The Haunting (1999 film)

Last updated
The Haunting
The Haunting film.jpg
The Haunting film poster
Directed by Jan de Bont
Screenplay by David Self
Based on The Haunting of Hill House
1959 novel
by Shirley Jackson
Produced byDonna Roth
Colin Wilson
Susan Arnold
Starring
Cinematography Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Edited by Michael Kahn
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Production
company
Roth-Arnold Productions
Distributed by DreamWorks Pictures
Release date
  • July 23, 1999 (1999-07-23)
Running time
114 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$80 million
Box office$180.2 million

The Haunting is a 1999 American supernatural horror film directed by Jan de Bont, and starring Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, and Lili Taylor, with Marian Seldes, Bruce Dern, Todd Field, and Virginia Madsen appearing in supporting roles. Its plot follows a group of people who gather at a sprawling estate in western Massachusetts for an apparent volunteer study on insomnia, only to find themselves plagued by paranormal events connected to the home's grim history. Based on the 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, it is the second feature film adaptation of the source material after Robert Wise's 1963 film adaptation of the same name.

Contents

Development for The Haunting originally began as a collaboration between filmmaker Steven Spielberg and writer Stephen King, who together began writing a new adaptation of Jackson's novel, largely inspired by Wise's 1963 film version. After creative differences, the project was aborted, with King retooling his screenplay to form the 2002 miniseries Rose Red . Spielberg meanwhile commissioned a new screenplay for the project, written by David Self, to be produced under Spielberg's studio, DreamWorks Pictures. Filming of The Haunting began in the fall of 1998, with some location shoots occurring in England at Harlaxton Manor and Belvoir Castle, though the majority of the film was shot in specially-crafted sets in Los Angeles by esteemed Argentine production designer Eugenio Zanetti.

The Haunting premiered theatrically in North America in July 1999. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from contemporary critics, but was a financial success, grossing $180.2 million worldwide against a production budget of $80 million.

Plot

Eleanor "Nell" Vance, an insomniac, has cared for her invalid mother for 11 years, sharing a Boston apartment with her. After her mother dies, Nell's sister Jane and her husband Lou inherit the residence and eject Nell to prepare for a sale. As she faces homelessness, Nell accepts an invitation to participate in an insomnia study by Dr. David Marrow at Hill House, a secluded manor house in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. At the house, she meets Mr. and Mrs. Dudley, an eccentric pair of caretakers. Two other participants arrive: Luke Sanderson and the glamorous Theodora ("Theo"), along with Dr. Marrow and his two research assistants. Unknown to the participants, Dr. Marrow's true purpose is to study the psychological response to fear, intending to expose his subjects to terror.

During their first night, Dr. Marrow relates the story of Hill House: Its original owner, Hugh Crain, a 19th-century textile tycoon, constructed the rambling home for his wife Renee, hoping to populate it with a large family. Unfortunately, all of Crain's children were stillborns, and Renee, devastated by the multiple losses, killed herself, while Crain became a recluse. Marrow's assistant is severely wounded in a freak accident and both research assistants leave for the hospital. Supernatural events begin happening, and Nell sees the ghosts of children. A large portrait of Hugh Crain is vandalized with the words "Welcome Home Eleanor" written in blood. Theo and Luke accuse Nell, claiming she is seeking attention.

Nell becomes determined to prove that the house is haunted. She finds Crain's hidden office and learns that he extensively used child labor in his cotton mills. He tortured and killed several orphans in his home, then burned their bodies in the fireplace. She surmises that these children's spirits are trapped in the house, providing Crain with an "eternal family". Crain had a second wife named Carolyn, from whom Nell is descended. Dr. Marrow is skeptical of Nell's claims and soon reveals his true fear study to the group, but after a statue tries to drown him, he realizes Hill House is haunted. Nell later reveals to the group that she is related to Carolyn Crain and must help the children "move on" to the afterlife.

