The Haunting in Connecticut

Last updated

The Haunting in Connecticut
Haunting in connecticut.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Peter Cornwell
Written by Adam Simon
Tim Metcalfe
Produced by Paul Brooks
Andrew Trapani
Daniel Farrands
Wendy Rhoads
Starring
CinematographyAdam Swica
Edited byTom Elkins
Music by Robert J. Kral
Production
companies
Gold Circle Films
Integrated Films
Distributed by Lionsgate Films
Release date
  • March 27, 2009 (2009-03-27)
Running time
92 minutes
Countries
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10 million
Box office$78.8 million [2] [3]

The Haunting in Connecticut is a 2009 supernatural horror film directed by Peter Cornwell and starring Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Amanda Crew, and Elias Koteas. The film is alleged to be about Carmen Snedeker and her family, though Ray Garton, author of In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting (1992), has publicly distanced himself from the accuracy of the events he depicted in the book. [4] [5] The film's story follows the fictional Campbells as they move into a house (a former mortuary) to mitigate the strains of travel on their cancer-stricken son, Matt. The family soon becomes haunted by violent and traumatic events from supernatural forces occupying the house.

Contents

The film was moderately successful, grossing about $78.8 million at the box office. [3] it received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to Metacritic. [6] In 2010 Gold Circle Films announced the production of a sequel, The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (released 2013) They noted, however, that the film wouldn't be a direct sequel to The Haunting in Connecticut and would instead be a self-contained film with unique characters. [7]

Plot

In 1987, Sara Campbell is driving her son Matt home from the hospital where he has been undergoing cancer treatments. Sara and her husband, Peter, a recovering alcoholic, discuss finding a rental house closer to the hospital. On another hospital visit, Sara finds a man putting up a "For Rent" sign in front of a large house. The man is frustrated and offers her the first month free if she rents the house immediately.

The following day, Peter arrives with Matt's brother Billy and cousins Wendy and Mary, and they choose rooms. Matt chooses the basement, where there is a mysterious door. After moving in, Matt suffers a series of visions involving an old, bearded man and corpses with symbols carved into their skin. The next day, Peter learns that the house was supposedly a funeral home; the room behind the mysterious door is a mortuary.

Matt tells another patient, Reverend Nicholas Popescu, about the visions. Nicholas advises him to find out what the spirit wants. Later, Matt finds a burned figure in his room who begins to move toward him. When the family comes home, they find a shirtless Matt with his fingers blood-covered from scratching at the wall.

The family begins to crack under the stress of Matt's illness and bizarre behavior. The children find a box of photographs, which show Jonah, a young man from Matt's visions, at a séance, emitting ectoplasm from his mouth. Wendy and Matt find out that the funeral home was run by a man named Ramsey Aickman. Aickman also conducted psychic research and would host séances with Jonah as the medium. At one séance, all those attending, including Aickman, were found dead, and Jonah disappeared.

Nicholas theorizes that Aickman was practicing necromancy in an attempt to control the dead and bind them to the house. That night, Nicholas finds human remains in the house and removes them. Matt awakens to find Aickman's symbols carved into his skin. He is taken to the hospital, where he encounters Jonah. Nicholas and Matt begin to have simultaneous visions. Everyone in the séance is burnt after a flash of bright light. The barely alive Aickman told Jonah to get out of the house, concerned that the demonic presence would kill him next. Jonah uses a dumbwaiter to escape, calling for help. Jonah enters an unknown chamber and realizes he has entered the crematory. The spirit traps Jonah in the crematory and cremates him alive.

Peter and Sara learn that Matt's cancer treatments have had no effect. They then discover that Matt has escaped the hospital. At home, Nicholas leaves a message telling the family to get out immediately – Jonah's spirit protected them from the spirits. Matt breaks through the walls in the front room with an axe, revealing the dusty corpses Aickman hid in the walls. He forces Wendy and the children to get out, barricading himself inside and tearing down the other walls as corpses begin to tumble into the room. The view switches from Matt to Jonah, who seems to occupy Matt's body. Matt lights the bodies and the room on fire. Later on, investigators arrive at the house only to find it engulfed in flames.

As the fire department arrives, Sara and Peter frantically try to get in to save Matt. The spirits, finally freed, disappear. Outside, everyone watches tearfully as the emergency crew attempts to revive a dying Matt. As Matt slips away, he sees himself standing in the graveyard where he sees Jonah, no longer appearing burnt. He seems about to follow Jonah when he hears his mother's voice.

