Reviews

An American Hanuting

I’m a sucker for haunted house movies.  Some of the first movies I remember watching as a kid were Amityville Horror with my dad and Poltergeist with my mom.  I grew up watching this stuff which is probably why it’s my favorite genre of movies.  It was a no brainer opening weekend for American Haunting was going to be on my agenda.  I had concerns before buying my ticket.  The only advertising I saw was during commercial breaks for Wonder Showzen (sweet sweet Wonder Showzen).  Not only that, but the movie received a PG13 rating.  Experience tells me anytime a horror movie receives a PG13 rating it’s for the sole purpose of getting the high school crowd through the door. 

So there I was sitting in the theater, watching previews for the unnecessary Omen remake, thinking of what to say if the flick stunk.  I’ve read books on the Bell’s Witch.  Regardless if you believe in hauntings or curses it is at the least an interesting piece of American folklore.  I was not looking forward to seeing a present day storyline sewn into the existing story.

Here comes the surprise.  American Haunting is actually a good movie.  I found the acting solid.  Not just solid for a horror film but honest solid acting.  Sissy Spacek doesn’t stand out and it’s not because her performance is lacking.  What outshines Spacek, as well as the entire cast, is one Mr. Donald Sutherland.  Sutherland oozes a villain like creepiness even when he hits rock bottom.  It’s the same look I’ve seen from previous employers.  You know his character is underhanded but you’ll spend most of the movie asking if he and his family deserve the level of torment they receive.

The plot involving the year 2006 is dispensable but thankfully takes up very little of the movie.  If you’re not familiar with the Bell’s Witch here’s a quick rundown.  The Bell family is in a dispute with their neighbor involving crops, slaves, and land.  Kate Batts is the woman on the other end of said land dispute.  Feeling like she has received the short end of ye stick she curses them.   The Bell family is told to enjoy the rest of their happy and healthy lives… cause it aint gonna last.

Enter cheap scares.  Is it a wolf?  It’s a loud noise.  Typical horror fair thrown around to get the audience jumping.  The movie the slides from sharp edits to what a haunted house should be.  Voices in the night.  Item’s moving on their own.  People being tormented by what they can’t see.  American Haunting does a good job of balancing sharp edits with sharp story telling.  Not that the plot to American Haunting is dense but the story told will hold your attention. 

It’s not so much that the Bell house is haunted as the Bell household. Betsy Bell goes from angelic, love struck student to tormented and withdrawn.  It’s tough to sleep when your covers are torn from then bed followed by you being torn from the bed as well.  Not sure what to do, the Bell family calls on their closest friend God for help.  God is all like, “You got me” so they enlist the help of a friend as well as Betsy’s teacher.  The professor, played by James D’Arcy, tells the family its nightmares… it’s the slaves of Kate Batts harassing them for revenge… it’s… did that bible just fly across the room?  Is that a voice from beyond?  Witch!  Witch! 

The ghost, tired of bitch slapping Betsy like a piñata turns its attention to the father John Bell.  After some more serious spooking John begs his would be curser for forgiveness.  But what is the true origin of the Bell’s witch?  I should also point out, as the movie does too, there are over twenty books written on this subject.  The story is almost two hundred years old.  So it’s a matter of which telling of the story do you want to believe.  What really brought an end to the curse?  Was there even a curse to begin with?  I don’t care, American Haunting only let me down when it tried to explain its own origin.  The rest of the movie was a fun enough ride that I’m willing to forgive it.  American Haunting is not going to be remembered as one of the great American films.  It is a great popcorn chewing way to spend an hour and half in a dark room.

8.5/10

Andy

<<< Back to reviews