Dr. Marrow demands that everyone leave Hill House, but Hugh Crain's ghost traps them inside. Luke defaces a portrait of Crain, enraging his spirit to decapitate Luke. When Crain himself manifests, Dr. Marrow and Theo hide in the house while Nell distracts him. Realizing that he thrived on the fear he created in children, Nell declares she is not afraid of him. Her declaration weakens the ghost and he is cast into a decorative bronze door depicting distressed children in a purgatory-like scene. He drags Nell with him, but the spirits release her and she dies. Nell's soul, along with those of the freed children, rises to heaven.

The following morning, Dr. Marrow and Theo meet the Dudleys at the front gate, where Mr. Dudley asks the doctor if he found out what he wanted to know. Dr. Marrow and Theo leave without saying a word, and leave Hill House behind.

Cast

Production

Development

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg approached horror author Stephen King in 1996 about making a haunted house film, and the two agreed that Robert Wise's 1963 film The Haunting was a benchmark of cinematic house horror. After collaborating on a screenplay partly based on Wise's film (an adaptation of the Shirley Jackson novel The Haunting of Hill House ), Spielberg and King ran into creative differences, and the project was ultimately aborted. [1] Spielberg pushed forward with the project, commissioning first-time screenwriter David Self to write a screenplay for the film. King went on to retool his rendition of the material into the 2002 miniseries Rose Red , which shares some elements of both Wise's 1963 film, as well as Jackson's source novel. [1]

While Jan de Bont was working on post-production for Twister , Spielberg offered to take over directing duties on Minority Report in exchange for directing The Haunting. De Bont did not want the film to be a remake of the 1963 version, as he wanted to focus more on the book that it was adapted from. [2]

Filming

The Great Hall of Harlaxton Manor, which was used as Hill House's games room. Harlaxton Manor, The Great Hall (40040726065).jpg
The Great Hall of Harlaxton Manor, which was used as Hill House's games room.

Principal photography began on November 30, 1998, and ended on April 9, 1999. Harlaxton Manor, in England, was used as the exterior of Hill House while its Great Hall served as the games room scene where Marrow comforts Nell after seeing the bloodied "Welcome Home Eleanor" writing and where Nell reveals of Hugh Crain's crimes, with the kitchen and pantry scenes done at Belvoir Castle. [3] Spielberg stayed at Stapleford Park Hotel, the actors were at Belton Woods Hotel, north of Grantham, and the film crew were at the Swallow Hotel on the A607 junction on the bypass, and the Olde Barn Hotel in Marston, Lincolnshire. [4]

The majority of the interior sets were built inside the dome-shaped hangar that once housed Hughes H-4 Hercules, near the permanently docked RMS Queen Mary steamship, in Long Beach, California. [3] The handcrafted interior sets cost an estimated $8–10 million to construct, and were designed by Argentine production designer Eugenio Zanetti. [5] [6]

The film was burdened by reshoots, in part because cinematographer Caleb Deschanel left over creative differences one week into filming. The studio also demanded a new ending be shot, which was completed in June 1999. [5]

Post-production

Following principal photography, the film's elaborate visual effects were completed by Phil Tippett, who had previously provided effects work on Jurassic Park (1993). [5]

Release

Box office

The Haunting opened theatrically in North America on July 23, 1999, screening in 2,808 theaters, and earning $33,435,140 during its opening weekend, ranking in first place ahead of Inspector Gadget , American Pie and Eyes Wide Shut . [7] [8] It was overtaken by Runaway Bride during its second weekend, falling into fourth place behind the latter film, The Blair Witch Project and Deep Blue Sea with a 54.4% decline and a gross of $15.2 million. [9] The film remained in theatrical release until November 1999. [8] It ultimately grossed $91,411,151 in North America, and $85,900,000 in international markets, making for a worldwide gross of $177,311,151. [8]

Critical response

At the time of its release The Haunting was met with mixed-to-negative reviews from film critics, who criticized its screenplay, reliance on horror clichés, and use of CGI effects, but praised its art direction, production design, and sound. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 17% based on 102 reviews, with an average rating of 3.7/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Sophisticated visual effects fail to offset awkward performances and an uneven script". On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 42 out of 100, based on 28 critic reviews, indicating “mixed or average reviews”. [10] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale. [11]

