This movie was really disappointing. The trailer has more watchability than the movie itself. Despite the absolute boring and predictable moments of the movie, the twist at the end was very poor and predictable. It really felt like something someone wrote because they wanted to see if they cauldron make a scary story. There are tidbits of story lingering throughout but the "climax" of the story is sloppy at best. Perhaps someone just wanted to make a movie with this twist, but didn't know how to get there, and it shows. Then there is little payoff for the hour you spend trying to get there only to to get a couple minutes of wrap up. There is so much left hanging that I found this movie to be incredibly disappointing. It had what could have been a good foundation, but was left floundering at the end.
56 Reviews
What a weird ending
nikkiinwanderlust15 January 2021
The movie is slow, very very slow, and the ending really doesn't make any sense. Maybe if they had added a few clues throughout the film, or atleast explained more in the last moments it would have been a tiny bit better. It feels like they made the whole movie, then someone had an idea for a cool ending and they just threw it in there.
Boring, slow-paced and uneventful...
paul_haakonsen16 November 2019
When I sat down to watch the 2018 horror movie "The Haunted" from writer and director David Holroyd, I must admit that I had expected just a bit more than what this movie actually turned out to be.
For a horror movie, then "The Haunted" was anything but haunted. In fact, it was actually a rather stale and mundane movie, with very little of any worth happening throughout the course of the 1 hour and 15 minutes that the movie trotted on for. There was a single scene that made me jump, but aside from that then the movie was boring and slow-paced.
The storyline was simple and easy to follow, I will give the movie that much. But it was perhaps just a bit too simplistic, because there was next to nothing happening throughout the entire movie. Essentially, you just watch Emily (played by Sophie Stevens) pace and run through the house, mostly only accompanied with the light from her mobile phone and some dubious and questionable camerawork being done while trailing her.
There are very few actors and actresses in the movie, which means that there was a bigger pressure resting on the performers to deliver spot on performances to make the movie work. So did they? Well, not really. Now, I am not saying that the acting was bad, but the performers just had absolutely nothing to work with in terms of a proper script, storyline and dialogue.
I managed to sit through the entire ordeal that is "The Haunted", hoping that the movie would be a slow starter and eventually pick up its pace and come up with a more captivating and spooky story. Such a thing never happened.
There is little or no reason for why you should sit down to watch this 2018 horror movie, because it is just simply too mundane and boring. My rating of "The Haunted" is a mere three out of ten stars. This is definitely not a movie that I will be watching a second time.
For a horror movie, then "The Haunted" was anything but haunted. In fact, it was actually a rather stale and mundane movie, with very little of any worth happening throughout the course of the 1 hour and 15 minutes that the movie trotted on for. There was a single scene that made me jump, but aside from that then the movie was boring and slow-paced.
The storyline was simple and easy to follow, I will give the movie that much. But it was perhaps just a bit too simplistic, because there was next to nothing happening throughout the entire movie. Essentially, you just watch Emily (played by Sophie Stevens) pace and run through the house, mostly only accompanied with the light from her mobile phone and some dubious and questionable camerawork being done while trailing her.
There are very few actors and actresses in the movie, which means that there was a bigger pressure resting on the performers to deliver spot on performances to make the movie work. So did they? Well, not really. Now, I am not saying that the acting was bad, but the performers just had absolutely nothing to work with in terms of a proper script, storyline and dialogue.
I managed to sit through the entire ordeal that is "The Haunted", hoping that the movie would be a slow starter and eventually pick up its pace and come up with a more captivating and spooky story. Such a thing never happened.
There is little or no reason for why you should sit down to watch this 2018 horror movie, because it is just simply too mundane and boring. My rating of "The Haunted" is a mere three out of ten stars. This is definitely not a movie that I will be watching a second time.
what was that ending?!!??
kirstenbrice31 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I cant be the only one that thought the end was stupid and did not make any sense whatsoever? Is that old guy her dad? Is her mum now alive? Who was the other girl?
We'll never know it was very repetitive, door slams, sees a woman, moves the poor old man, repeat if i was in that house and saw that weird room without the lights on like hell nah i would be straight outta there why on earth would she wander round a load of dark rooms aimlessly looking for his daughters number again, the ending did not make sense whatsoever and seemed like it shouldve been the ending of a different film had good potential and i could see plenty of areas for good plot twists or good characters/ghosts but was completely ruined.
