think she could chose between much better scripts.
The movie itself has good actors, and the story of Herbert is excellent, but the script is catastrophic. You could only guess whether it aimed at a mainstream marked that would find Herbert too complicated, or it wanted to soften the hardest things about Herberts black-in-black world here - the movie did neither become a popular mainstream success, nor did the script use the potential even "Haunted, light version" did offer.
A little more money on the effects - and a few well-placed additional effects - would not have harmed. So, I hate to say that, this is a great disappointment.
That said, let's review "Haunted". Haunted, the first in the series of anti-hero David Ash (second being "The Ghosts of Sleath"), one of his best (and best-selling) novels, is set in modern-day Britain. The title has more than one meaning; apart from Edbrook Manor being haunted, David Ash himself is by the ghost of his evil older sister, Juliette, who drowned when she fled from the sudden anger of David after torturing him again; since then, she tortures him in his dreams - and found ideal companions in the Muriell family.
David, himself, has a drinking problem, and is one of the best investigators of the "Psychic Institute" with a reputation to expose frauds. He denies the existence of ghosts, but not of para-psychic phenomena. As he enters stage, his driving license is lost. Again.
Enter the Mariell family - prankster Simon, upright Robert, and schizophrenic Christine, stewarded after the deadly car accident of their parents by crazed Tess Webb. Having made an arrangement with evil Juliet, they order an investigation of the Psychic Institute in order to torture David. Dead all of them, Christine and her dog incinerated after Simon locked them in the cellar, Robert died trying to save them, Simon hanged himself within the week of their deaths.
That is the reason for Davids experience in the book, revealed at the very end of a suspenseful Fantasy/Horror tale. The torture starts subtle, and becomes more and more blatant, at the end leaving David questioning his sanity and being saved by nanny Tess alone.
If you watch the movie to view a mediocre ghost story, the lacking of all of the above may not disturb you. If you watch it to view what you read in the book - given all the deficiencies dramatisations have -, you think wine and get stale water.
Lewis took the story to 1928, and Prof. Dr. David Ash is not the borderline-alcoholic borderline-failure haunted man we know and love from the books, but a stable, successful teacher. Instead, we get incest in the Mariell family - if Herbert wanted incest, he would have put it into the book. Apart from that, we get cardboard characters where Herberts book stressed on the discovery of the characters and character development, and shallowness where Herbert delved into the deep. The delicate effects of Herbert that left Ash wondering whether he hallucinated, or whether all was simply a normal circumstance, are totally left out (and where they are, they are totally unmotivated - Ash being not the subject of their torture, and we ask ourselves why nanny Tess keeps her secrecy - plot holes where Herbert put delicacy). The fire in the wine cellar where Christina, Robert and the dog died, for example - in the book, David extinguishes it, and stops seeing it - but still /hears/ it and /feels/ its heat, one of the finest effects in the book - is totally low-budget SFX in the movie. Kate Beckinsales nude and sex scenes are enjoyable and lead to the (male) viewer's strong identification with David - the character development of Christina is totally left out (which I am sure Beckinsale as an actor would have been capable of). When David discovers that Edbrook is a totally different world than the outside, and is not what it seems, this is done step by step adding suspense the movie lacks.
All in all, this movie adds to the B-grades Kate Beckinsale made between "Much ado about nothing" and "Underworld" - why? She's intelligent, educated, a much better actor than Catherine Zeta-Jones and many others, why is she selling herself so cheaply and does movies like "Van Helsing"? You would think she could chose between much better scripts.
The movie itself has good actors, and the story of Herbert is excellent, but the script is catastrophic. You could only guess whether it aimed at a mainstream marked that would find Herbert too complicated, or it wanted to soften the hardest things about Herberts black-in-black world here - the movie did neither become a popular mainstream success, nor did the script use the potential even "Haunted, light version" did offer.
A little more money on the effects - and a few well-placed additional effects - would not have harmed. So, I hate to say that, this is a great disappointment.
One of the Best-Unknown Ghost Stories Ever
claudio_carvalho12 January 2005
In 1905, in Sussex, England, the young boy David loses his twin sister while playing with her nearby a lake. The girl falls and drowns in the lake, and David feels guilty for her death. The grieving family returns to USA, and twenty-three years later, David Ash (Aidan Quinn) comes back to England, to be the professor of psychology in the University of Camberley. The skeptical David is specialized in psychic phenomena and exposition of false mediums and frauds, and wrote a successful book about this subject. After a countless number of calls from an elder lady called Miss Webb (Anna Massey) claiming to be haunted by ghosts, David is informed that the lady lives in Edbrook, and he decides to accept her invitation to visit her. When he arrives in Edbrook's train station, the beautiful young woman Christina Mariell (Kate Beckinsale) is waiting for him. She drives him to her remote mansion, where she lives with her two brothers and their former nanny, Miss Webb. After being introduced to the family, David finds the behavior of Miss Webb very weird and disturbed, but decides to investigate the existence of any psychic phenomena in the place. Meanwhile, Christina and him fall in love for each other. Their romance and his investigation come to surprising revelations.