Roger Ebert gave the film a positive review, awarding it three stars out of four, and praising the production design in particular: "To my surprise, I find myself recommending The Haunting based on its locations, its sets, its art direction, its sound design, and the overall splendor of its visuals. The story is a mess, but for long periods that hardly matters. It's beside the point, as we enter one of the most striking spaces I've ever seen in a film." [6] Similar sentiments were echoed by The New York Times's Janet Maslin, who deemed the film "a lavish illustration of how to take a fairly modest black-and-white horror film from 1963 and amplify it so relentlessly that the sight of the flying cow in Twister would not be all that amiss...  the film's spooky tricks are orchestrated by top-notch behind-the-scenes talent, who augment Mr. De Bont's tireless efforts to keep things moving." [12]

Accolades

AwardCategoryNominee(s)Result
Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Picture Donna Roth, Colin Wilson, Susan ArnoldNominated
Worst Director Jan de Bont Nominated
Worst Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones (also for Entrapment )Nominated
Worst Screenplay David Self Nominated
Worst Screen Couple Lili Taylor and Catherine Zeta-JonesNominated
Stinkers Bad Movie Awards [13] Worst Sense of DirectionJan de BontNominated
Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing Over $100M Worldwide Using Hollywood MathDavid SelfNominated
Worst RemakeThe HauntingWon
Least "Special" Special EffectsNominated
Online Film & Television Association (OFTA) Film AwardsBest Sound MixingDavid John, David Macmillan, Gary Rydstrom Nominated
Best Visual Effects Scott Farrar, Craig Hayes, David Rosenthal, Phil Tippett Nominated

Home media

The Haunting was released on VHS and DVD by DreamWorks Home Entertainment on November 23, 1999. [14] Following Paramount Pictures' acquisition of DreamWorks, Paramount reissued the film on DVD in October 2017. [15]

In October 2020, Paramount released the film on Blu-ray featuring a new 4K restoration under their "Paramount Presents" Blu-ray line. [16] On February 27, 2023, Scream Factory announced a forthcoming 4K UHD Blu-ray release scheduled for May 30, 2023. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Twister</i> (1996 film) American film by Jan de Bont

Twister is a 1996 American disaster thriller film directed by Jan de Bont from a screenplay by Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin. It was produced by Crichton, Kathleen Kennedy, and Ian Bryce, with Steven Spielberg, Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, and Gerald R. Molen serving as executive producers. The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Jami Gertz, Cary Elwes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Ruck, Todd Field, and Jeremy Davies as a group of amateur but spirited storm chasers trying to deploy a tornado research device during a severe outbreak in Oklahoma. Twister was released in theaters on May 10, 1996. It is notable for being among the first films to be released on DVD in the United States.

<i>Scary Movie 2</i> 2001 film by Keenen Ivory Wayans

Scary Movie 2 is a 2001 American supernatural parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans. It is the sequel to Scary Movie and the second film in the Scary Movie film series. The film stars Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans, as well as Tim Curry, Tori Spelling, Chris Elliott, Chris Masterson, Kathleen Robertson, David Cross and James Woods. The film is the last in the series to feature the involvement of stars Marlon and Shawn Wayans, and director Keenan. Marlon would eventually go on to produce a similar horror-themed parody, A Haunted House, and its sequel, both starring himself. In the latter film, Wayans pokes fun at the Scary Movie series' decline in quality after his family's departure.

<i>House on Haunted Hill</i> (1999 film) 1999 American supernatural horror film

House on Haunted Hill is a 1999 American supernatural horror film directed by William Malone and starring Geoffrey Rush, Famke Janssen, Taye Diggs, Ali Larter, Bridgette Wilson, Peter Gallagher, and Chris Kattan. The plot follows a group of strangers who are invited to a party at an abandoned insane asylum, where they are offered $1 million each by an amusement park mogul if they are able to survive the night. Produced by Robert Zemeckis and Joel Silver, it is a remake of the 1959 film of the same title directed by William Castle, and features special effects by famed make-up artists Gregory Nicotero and Dick Smith.

