Haunted Mansion (2023)

 

Yes, I am a self-proclaimed Disney fan.  

I also admit for me no trip to Disneyland or Disney World is complete without out three things. 1) Going on the Pirates of the Carribean Ride; 2) Going through The Haunted Mansion; and 3) A hug from Mickey.

I was excited twenty years ago when Disney released The Haunted Mansion.  Based on the popular theme park attraction and starring Eddie Murphy the film was expected to be a major hit. As with many expectations in life, the reality fell short, and the movie was largely considered a flop. Such a disappointment on many levels. Now, Disney has once again looked to the popular attraction for inspiration and released the movie, Haunted Mansion. Being a fan of the ride, I wanted to see if this Justin Simien directed version delivered a more entertaining experience.

In the immortal words of Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, “Good news, everyone”! Haunted Mansion does indeed deliver an enchanting, fun filled, entertaining movie experience.  I was hoping for an improvement on the original but got more than I expected. 

Schweet!

The films’ casting choices are perfect. LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Chase Dillon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, and Owen Wilson fire on all cylinders and make for a great ensemble. Not for nothing, I especially enjoyed Owen Wilson essentially going through the movie as himself and stealing every scene he’s in.  His presence on screen is pure joy. 

Haunted Mansion works successfully this time around because writer Katie Dippold gave the script the Pirates of the Carribean treatment and let the ride inspire the story, not dictate it. Unlike the 2003 film where elements from the attraction are directly “lifted” and the movie feels created around them, Dippold went the opposite direction and delivers a solid, fully fleshed out script, independent of familiarity of the ride. If you’ve never experienced the ride, the film still engages and entertains.  If you have experienced the ride, you're in for an even bigger treat. All the details and Easter eggs are subtly and gloriously interwoven into the story seamlessly, enhancing the and elevating the movie. The result is more satisfying and feels much more organic.  The film taking place against the backdrop of New Orleans' rich culture and flavor also packs a nice punch tying it all together nicely.

Speaking of the story, it’s well crafted, humorous, and surprisingly deep.  The central themes of loss and grief, connections and relationships hit all the right notes without being overly morose. Haunted Mansion delivers the “feels”.  The overall tone is well balanced between the humor, the heart, and the spooky. The pacing is good, and I never felt a drag during the 2-hour 2-minute runtime. 

Haunted Mansion is a fun, entertaining ride for the family.  If you have more sensitive kids, I’d recommend adhering to the PG-13 rating, some of the scary elements may be a bit much.  There are some nice twice and turns adding to the layers of the film. Great effects, plenty of humor and charm, a definite crowd pleaser for me.  I want to see this film again and again, and have it earmarked to add to my personal movie collection.

I gotta give this new and improved Haunted Mansion its props.  It’s a 10 from me.

#hauntedmansion