I do not understand why "Haunted" has not become a successful movie. This awesome story slightly recalls "The Innocents", and is better than "The Others", "The Sixth Sense" or "El Espinazo del Diablo", having romance, sexual situation, drama and horror in right doses. The soundtrack is one of the most beautiful of the cinema, and may be compared to "Somewhere in Time". Kate Beckinsale, with twenty-two years old, is astonishing and the scenes with her naked body would be enough to make this movie worthwhile. But the chemistry between Aidan Quinn and her is marvelous; the mysterious story is magnificently well tight, and in the end nothing is like it seems to be. Yesterday I saw this movie for the third time on VHS, since the DVD has not been released in Brazil, and I found it again one of the best ghost stories I have ever seen. My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): "Ilusões Perigosas" ("Dangerous Ilusions")
Obs: On 12 Oct 2007, I saw this awesome movie again, now on DVD.
I do not understand why "Haunted" has not become a successful movie. This awesome story slightly recalls "The Innocents", and is better than "The Others", "The Sixth Sense" or "El Espinazo del Diablo", having romance, sexual situation, drama and horror in right doses. The soundtrack is one of the most beautiful of the cinema, and may be compared to "Somewhere in Time". Kate Beckinsale, with twenty-two years old, is astonishing and the scenes with her naked body would be enough to make this movie worthwhile. But the chemistry between Aidan Quinn and her is marvelous; the mysterious story is magnificently well tight, and in the end nothing is like it seems to be. Yesterday I saw this movie for the third time on VHS, since the DVD has not been released in Brazil, and I found it again one of the best ghost stories I have ever seen. My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): "Ilusões Perigosas" ("Dangerous Ilusions")
Obs: On 12 Oct 2007, I saw this awesome movie again, now on DVD.
Don't spoil the ending?
tomsview13 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Haunted" is a pretty good ghost movie up until we get the explanation about what it was all about, and then I think we just get too much information. I enjoyed it, but the ending needed subtlety and ambiguity rather than the over-the-top one it received, and I don't buy that last scene.
The story is set in 1928. After a drowning tragedy in his childhood, Professor David Ash (Aidan Quinn) has become a well-known debunker of psychics and the paranormal. He travels to the countryside after receiving an invitation from the Mariell family to investigate a supposed haunting at their home, Edbrook House. At the manor, he encounters the wild, but close-knit Mariell family: Robert (Anthony Andrews), Simon (Alex Lowe) and their sister Christina (Kate Beckinsale). He also meets their very scared nanny, Tess Webb (Anna Massey).
Without too giving too much away, along with bumps in the night, David also detects an undercurrent of incest, and is exposed to things that are either real or just figments of his imagination. In fact, the film cheats quite a bit, unashamedly mixing up the real and the unreal.
"Haunted" has picture-perfect locations and a picture-perfect cast. Aiden Quinn is a solid presence as he goes from initial disbelief to acceptance of things beyond his control – he has about the best shocked stare in the business. Kate Beckinsale is head-turningly beautiful, and gives an uninhibited performance here, although the lack of inhibition was probably more on the part of her body double. Anna Massey gives a very haunted performance as Nanny.
The film was directed by Lewis Gilbert of "Alfie" fame, and "Haunted" shows an assured touch, for most of the way at least.
The special effects are adequate without being fantastic but I think they let the film down at the end. A great ghost story depends more on mood than special effects; some of the best ones hardly have any special effects at all, just look at "The Uninvited", "The Innocents" and "The Sixth Sense".
"Haunted" falls short of those films but it gets you going for a while, it only falters at the end where instead of delivering a knockout blow, it gives us a slap with wet flannel instead.
The story is set in 1928. After a drowning tragedy in his childhood, Professor David Ash (Aidan Quinn) has become a well-known debunker of psychics and the paranormal. He travels to the countryside after receiving an invitation from the Mariell family to investigate a supposed haunting at their home, Edbrook House. At the manor, he encounters the wild, but close-knit Mariell family: Robert (Anthony Andrews), Simon (Alex Lowe) and their sister Christina (Kate Beckinsale). He also meets their very scared nanny, Tess Webb (Anna Massey).
Without too giving too much away, along with bumps in the night, David also detects an undercurrent of incest, and is exposed to things that are either real or just figments of his imagination. In fact, the film cheats quite a bit, unashamedly mixing up the real and the unreal.
"Haunted" has picture-perfect locations and a picture-perfect cast. Aiden Quinn is a solid presence as he goes from initial disbelief to acceptance of things beyond his control – he has about the best shocked stare in the business. Kate Beckinsale is head-turningly beautiful, and gives an uninhibited performance here, although the lack of inhibition was probably more on the part of her body double. Anna Massey gives a very haunted performance as Nanny.
The film was directed by Lewis Gilbert of "Alfie" fame, and "Haunted" shows an assured touch, for most of the way at least.
The special effects are adequate without being fantastic but I think they let the film down at the end. A great ghost story depends more on mood than special effects; some of the best ones hardly have any special effects at all, just look at "The Uninvited", "The Innocents" and "The Sixth Sense".
"Haunted" falls short of those films but it gets you going for a while, it only falters at the end where instead of delivering a knockout blow, it gives us a slap with wet flannel instead.