We'll never know it was very repetitive, door slams, sees a woman, moves the poor old man, repeat if i was in that house and saw that weird room without the lights on like hell nah i would be straight outta there why on earth would she wander round a load of dark rooms aimlessly looking for his daughters number again, the ending did not make sense whatsoever and seemed like it shouldve been the ending of a different film had good potential and i could see plenty of areas for good plot twists or good characters/ghosts but was completely ruined.
Shaking camera!
panterka2724 May 2020
Basic
RogerOThornhill195930 June 2020
This is a very simple movie with a very simple plot. Most of it is the female lead exploring the house. She acts it well, which is good because she is almost the entire movie. The creep and the scares are good. The thin shadow of a plot is almost forgivable, but the "twist" at the end is not. It doesn't match the rest of the movie, which ruins what little there was to ruin.
Ummm...what the hell?!
ravenhair70227 July 2020
Okay, yes, I've been drinking, but when I looked at the preview, I wasn't. This movie held promise, but my interest faded over time as this movie dragged along. It had some hair raising moments, sure...but at the horrible, HORRIBLE end, it made absolutely NO sense. I'm still mad as I write this that the end was so out there, SO screwed up that I have trouble putting it into words. Sure, it has the words THE HAUNTED in the movie and the picture has a woman's face half normal and half skull, that sort of sold me, sure, but it's just to lure you into a 75 minute trap that will leave you wondering what you could have done with that time. It's a stinker, folks. Plain and simple. Don't waste your time. I didn't understand the ending and I doubt you will too. Peace.
SLOW, BUT PRETTY GOOD. DUMBEST GIRL IN CAPTIVITY.
adamwhitworth-7996322 September 2020
Look... if I was in THAT house and seeing and hearing the same stuff happen, guess what... Ima be out ! How dumb do you have to be to keep walking around and looking for what's obvious. Nobody on earth would still be inside that house, especially when it's not one of those movies where the house won't LET you leave.... NAW, PEEEACE ! All in all for low budget it was better than expected, but very slow, but decent build-up. The picture was bad, made it look 90's, and very blurry. But no regrets watching it. Good acting as well, not B-grade acting. If it wasn't for the bad picture, could've been a theater movie, cause I've seen worse theatre horror movies.
Unoriginal
Milk_Tray_Guy4 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Emily takes a job as overnight carer for a bedridden man in an isolated country house. There are only the two of them, but as the night goes on she starts to see and hear things she can't explain, leading to an uncomfortable truth...
The photography's good (although I'm guessing they could afford only one camera) and the performances are fine. Unfortunately,
a) There's next to no budget - and it shows, b) it's only 75 mins long, and feels really rushed at the end, and c) the ending rips off The Others but makes far less sense here
All credit to Sophie Stevens though, who as Emily pretty much carries the movie. She's obviously talented.
4/10.
The photography's good (although I'm guessing they could afford only one camera) and the performances are fine. Unfortunately,
a) There's next to no budget - and it shows, b) it's only 75 mins long, and feels really rushed at the end, and c) the ending rips off The Others but makes far less sense here
All credit to Sophie Stevens though, who as Emily pretty much carries the movie. She's obviously talented.
4/10.
Immersive slow-moving horror
parry_na1 May 2020
Making a horror film based on real-life tragedies is a tricky manoeuvre - the subject of this slow-burning, low-key chiller is Arthur, played by Bayly. Arthur suffers from Alzheimer's, although the condition is woefully under-diagnosed. As such, his new live-in nurse Emily (Sophie Stevens) has her work cut out for her, especially when the erratic nature of events drifts into the supernatural.
Nothing happens quickly, which won't sit well with some. Don't expect a multi-million pounds Hollywood-style spectacle here - indeed, such a style would rob 'The Haunted' of its dread and dark closeness, and poor Emma's experience wouldn't be anywhere near as effective. Only the finale picks up speed, and that is to its detriment. A host of information assails the viewer, which is not in keeping with the carefully layered storyline before it. This is a shame, but such rashness doesn't undo the effective scares that make up the majority of this film's running time. My score is 9 out of 10.
