New Movie Review :: Disney’s Haunted Mansion
I recently had the opportunity to attend the media screening of the Disney’s Haunted Mansion movie ahead of its premiere this Friday. My family and I really enjoyed it! The
consensus from the other families in the theater is that it is overall a great film.
Haunted Mansion is one of our favorite Disney World rides (by the way, they did a great job incorporating parts of the ride into the film), so I was already looking forward to seeing the movie. Then, once I learned about the setting (right here in New Orleans) and the cast, I was all in! This is a film that was worth the effort of seeing in a theater; it just hits different on the big screen.
Haunted Mansion Set In New Orleans
The richly haunted history of New Orleans makes our city perfect for the setting. I sometimes get aggravated with how New Orleans is portrayed for entertainment purposes, but I am pleased to report that Disney did well in this film. You don’t have to worry about horrible accents or a focus on Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras (as if that’s all New Orleans has to offer!). I enjoyed being able to point out certain places to the kids and say, “We’ve been there!” or nod to my husband, “Yep, they got that right.” Movie goers will get glimpses of the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral, Louisiana’s gorgeous oak trees, and so much more. The Louisiana setting and familiarity with the backdrop added to the enjoyment of Haunted Mansion for sure.
An All-Star Cast
I’d heard the cast was good, but I didn’t realize how star-studded the Haunted Mansion cast actually was until star after star kept appearing. My favorite characters were played by Owen Wilson and Tiffany Haddish, but Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Rosario Dawson, and Dan Levy all appear. In some cases, new films have major casts but the plot or acting falls short. I am happy to say that with Haunted Mansion, this is not the case. There are witty one liners that are well delivered, as well as some emotional moments that don’t feel forced or cheesy.
Perfect for Spooky Season
Haunted Mansion will definitely become part of our Halloween movie tradition. I’d stop short of calling it scary overall, but I’d say it’s definitely spooky and has some scary moments. My 8-year-old covered his eyes a few times and even crawled into my lap at one point. Given the nature of the movie, many scenes are dark with that eerie organ music in the background. Admittedly, I didn’t check the rating (PG-13) before going; I saw Disney and just assumed it would be a little more light-hearted. Still, I’d let my kids watch it again. Nothing was inappropriate; to me, the rating has more to do with the occasional jump-scares and overall tone. From what I recall, there is no profanity or even suggestive interactions. The rating seems tied primarily to “scare” factor and the complexity of the plot. That said, we would recommend this movie for children aged 10+ (depending on tolerance for spooky things), and if you are at all in doubt about how your kiddo may react to ghosts – we’d skip!
I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t get too much into the plot here, but the message was a sweet and endearing one. Essentially, an unlikely group of strangers bands together to help a mother and her son rid their newly purchased New Orleans mansion of ghosts. There are themes of love, teamwork, and overcoming grief woven throughout. The movie is all about the supernatural, so if you are opposed to seances, ghosts, psychic mediums, etc., Haunted Mansion may not be for your family.
Now that we’ve seen it in theaters, we are looking forward to its eventual release on Disney+ and can’t wait to stream during Halloween. I can already smell the pumpkin spice!
