Jamie Skinner reviews Haunted Mansion: Six strangers are trapped in a haunted mansion, or else are stalked by ghosts, trying to work out how to free the deadly spirits.

Cert - 12, Run-time - 2 hours 3 minutes, Director - Justin Simien

Up until now it’s seemed that the best group to adapt Disney’s fan-favourite theme park ride is The Muppets. While 2003’s Eddie Murphy vehicle The Haunted Mansion isn’t the most favourably thought of film (I personally don’t mind it) it comes across as a response to Disney preparing to launch another ride adaptation, Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl. Indeed, this 2023 take arrives not long after the big screen treatment of Jungle Cruise was a relative success in the studio’s eyes.

Yet, a cash-grab this doesn’t come across as, instead capturing a familiar tone of an ensemble cast haunted house movie. Not an overall traditional feeling, but certainly a recognisable and enjoyable tone conjured up by the central cast. Each of whom manage to settle you in with a handful of gags early on, pushing aside early indecision from the film as to whether to go for spookiness of gimmicks.

LaKeith Stanfield plays Ben, a tour guide with a past of ghost photography hired by Rosario Dawson’s Gabbie, and her young son Travis (Chase Dillon) in the hope of capturing images of what’s plaguing their newly-bought home. However, it’s more than a one-man job as in comes a priest (a miscast but still amusing Owen Wilson), a questionable medium (Tiffany Haddish, on expectedly good form) and a university professor (Danny DeVito). All assembled to try and figure out the mystery of the house and how to free the deadly spirits within, especially in order to not be stalked by them outside the grounds.

Alongside bringing about a number of successful chuckles there are also some good scares dotted throughout. Still within the 12-rated confines, and keeping a generally family friendly style and tone, the film doesn’t feel restricted as it understands where it can go with both its style and tone. It works well and manages to bring in a sense of eeriness and creepiness as the characters roam the halls of the titular location, especially past midnight.

While more emotional moments, particularly surrounding Ben and Travis’ separate pasts, might slightly stand out they don’t disturb the flow of things too much, particularly in a film which doesn’t entirely get away with a 2 hour run-time. One particular moment is sold by Stanfield’s performance, topped off by an unexpected complimenting pay off from DeVito.

There’s an overall enjoyable film within Haunted Mansion. Yes, there may be one or two slight dips but as a whole it maintains its style, thanks to director Justin Simien clearly understanding what he wants to go for with the overall tone. Helped by an ensemble cast who bring about plenty of chuckles there’s a good degree of spookiness to match all while avoiding gimmicky territory. A good slice of family entertainment which seems fit for future October viewings.

Jamie Skinner, Four stars ****