THE HAUNTED MANSION

REVIEWED BY CARISSA HORTON

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: supernatural elements

Rated:

Jim (Eddie Murphy) and Sara (Marsha Thomason) Evers run a profitable real-estate company, popular and successful. However, like most family-run businesses, vacations and other activities are usually shoved to the back burner. In an attempt to rectify the neglect of his two children, Michael (Marc John Jefferies) and Megan (Aree Davis), Jim plans a weekend away from their business, with just one little stop along the way. This should only take twenty minutes, tops, or so he says.

The Gracey Mansion is indeed magnificent, and the sale would put the Evers family into a whole other league of clientele. Sure it needs a little work, but what house doesn't? Ramsley (Terence Stamp), the butler, with his hoarse voice and unsettling persona greets the family, and bids them welcome. Master Gracey (Nathaniel Parker) is charming, and far younger than any would have expected. He appears to be perhaps in his mid-thirties, but certainly no older. His fascination seems to be directed almost solely upon Sara. He blithely ignores the rest of the family, Jim especially. Their good intentions of remaining only twenty minutes are soon washed away by a flash flood, stranding them at the house with no means of escape. Mr. Gracey kindly offers them sanctuary for the night, with magnificent bed chambers. What more could one ask? Perhaps, the truth would have been wise.

Jim is called away from the room, supposedly to meet with Mr. Gracey concerning the house. He's lead to a study by Ramsley and left awaiting the Master. No master arrives of course, and Jim, through trial and error, discovers a secret passageway. As any self-respecting human being would, he enters and the door closes firmly shut behind him. Sara goes searching for her husband, only to meet up with Mr. Gracey. With a gently sweet smile, he invites her to tour the house with him, and gives her its rich and tragic history. His great-grandfather had lived at the house, a man deeply in love, until his fiancée committed suicide. Unable to bear the grief, he ended his own life by hanging himself in the tower. A morbid tale to be sure, but told with such reverence and love. She cannot help but feel compassion for this man who has lived with the ghosts of his family's past.

Jims struggles are far more severe. He has encountered a labyrinth of passages, including one room inhabited by a fortune-teller trapped within a crystal ball. At this point, he's obviously realized that this house is either haunted, or he's gone insane. The former proves to be true. Bolting from the room after a harrowing experience and chased by musical instruments, Jim unexpectedly meets up with his children who had been guided to the attic by a glowing ball of light. There they discover a painting, one so glorious, so richly beautiful, but shockingly familiar. The portrait is of their mother, Sara. With the gypsy and two ghostly servants of the household to assist them, Jim, Megan, and Michael realize they must stop whatever plan has been unleashed. Their beloved Sara is involved in this scheme, however unaware she is of the danger.

The violence is mostly comedic, but skeletons do make an appearance. While attempting to retrieve a vital item from a crypt, Jim and his daughter wind up with several of the undead on their tails. There are many ghosts, naturally, but only a few are particularly terrifying. Unnerving twists and turns erupt around every corner, from a mirror that vastly changes your appearance, to singing statues, even to flash backs of a long ago hanging. The language is very minor, and mostly mild innuendo that would go over the heads of most children. A few kisses are exchanged, though nothing too dramatic. During the beginning credits, you see Taro cards with nude figures (a big no-no) and other implements of fortune-telling.

As for the ghosts themselves, as a Christian I believe you die once and only once. There is no in-between, trapped on earth, stopping point for souls. Were there no mention at all of heaven and hell, I probably would have been more offended. However, The Haunted Mansion brings the afterlife into play, with mention of heaven and ghosts finally being released from their bondage on earth. That in itself somewhat redeemed the film, but not entirely. The gypsy fortune-teller I really cannot condone at all, and that's where most of the problems stem. Rather than praying, the Evers go to her for wisdom and advice on how to proceed in their journey. She seems to be a fount of knowledge, and placed there specifically to accompany and assist the Evers. She calls upon dark spirits to help her see the future, and sends the Evers into danger more than once. 

I really wish I could give The Haunted Mansion higher praise, for the humor was really hilarious. The balance between terror and joviality was carefully weighed, so you never feel overwhelmed by either one. One thing you must keep in mind while watching this movie is all pure fantasy. Created from a Disneyland ride, its a wild roller coaster from beginning to end. If you've seen films such as Casper or The Canterville Ghost, then you'll probably enjoy The Haunted Mansion. However, if you aren't comfortable with the spirit realm than Id recommend leaving this particular ghostly tale to rest on the rental shelf.