Haunted Mansion Review: How the Live-Action Movie Compares to the Disneyland Attraction

July 25, 2023 2:00 p.m.

The Haunted Mansion is a dark attraction located in Disneyland, Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. The ride takes place in a large, creaky mansion said to be haunted by the ghosts of its former residents. Riders are guided through a series of rooms, each decorated with spooky props and featuring a different ghostly encounter. Some of the ride's most famous scenes include the ballroom, where a group of ghosts dance, the conservatory, where a coffin floats through the air, and Madame Leota's seance room, where a disembodied head floats in a ball of crystal. Someone at Disney decided that was enough substance to make a feature film out of it. I don't know why.

Disney's Haunted Mansion movie, directed by Justin Simien and written by Katie Dippold, is a horror comedy based on the famous Disneyland attraction. However, the ride this film takes you on is less of an enchanting journey than a chance visit to a run-down amusement park. The film stars Lakeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny Devito and Chase Dillion.

Haunted Mansion starts with Ben Matthais (Stanfield) at a party where he meets his future wife Alyssa (Charity Jordan). He's an astrophysicist and she gives ghost tours through New Orleans. Years later, he collapsed drunk in a bar, seemingly giving up his science career to run the ghost tours himself because Alyssa isn't around to do them anymore. Across town, Gabbie (Dawson) and her son Travis (Dillion) arrive at an old mansion ready to move into. Her son smells something sinister in the air, as Gabbie wanders around the house like the cobwebs, broken floors, and creepy googly-eyed paintings aren't a problem. However, the pair discover the place is haunted when a suit of armor follows them into the house. This incident sends them running for the hills.

Father Kent (Wilson) arrives at Ben's house asking for help on behalf of the mother and of the son. It seems that Ben has created a special camera that sees spectral energy and they need it to help prove the presence of paranormal activity in her house so she can get rid of it. After getting paid, the former scientist meets the duo at home and of course thinks they are crazy. Having found nothing suspicious, he returns home where he witnesses the appearance of a sailor who will not leave him alone no matter where he goes. Now he must return to the mansion where Gabbie, Travis, Father Kent, local medium Harriet (Haddish), and historian Bruce Davis (Devito) are also forced to stay. The group must think together and figure out what is causing this ghostly infestation before they are trapped in it forever.

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