: The Haunting
Author: Shirley Jackson (novel) and David Self
Director: Jan de Bont
Nice idea — a group of insomniacs stay at a haunted house as part of what they think is a sleep study (but really is a fear study) — but it soon drops into a derivative ghost story. Impressive special effects, especially the amazing house. It’s sad — the film could have been so much better. For instance, I loved the concept that the insomniacs are so unstable that all the “ghost” effects are just their sleep-deprived imaginings. The director could have used that to better effect, making us, the audience, wonder if what we see is real or fake. Unfortunately, we are treated to exotic special effects right off the bat, making us realize that these “ghosts” are real — there’s no suspense or ambiguity. The conclusion’s a gimmicky, far-fetched twist, and the overly complicated “ghost story” is interesting but ultimately unfilling. I never did figure out how the heroine suceeded. I didn’t really care either. Not the least bit scary, this film is a good “might have been.” Worth seeing only if you like the stars or want to see some cool special effects.
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