Few scares, but lots of laughs in Disney's newest ride-to-film adaptation
FILM REVIEW
Haunted Mansion
Rudy S.
Headliner Chicago
Let's start with one fact about myself: I love the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney. As a kid, this was the only ride I would patiently wait up to an hour to experience the spooky adventure. Even as an adult, I still get the same chills when I think about what this ride means to me. So,when I heard a new movie version about this ride was being created, I clearly had high expectations.
Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, and LaKeith Stanfield are the A-list stars who bring this ride to life. In the film, single mom Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and historian to help with an exorcism in her newly purchased mansion that's haunted by ghosts. No spoilers on how these characters all get into this situation, but we are taken on a fun journey. I was especially taken by the performances from Tiffany Haddish and Danny DeVito, who seem more than up for the assignment given to them in this film. Disney fans will love the Easter eggs with nods throughout the film. Keep close watch for quick cameos from Winona Ryder, Jo Koy, Marilu Henner, Dan Levy & Hasan Minhaj.
While I went in hoping to be spooked, Haunted Mansion is much more than your average thriller. Be prepared for storylines about life and death and finding closure that you don't find in many films in this genre. I do feel this third attempt at a film about the iconic ride is the best version yet, after the 2003 version with Eddie Murphy and 2021's Muppets Haunted Mansion.
This film will become a Disney favorite around Halloween time, in a similar way that Hocus Pocus has become for a certain generation. Kids will remember the first spooky movie they saw and want to watch on repeat and for years to come.
Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, and LaKeith Stanfield are the A-list stars who bring this ride to life. In the film, single mom Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and historian to help with an exorcism in her newly purchased mansion that's haunted by ghosts. No spoilers on how these characters all get into this situation, but we are taken on a fun journey. I was especially taken by the performances from Tiffany Haddish and Danny DeVito, who seem more than up for the assignment given to them in this film. Disney fans will love the Easter eggs with nods throughout the film. Keep close watch for quick cameos from Winona Ryder, Jo Koy, Marilu Henner, Dan Levy & Hasan Minhaj.
While I went in hoping to be spooked, Haunted Mansion is much more than your average thriller. Be prepared for storylines about life and death and finding closure that you don't find in many films in this genre. I do feel this third attempt at a film about the iconic ride is the best version yet, after the 2003 version with Eddie Murphy and 2021's Muppets Haunted Mansion.
This film will become a Disney favorite around Halloween time, in a similar way that Hocus Pocus has become for a certain generation. Kids will remember the first spooky movie they saw and want to watch on repeat and for years to come.
3 out of 4 stars
Haunted Mansion
in theaters nationwide July 28
Haunted Mansion
in theaters nationwide July 28