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Jan De Bont directs this remake of the 1963 classic. Dr David Marrow (Liam Neeson) lures three subjects to a haunted house by advertising for volunteers for a study on insomnia. These unfortunate subjects are Theo (Catherine Zeta Jones), Nell (Lili Taylor) and Luke (Owen Wilson). Once in the house, the trio notice a number of strange and unexplainable events, and Nell becomes convinced that the house is trying to communicate with her...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Jon Shipton
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
First off, this movie looks great.
The design of the house, and the location shooting are absolutely gorgeous.
Liam Neeson leads the cast with his usual quiet grace, but occasionally looks a little uncomfortable with the script.
Owen Wilson is his usual, annoying but funny self. Catherine Zeta-Jones puts in a suprisingly good effort, If trying too hard to be too American some of the time.
Lili Taylor works very hard, and for the most part she pulls off the part of 'mother-pecked' spinster, desperate to shake away her old life. But compared to the same part played to absolute perfection by Julie Harris in the original, it just falls short.
The fault of that lies firmly with the director, Jan De Bont!
As an action movie director, 'De Bont' has a fantastic eye!
But anything to do with quality acting and subtlety; He has no idea at all!
This film is at it's best when being quiet and subtle, unfortunatley this is hardly ever.
In 1999, the state of computer graphics was still advancing, but compared to what was achieved back in 1993 with Jurrasic Park, most of the 'CGI' here looks hokey and unrealistic. The fault of the director again, for over-use!
With absolutely everything that needed a light touch, it is just slapped on screen by the bucket-load. "Less is more" anyone?
In the hands of a masterful director, this could have been a superb remake, but with no reserve from this director it misses almost every mark.
A good popcorn movie though!
The design of the house, and the location shooting are absolutely gorgeous.
Liam Neeson leads the cast with his usual quiet grace, but occasionally looks a little uncomfortable with the script.
Owen Wilson is his usual, annoying but funny self. Catherine Zeta-Jones puts in a suprisingly good effort, If trying too hard to be too American some of the time.
Lili Taylor works very hard, and for the most part she pulls off the part of 'mother-pecked' spinster, desperate to shake away her old life. But compared to the same part played to absolute perfection by Julie Harris in the original, it just falls short.
The fault of that lies firmly with the director, Jan De Bont!
As an action movie director, 'De Bont' has a fantastic eye!
But anything to do with quality acting and subtlety; He has no idea at all!
This film is at it's best when being quiet and subtle, unfortunatley this is hardly ever.
In 1999, the state of computer graphics was still advancing, but compared to what was achieved back in 1993 with Jurrasic Park, most of the 'CGI' here looks hokey and unrealistic. The fault of the director again, for over-use!
With absolutely everything that needed a light touch, it is just slapped on screen by the bucket-load. "Less is more" anyone?
In the hands of a masterful director, this could have been a superb remake, but with no reserve from this director it misses almost every mark.
A good popcorn movie though!
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By M. A. Ramos
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Lauranna
Format:DVD
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. Eleanor's story was intriging as she was kept awake by believing that she could still hear her mother rapping on the bedroom wall with her cane even though her mother is now dead. Where did it all go so wrong?! The film quickly went down hill when ghosts started popping up every 5 seconds so much so that they were no longer scary and the actress who played Eleanor started overacting in every scene. I swear the scene in which she is lying in bed moaning loudly and tossing around is so cringe worthy especially as the other be characters are in the room with her pretending to be concerned. The film's major flaw however was the severe overuse of special effects! Whatever charm this film had was ruined by the constant use of special effects and they didn't even succeed in making the film look impressive. They just looked silly and unnecessary. I have watched this film three times now in an attempt to like it but everytime I watch it, it just continues to annoy me more and more. If you want a proper horror film then stick to the original. It may not be the scariest of films but its awhole lot more scary than this film will ever be!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
I liked this film for its special effects which were very good and you could see why the characters were caught up in the history of the house and its ghosts.
Published 2 days ago by jane mullins
5.0 out of 5 stars
dvd
the haunting
good film not too scary can watch it again and a again
5 out of 5 good film
good film not too scary can watch it again and a again
5 out of 5 good film
Published 1 month ago by joyce brannagan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Average film but worth watching.
Although the film is average, I feel that it should be watched. The film begins like any other horror film but progresses into a different story with memorable horror moments. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Martin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good movie full of suspense
Would have got five stars but the packaging was in German and the picture shown when buying was in English.
This was not a big problem as language could be changed in menu. Read more
This was not a big problem as language could be changed in menu. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ashley
5.0 out of 5 stars
FANTASTIC FILM
FANTASTIC BOOK good authour and story, I am not a critic. what do you want an essay.i have got 55 of these to write and dont have time for all this.
Published 2 months ago by Heide Grant
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it
Loved the film have had to buy three new ones as i have watched this so much that I keep wrecking the discs.
Have recommended to family
Have recommended to family
Published 4 months ago by Miss K. Clarke
3.0 out of 5 stars
not for me
i got this for a friend. he saw part on tv and knew he wanted it. i dont watch horror or scary.but service was good as usual . thanks.
Published 5 months ago by reggie
5.0 out of 5 stars
special effects are outstanding
I remember having this film on video a few years ago and I always promised myself that if I ever find it on DVD I would treat myself to it and I was not disappointed at all, the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Honeybee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than the first
I Love this Movie, sooo much better than the first, which is something i wouldn't normally say i normally hate remakes but in this case i loved it, I always hated the first movie. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Maggie The Believer
2.0 out of 5 stars
Is it the devils spawn so many claim it is?
Dr. Marrow, for research purposes, assembles at a large Gothic mansion, a small group of people with apparent sleeping disorders. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Spike Owen
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