Dull
Gafke19 May 2004
This is a ho-hum and rather predictable "thriller" with a premise that was better presented in "The Others." Aidan Quinn stars as a man still guilt-ridden over the death of his young sister many years ago. Aidan has devoted his life to debunking false mediums, spiritualists and reports of ghosts. When he arrives at an old house rumored to be haunted, he meets tepid Kate Beckinsale and her two creepy brothers.
This all sounds great, but the film is about as lifeless as the ghosts that Aidan debunks. The story plods along, the actors all seem slightly stoned and the Big Revelation at films end was easy to spot half an hour into the film and provides no shock or surprise. Kate Beckinsale has since improved and there's an early appearance here by Harry Potter's "mother" (Geraldine Somerville) but there's not much more to recommend this film.
This all sounds great, but the film is about as lifeless as the ghosts that Aidan debunks. The story plods along, the actors all seem slightly stoned and the Big Revelation at films end was easy to spot half an hour into the film and provides no shock or surprise. Kate Beckinsale has since improved and there's an early appearance here by Harry Potter's "mother" (Geraldine Somerville) but there's not much more to recommend this film.
One of those disturbing Ghost Stories that you should not miss.
ozthegreatat4233031 May 2007
Aiden Quinn stars in this haunting film by director Lewis Gilbert, of a very curious and disturbing string of events. This is not your typical haunted house story. Professor David Ash lost his twin sister when he was a child due to a terrible accident. Years later he has returned to England as an author and professor of Psychology who spends his time trying to prove that there are ghosts, while as a skeptic, uncovering the fraudulent claims of those who deal with the spirit world. But then, in a response to repeated letters from an old woman he is invited to sort out a ghostly problem in an old house in the southeast of England. Kate Beckinsale and Anthony Andrews co-star, with brief appearances by the immortal Sir John Gielgud. Also there is a short scene with a gypsy woman, played by Liz Smith who has made a career out of playing quirky and particularly Dickinsonian characters. A modest little film that deserves a look see, especially if you like things that go bump in the night.
Sadly flawed, but terrific in spots. Beckinsale is excellent.
NateWatchesCoolMovies24 March 2016
Haunted is an atmospheric, valiant yet frustratingly uneven ghost story effort, in the tradition of stuff like The Awakening and The Haunting. If the plot seems close to last year's Crimson Peak, it's because it is, and I'd bet that Del Toro had this forgotten entry in mind when he embarked on that journey. I say frustrating because there's a certain few absolutely terrific moments of Gothic horror that truly shiver your timbers, but they're hopelessly mired in a mucky moor of a plot that unfortunately is not as effective as those key scenes. You David Ash is rough housing around wit his sister in the English countryside when she hits her head on a rock, and drowns in the pond below. He grows up soaked in guilt, dedicated to disproving the existence of paranormal phenomena. As an adult he's played by Aiden Quinn, who is an average dude with slightly wild looking eyes who is always effective in the sense that he seeks out challenging, odd projects which test his everyday aura nicely. In the early 1900's he is summoned back to rural Britain by an elderly woman (Anna Massey) who is convinced that she is surrounded by ghosts. He is greeted there by the luminous, attractive Christina (Kate Beckinsale), a friendly young thing with a distinct untrustworthy vibe and a penchant for getting creepy close with her two strange brothers (Anthony Andrews and Alex Lowe). She lives out there in isolation with them as well as their disturbed mother, and one gets the sense right off the bat that something is wonky. I suppose that's the point though isn't it? Beckinsale has carved a path of playing either somber, distraught women or tough, silent warrior chicks. This is the most animated work I've ever seen from her, and the most radiant she's ever looked as well. It's also to date the only nude scenes she's ever put forth, and I don't use the term lightly... she really bares it all here. The middle portion of the film meanders around with these characters, not revealing enough to push the plot forward enough, until the curtain is whisked away jarringly in the third act, cementing it's pacing issues for good. It's a picturesque enough journey, I just wish we had something to latch onto besides that, some substance and a consistency in the creepiness factor to keep us invested. Alas. It's got a spookily wonderful beginning, and an electric, full blooded ending, the only two instances where it shows true feeling and commitment. The rest is, well... stale. It's worth a peek for a few reasons though, including Beckinsale's solid performance and that one uber-scary scene in the opener.
Could have been a whole lot better
mannin1123 October 2014
Good acting in a tired and predictable story. Great performance from Aiden Quinn, invited to a Gothic manor to investigate supposed ghosts lurking within. A hokey attempt to sex-up the story with an incestuous triangle between Kate Beckinsale and her two brothers. The story, set in the 1920's, has all the appearance of the wholesome, lackluster British family movies made in the 1950's. You almost expect Heidi to come tripping over the lush green hills. Recommended as one of the spookier movies around, the performances are all good, by actors who know their craft, but the movie is directed like a Hallmark Hall of Fame love story, devoid of any tension and wholly derivative in its execution. A complete lack of pacing that leads to a conclusion you can see coming a mile away. Tired and predictable are the words that apply. A shame as the actors could have done so much more with a more innovative director. A waste of good talent looking for direction.
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