Nothing happens quickly, which won't sit well with some. Don't expect a multi-million pounds Hollywood-style spectacle here - indeed, such a style would rob 'The Haunted' of its dread and dark closeness, and poor Emma's experience wouldn't be anywhere near as effective. Only the finale picks up speed, and that is to its detriment. A host of information assails the viewer, which is not in keeping with the carefully layered storyline before it. This is a shame, but such rashness doesn't undo the effective scares that make up the majority of this film's running time. My score is 9 out of 10.
cozy ghost story
brianvadimsky10 December 2023
Buitfully shot and good looking classic ghost story, no, sorry no gruesome drivel here. It is more believable as a real haunting would be rather then the typical cliche crap the public usually consumes. An old house with an indigent widow and young overnight caregiver rounds off the believable experience. Just enough creepy happenings to fulfill your jump scare appetite. A refreshing movie amusngt the self mutilating blood and garbage crap that is out there. If you are a fan of The Changeling, Ghost Story, The Hid etc. Then you'll enjoy this. The colour, the softness, and look of the film reminds me of when it was film. A simple but affective cozy ghost story.
Well here is the plot Explained
mochteam2 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The main character is a ghost who was kept confined in the basement by her father where she eventually died.
Her makeup makes her look almost like she is a ghost throughout the movie because she is actually is a ghost. While she's tours the home she sees another girl whom she thinks is the ghosts as the main character still think she's alive but the ghost she is seeing is the actual caretaker who is alive and trying to exercise the house.
Throughout the movie the main character interacts with what she thinks is the "ghost girl" who is following her throughout the house. The ghost girl however is following her because she is the real caretaker trying to exercise the main character who is actually a ghost.
At the end of the movie we see the main character finally exercised and the care take tells her she will let everyone know what her father did to her. Then we see the main character run out the house where she finds her also deceased mother waiting for her.
It's a low budget film and it shows. There's lot of plot holes and explanations that could have been done better with a bigger budget. What isn't made clear is if her father was a live or a ghost himself.
It's also not clear if the main character possessed the young caretaker while she was trying to exercise her spirit and may have been able to interact with Arthur in the physical world...enough to knock him down the stairs and escape after she discovered his daughters body in the basement.
This movie just overall isn't clear and isn't told very well and it deserves its low rating. I don't fault the actors they did their job well enough for this movie... I fault the writer of this film. They need to go back to film school and learn how to create a proper story that the audience can understand.
Her makeup makes her look almost like she is a ghost throughout the movie because she is actually is a ghost. While she's tours the home she sees another girl whom she thinks is the ghosts as the main character still think she's alive but the ghost she is seeing is the actual caretaker who is alive and trying to exercise the house.
Throughout the movie the main character interacts with what she thinks is the "ghost girl" who is following her throughout the house. The ghost girl however is following her because she is the real caretaker trying to exercise the main character who is actually a ghost.
At the end of the movie we see the main character finally exercised and the care take tells her she will let everyone know what her father did to her. Then we see the main character run out the house where she finds her also deceased mother waiting for her.
It's a low budget film and it shows. There's lot of plot holes and explanations that could have been done better with a bigger budget. What isn't made clear is if her father was a live or a ghost himself.
It's also not clear if the main character possessed the young caretaker while she was trying to exercise her spirit and may have been able to interact with Arthur in the physical world...enough to knock him down the stairs and escape after she discovered his daughters body in the basement.
This movie just overall isn't clear and isn't told very well and it deserves its low rating. I don't fault the actors they did their job well enough for this movie... I fault the writer of this film. They need to go back to film school and learn how to create a proper story that the audience can understand.
Did you tell her about the house?
nogodnomasters20 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Emily (Sophie Stevens ) needs money and takes a job as a nighttime caregiver for Arthur (Nick Bayly ). Now we know what happened to him. And there is a ghost. We know he has a daughter somewhere who never visits.
I knew exactly where the jump scare would first happen and the daughter angle. It was too obvious. What wasn't obvious was the other thing. The film is best as a drinking film where you must do a shot every time a door shuts or locks on its own. That got so old.
No swearing, sex, or nudity.
I knew exactly where the jump scare would first happen and the daughter angle. It was too obvious. What wasn't obvious was the other thing. The film is best as a drinking film where you must do a shot every time a door shuts or locks on its own. That got so old.