<i>The Haunting</i> (1963 film) 1963 British horror film by Robert Wise

The Haunting is a 1963 British horror film directed and produced by Robert Wise, adapted by Nelson Gidding from Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House. It stars Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn. The film depicts the experiences of a small group of people invited by a paranormal investigator to investigate a purportedly haunted house.

<i>Deep Blue Sea</i> (1999 film) 1999 film by Renny Harlin

Deep Blue Sea is a 1999 American science fiction horror film directed by Renny Harlin and starring Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Rapaport, and LL Cool J. It is the first film of the film series by the same name. Set in an isolated underwater facility, the film follows a team of scientists and their research on mako sharks to help fight Alzheimer's disease. The situation plunges into chaos when multiple genetically engineered sharks go on a rampage and flood the facility.

<i>The Haunting of Hill House</i> 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson

The Haunting of Hill House is a 1959 gothic horror novel by American author Shirley Jackson. It was a finalist for the National Book Award and has been made into two feature films and a play, and is the basis of a Netflix series.

<i>The Legend of Hell House</i> 1973 supernatural horror film by John Hough

The Legend of Hell House is a 1973 gothic supernatural horror film directed by John Hough, and starring Pamela Franklin, Roddy McDowall, Clive Revill, and Gayle Hunnicutt. It follows a group of researchers who spend a week in the former home of a sadist and murderer, where previous paranormal investigators were inexplicably killed. Its screenplay was written by American author Richard Matheson, based upon his 1971 novel Hell House.

<i>Lets Scare Jessica to Death</i> 1971 film by John D. Hancock

Let's Scare Jessica to Death is a 1971 American horror film co-written and directed by John Hancock in his directorial debut, and starring Zohra Lampert, Barton Heyman, Kevin O'Connor, Gretchen Corbett, and Mariclare Costello. The film depicts the nightmarish experiences of a psychologically fragile woman who comes to believe that another strange, mysterious young woman she has let into her home may actually be a vampire.

<i>Paranoiac</i> (film) 1963 British film by Freddie Francis

Paranoiac is a 1963 British psychological thriller film directed by Freddie Francis, and starring Janette Scott, Oliver Reed, Sheila Burrell, and Alexander Davion. The screenplay, written by Jimmy Sangster, was based loosely on the 1949 crime novel Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey.

The Haunting or Haunting may refer to:

<i>Super 8</i> (2011 film) 2011 American film

Super 8 is a 2011 American science fiction thriller film written and directed by J. J. Abrams and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, and Kyle Chandler and tells the story of a group of young teenagers in 1979 who are filming their own Super 8 movie when a train derails, releasing a dangerous presence into their town. The film was shot in Weirton, West Virginia, and surrounding areas, portraying the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio.

<i>Dementia 13</i> 1963 film by Francis Ford Coppola

Dementia 13, known in the United Kingdom as The Haunted and the Hunted, is a 1963 independently made black-and-white horror-thriller film produced by Roger Corman, and written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola in his feature film directorial debut. The film stars William Campbell and Luana Anders with Bart Patton, Mary Mitchell, and Patrick Magee. It was released in the United States by American International Pictures during the fall of 1963 as the bottom half of a double feature with Corman's X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes.

<i>Dudley Do-Right</i> (film) 1999 film by Hugh Wilson

Dudley Do-Right is a 1999 American slapstick comedy film written and directed by Hugh Wilson, based on Jay Ward's Dudley Do-Right, produced by Davis Entertainment for Universal Studios. The film stars Brendan Fraser as the cartoon's titular Mountie with supporting roles from Sarah Jessica Parker, Alfred Molina, and Eric Idle.

<i>Poltergeist</i> (1982 film) 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper

Poltergeist is a 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais and Mark Victor from a story by Spielberg. It stars JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson and Beatrice Straight, and was produced by Spielberg and Frank Marshall. The film focuses on a suburban family whose home is invaded by malevolent ghosts that abduct their youngest daughter.

