 Welcome, foolish mortals, to Disney's newest attempt to adapt one of its most beloved theme park rides for the big screen – Haunted Mansion. Steeped in quotable lines (see above), iconic characters like Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis) and the Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto) and bags of Imagineering style and magic, you'd think the studio would be hard-pressed to go wrong. However, they already did with the Eddie Murphy version back in 2003, which was a pale imitation of what it could have been, and we all know they've sailed that Pirates of the Caribbean ship a few too many times as well. For this Haunted Mansion 20 years later though, director Justin Simien (Dear White People) and writer Katie Dippold have created a much more promising movie, which is both fixed more firmly in its origins as a ride as well as not afraid to take a bigger – and more emotional – swing with the story. LaKeith Stanfield leads the cast as grieving widower Ben Matthias, a sceptic physicist-turned-tour-guide who has invented a camera able to photograph spirits. Meanwhile, Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), a doctor and single mum, has purchased a grand but spooky house in New Orleans, ready to open up as a bed and breakfast, alongside her introverted son Travis (Chase W. Dillon). When the house's previous and current occupiers suggest they really aren't very welcome, the family seeks the support of anyone they can – assembling a motley crew of Ben, exorcist specialist Father Kent (Owen Wilson), history professor and haunted mansion expert Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito) and outlandish medium Harriet (Tiffany Haddish) – to try and solve their ghost problem. Rosario Dillon's Gabbie doesn't know what she's got herself in for when she buys her new home (Picture: Disney) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The unlikely group then uncovers an intriguing mystery){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Welcome, foolish mortals, to Disney’s newest attempt to adapt one of its most beloved theme park rides for the big screen – Haunted Mansion.
Steeped in quotable lines (see above), iconic characters like Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis) and the Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto) and bags of Imagineering style and magic, you’d think the studio would be hard-pressed to go wrong.
However, they already did with the Eddie Murphy version back in 2003, which was a pale imitation of what it could have been, and we all know they’ve sailed that Pirates of the Caribbean ship a few too many times as well.
For this Haunted Mansion 20 years later though, director Justin Simien (Dear White People) and writer Katie Dippold have created a much more promising movie, which is both fixed more firmly in its origins as a ride as well as not afraid to take a bigger – and more emotional – swing with the story.