- Actors: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Lili Taylor, Bruce Dern
- Directors: Jan de Bont
- Writers: David Self, Shirley Jackson
- Producers: Jan de Bont, Colin Wilson, Donna Roth, Marty P. Ewing, Samuel Z. Arkoff
- Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Colour, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Dreamworks Video
- DVD Release Date: 29 Aug 2000
- Run Time: 113 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
- ASIN: 0783246692
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 154,153 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you saw the original, beware... The plot bears no resemblance to Shirley Jackson's psychological horror story. The sub-plots make no sense and dead-ends. There's lots of CGI and special effects, which are well done and are the star of the movie.
The sets for the house were the best part and are worth seeing. Liam Neeson must be sorry he made this film, and Owen Wilson, seems to be the comic relief, Zeta-Jones certainly looks good but isn't given anything to do except wander around looking colorfully tarty. Bruce Dern and Marian Seldes were probably just happy they had such small parts. This doesn't make it as a "good" bad movie, and it wouldn't really worth the trouble hating, except that it butchered a book that was both scary and intelligent.
The sets for the house were the best part and are worth seeing. Liam Neeson must be sorry he made this film, and Owen Wilson, seems to be the comic relief, Zeta-Jones certainly looks good but isn't given anything to do except wander around looking colorfully tarty. Bruce Dern and Marian Seldes were probably just happy they had such small parts. This doesn't make it as a "good" bad movie, and it wouldn't really worth the trouble hating, except that it butchered a book that was both scary and intelligent.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If Robert Wise were alive today, he would turn in his grave! I too am jaded, having been terrified by the '63 version(The face in the wallpaper - brrrr) and very recently the book. I can forgive the references to teletubbies, but the bloody footprints, secret passages, and magic mirror are just too much.
Sadly this film gives away all its secrets in one blurb. In the book I did not know the real truth until the last chapter. In this one very large hints seem to be dropped at regular intervals as to the (super)nature of things. The screenplay seems to have been subordinated to the special effects crew. Did not the directors realise that the things we cant see but are hinted at are the scariest. Fear comes though imagination. In this film you don't need one!
Sadly this film gives away all its secrets in one blurb. In the book I did not know the real truth until the last chapter. In this one very large hints seem to be dropped at regular intervals as to the (super)nature of things. The screenplay seems to have been subordinated to the special effects crew. Did not the directors realise that the things we cant see but are hinted at are the scariest. Fear comes though imagination. In this film you don't need one!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I must begin by saying that I saw the original years before I saw this version so its hard not to make comparisons.
The first thing in the film's favour is that it takes what was a scary story anyway and tells it quite well. Secondly, there are a few spine chilling moments in the film - all borrowed from the 1963 film.
Unfortunately all this is undone by unsubtle effects and horror moments. I came away with the impression that Jan de Bont felt that the audience would be unsatisfied if they didn't see anything so threw in an effects driven finale...which spoils the ethos of the film.
Lines have been added to the story which are tainted with the usual Hollywood belief that audiences are esseentially stupid and points have to be reinforced.
The cast manage to make a good job of the material but at the end of the day Jan de Bont should not have been let near this. Its interesting to note in the accompanying featurette that the producers felt that the things you imagine can be much more powerful than what you see. I can only presume that this was why they wanted to make the film but somewhere along the line this idea was subverted.
In recent years, ghost story films have all been given "happier" endings, aiming for a redemption concept that tends to undermine the power of the story. This is no exception.
On a plus side, the transfer is excellent - the picture quality is clear and sharp. The sound is excellent even if some of the effects lack subtlety. The features are rather sparse comprising a short documentary and two trailers.
My advice - track down the 1963 original, expertly directed by Robert Wise. It is far superior. The 1999 remake is entertaining and has a few spooky moments but is disappointing overall.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Boring and ridiculous
Do not expect much and you won't be dissappointed.
I have always been very impressed with the original and even after having seen so many Horrorfilms, including everything... Read more
I have always been very impressed with the original and even after having seen so many Horrorfilms, including everything... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Nats' Art & Ink
Don't bother- get the original!
Not much to say about this... falls short of the original by a LONG WAY.
Do yourself a favour, WATCH THE 1960's ORIGINAL, NOT THIS ONE... Read more
Do yourself a favour, WATCH THE 1960's ORIGINAL, NOT THIS ONE... Read more
Published 9 months ago by bookshopwanderers
pants
The worst horror movie I have ever seen, I was bored half way though, dont bother watching or buying
P.S it so funny though in scary movie LOL
P.S it so funny though in scary movie LOL
Published 17 months ago by Billy Thomas
It is for a preasant
it is for a presant it has not been used yetHaunting, The [DVD] [1999]
Published 20 months ago by Mrs D C McLoughlin
Ambitious, but too reliant on CGI
This is definitely better than House On Haunted Hill [DVD] [2000] but it was panned severely by critics because of the extreme overdose of CGI and the camp-gothic sets. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Inspector Gadget
Why?
This film is a travesty of the original. Why, oh why, was this even considered to be remade? The 1963 original, as well as the novel it is based on, is a classic. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Marty68
Special effects overload!
This film looked promising enought to begin with. The house was amazing creepy and but held a mysterious charm. The cast consisted of a couple talented A List actors. Read more
Published on 21 May 2010 by Lauranna
Hill House Haunting
Watched this a few years back but decided to re-watch last night. Time had faded the memory of the story but I did recall the basic plot, helped by the fact that I did participate... Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by P. Smith
Jan de Bont + The Haunting = Miss
First off, this movie looks great.
The design of the house, and the location shooting are absolutely gorgeous. Read more
The design of the house, and the location shooting are absolutely gorgeous. Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2009 by Jon Shipton
The haunting
It has a few jumpy bits but it isn't that scary. I love the storyline and the actors are amazing.
Published on 6 April 2009 by Ms. SM EVANS
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