David Christopher Self is an American screenwriter best known as the author of the screenplays for the films The Haunting, Road to Perdition and The Wolfman.

<i>Full Circle</i> (1977 film) Supernatural horror film starring Mia Farrow

Full Circle, released in the United States as The Haunting of Julia, is a 1977 supernatural horror film directed by Richard Loncraine, and starring Mia Farrow and Keir Dullea. Based on the novel Julia by the American writer Peter Straub, it is the first film realization of one of his books, and follows a woman who, after the death of her daughter, finds herself haunted by the vengeful ghost of a young girl in her new home.

<i>The Haunting of Hill House</i> (TV series) American television series

The Haunting of Hill House is an American supernatural horror drama television miniseries created and directed by Mike Flanagan, produced by Amblin Television and Paramount Television, for Netflix, and serves as the first entry in The Haunting anthology series. It is loosely based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson. The plot alternates between two timelines, following five adult siblings whose paranormal experiences at Hill House continue to haunt them in the present day, and flashbacks depicting events leading up to the eventful night in 1992 when the family fled from the mansion. The ensemble cast features Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, and Victoria Pedretti as the siblings in adulthood, with Carla Gugino and Henry Thomas as parents Olivia and Hugh Crain, and Timothy Hutton appearing as an older version of Hugh.

Victoria Pedretti is an American actress. Her accolades include an MTV Award, a Saturn Award, and nominations for two Critics' Choice Awards

The Haunting is an American television anthology series created by Mike Flanagan and produced by Amblin Television and Paramount Television, for Netflix. The first series, titled The Haunting of Hill House, premiered on October 12, 2018, and the second, titled The Haunting of Bly Manor, on October 9, 2020. Both series star Victoria Pedretti, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel and Carla Gugino, portraying different characters across the two seasons.

Violet Elizabeth McGraw is an American child actress. She began acting at the age of five, with her debut credited role being a recurring role in the 2016 television series Love as Nina, and her first feature film being in 2018's Ready Player One. In 2019 she was nominated for an OFTA Television Award for Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Limited Series for The Haunting of Hill House. She is also known for her role as Cady in the 2022 horror film M3GAN.

References

  1. 1 2 Kennedy, Michael (March 5, 2021). "Stephen King's Rose Red Was Originally A Remake Of The Haunting". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on August 27, 2021.
  2. ↑ Taylor, Drew (November 5, 2020). "'The Haunting' Director Jan de Bont on Swapping Projects with Steven Spielberg and the State of Action". Collider . Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Movie-Locations.com
  4. ↑ Grantham Journal Friday 9 April 1999, page 3
  5. 1 2 3 Jensen, Jeff (July 23, 1999). ""The Secrets of The Haunting"". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on August 27, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (July 1, 1999). "The Haunting". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on February 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Poor reviews didn't stop moviegoers". The Kokomo Tribune. July 27, 1999. p. 15. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. 1 2 3 "The Haunting (1999)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ Hindes, Andrew (August 2, 1999). "'Runaway' tops record weekend". Variety . Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Haunting". Metacritic .
  11. ↑ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com.
  12. ↑ Maslin, Janet (July 23, 1999). "'The Haunting': Things That Go Bump, and Worse, in the Night". The New York Times . Archived from the original on August 27, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Press Release - Stinkers 1999 Winners". February 17, 2002. Archived from the original on February 17, 2002.
  14. ↑ "Video Releases". The Baltimore Sun . November 25, 1999. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "The Haunting [DVD]". Amazon . 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021.
  16. ↑ Squires, John (August 17, 2020). "Paramount Bringing 1999's 'The Haunting' to Blu-ray in October; Newly Remastered from 4K Transfer". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on August 27, 2021.
  17. ↑ Squires, Jon (February 27, 2023). "1999 Horror Movie 'The Haunting' Gets a 4K Ultra HD Upgrade from Scream Factory". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on March 2, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.