No swearing, sex, or nudity.
Not a horror movie. Horrible is more like it.
rickrk-rk20 October 2020
Stinker
ninjajin-7292622 December 2019
Have you ever watched someone play an adventure/exploration game on a PC/Console? Watching them walk around picking up random objects and examining them for possible clues in order to progress? It's very boring as a viewer isn't it?!?
So why would someone think that would make a good film?
I burst out laughing when after pulling out random objects from drawers and table tops for what felt like an hour or more, the protagonist then goes again to a cupboard , music rises with the tension and then ....BLAM.... pulls out an extension plug!
Seriously the jump scares start a bit after this, and they keep using the dementia patient as a jump scare and....and oh my .... It's all so very bad.
its all just..... so bad.
So why would someone think that would make a good film?
I burst out laughing when after pulling out random objects from drawers and table tops for what felt like an hour or more, the protagonist then goes again to a cupboard , music rises with the tension and then ....BLAM.... pulls out an extension plug!
Seriously the jump scares start a bit after this, and they keep using the dementia patient as a jump scare and....and oh my .... It's all so very bad.
its all just..... so bad.
Slowest movie I have ever seen
ebookgamer12 February 2020
This style of exploring an empty house works well with video games, but not in this movie. I only gave it two stars because the actress did her best to sa e the script. Very disappointing. Best to just not watch it and go to bed earlier.
Overall a disappointment
Stevieboy6665 September 2021
Just finished watching the UK TV premiere screening of The Haunting. As other reviews have stated it is essentially a young female care assistant, her first night on the job, skulking around a creepy old house, alone with her bed ridden male patient. Or are they alone? Of course not, there is a resident ghost. Trouble is we get to see too much of it and any spooky effect soon runs dry. And if you found yourself in such a creepy place surely the basement is one place you would avoid. Not our dim witted heroine! There are a few decent jump scares but the movie is obviously cheap, the picture quality is poor and the shakey camera very irritating. And the ending makes no sense. OK for a once only time filler but nothing more.
if they could've just held the camera steady
johnsmithjanuary-2008123 September 2021
Not horrible, just not that good
jackmeat15 October 2019
My quick rating - 3,9/10. Don't mind the 1/10 ratings on IMDB, it surely is not that bad however it isn't all that good either. This movie is just a story about one woman stuck in a haunted house for one night. Straight and to the point. Couple jump scares here and there, and a very slow burn to a twist ending that really doesn't surprise anyone. A decent attempt on a shoestring budget with a solid performance but she just doesn't have much to work with. I'd pass up on this one.
I liked it!
vpcoppola6 May 2020
I'm surprised at the amount of negative reviews. This Appears to be a fairly low budget film but succeeds in being very creepy and had the hairs on my neck standing a good few times!
Watch on your own with lights out and be patient with it and you'll enjoy.
Watch on your own with lights out and be patient with it and you'll enjoy.
Pleasantly surprised
zacnalx0423 December 2020
Slow to start but it gets better. If you are looking for faced paced horror flick then don't bother.
Acting was pretty good considering it was mainly one person. There is no gore, blood or cussing so perfect for young viewers.
The end was a big surprise to me. It pulled the story together. Worth a one time watch for sure.
Boring
matthewstanton123-857-9548116 December 2019
The whole film is slow ,predictable and makes no sense
It just drags on and on and offering a mild jump scare once in the film i was nearly asleep .
I kept looking at the time to see how long was left of this film.
I dont hold out much hope of finding a good British horror anymore ans this film proves why
Avoid unless you want to be bored for 1hour 15 mins
I was gonna rate it 1/10 but i thought the lead girl acted well with what little she had to work with.
This shouldn't be allowed !
duckboy-9417114 October 2019
Started off well...
rocknrelics13 September 2021
Why is it so difficult for filmmakers to tell a proper story anymore? Whilst there are some very atmospheric moments in this, the storyline is very basic, and the supposed twist at the end just had me scratching my head. Having read an explanation of the ending, that just makes the rest of the film make even less sense.
Also shaky cam really detracts from the film a lot too... Had promise, but it's a no from me.
Also shaky cam really detracts from the film a lot too... Had promise, but it's a no from me.
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