He returns to his body, and Jonah's spirit leaves him. Matt's cancer disappeared, and the house was rebuilt and resold with no further reported incidents of haunting.

Cast

Production

Casting

Virginia Madsen was cast in the film in May 2007. [8] In September 2007, The Hollywood Reporter announced the casting of Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, and Elias Koteas. [9]

Filming

Filming began on September 10, 2007, in Teulon and Winnipeg, Canada, [10] and finished on 16 December 2007.

Factual basis

Promotional material for the film claimed that it was "based on true events" experienced by the Snedeker family of Southington, Connecticut, in 1986. Ed and Lorraine Warren claimed that the Snedeker house was a former funeral home where morticians regularly practiced necromancy, and that there were "powerful" supernatural "forces at work" that were cured by an exorcism. [11] [12] Carmen Snedeker's claims of haunting by an "evil entity" and subsequent exorcism were dramatized in episodes of the television series A Haunting , Paranormal Witness and Mysteries at the Museum . [13]

However, according to skeptical investigator Benjamin Radford, there is "little or no proof that anything supernatural occurred at the house." Radford wrote that author Ray Garton was employed by the Warrens to write the supposedly "true story" and was instructed by Ed Warren, "You've got some of the story — just use what works and make the rest up… Just make it up and make it scary." [14]

Researcher Joe Nickell has dismissed the story as a hoax. Nickell noted that since Ed Warren died in 2006, some of his coauthors have admitted he "told them to make up incidents and details to create scary stories." [15]

Release

Box office

In North America, the film opened in second place (behind Monsters vs Aliens ), averaging $8,420 at 2,732 theatres. [16] Its opening weekend grossed $23 million. Its final North American gross was $55.4 million and it made a further $23.4 million internationally for a worldwide total of $78.8 million. [3]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 17% of 105 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.3/10.The website's consensus reads: "Though it features a few scares and some creepy atmosphere, The Haunting in Connecticut ultimately relies too much on familiar horror cliches to achieve its goals." [17] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 33 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [18] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale. [19]

While the film was mainly criticized for its use of horror cliches and "jump" scare tactics, [20] certain aspects of the film were praised by many critics. Particular credit went to the acting: primarily the performances of Gallner and Madsen. [21] Film critic Roger Ebert said the film "is a technically proficient horror movie and well acted," though he gave the movie only two stars. [22]

Home media

The Haunting in Connecticut debuted in the number one position on the DVD and Blu-ray charts with 1.5 million units sold. [23] Rentrak reported that the DVD release of The Haunting in Connecticut was No. 1 in DVD sales for the week ending July 19, 2009. [24] [25]

The extended version DVD includes a commentary with Director Peter Cornwell, co-writer Adam Simon, producer Andrew Trapani, and editor Tom Elkins, a second commentary with the director and actors Virginia Madsen and Kyle Gallner, deleted scenes with optional director commentary, featurettes ("Two Dead Boys: Making of The Haunting in Connecticut", "The Fear is Real: Re-Investigating the Haunting", "Memento Mori: The History of Post Mortem Photography", "Anatomy of a Haunting"), and a digital copy of the film on a second disc. [26]

The DVD material was produced and directed by Daniel Farrands, who also served as a producer on the film. "Anatomy of a Haunting" featured commentary by parapsychological researchers Dr. Barry E. Taff and Jack Rourke. [27] The DVD release of The Haunting in Connecticut was the recipient of the Best Ghost Story award in Home Media Magazine's 2009 Reaper Awards ceremony held in Los Angeles in October 2009.

Sequel

Gold Circle Films produced the follow-up The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia with Tom Elkins as director and David Coggeshall as the screenwriter, [28] [29] [30] it was released in a limited theatrical run, and through Video on Demand, on February 1, 2013. [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

<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 was the last in the series to feature the involvement of stars Marlon and Shawn Wayans, and director Keenan until the upcoming sixth installment. 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. The film marked the producing debut of Dark Castle Entertainment, a production company that went on to produce numerous other horror films, including additional remakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Aickman</span> British writer and conservationist (1914–1981)

Robert Fordyce Aickman was an English writer and conservationist. As a conservationist, he co-founded the Inland Waterways Association, a group which has preserved from destruction and restored England's inland canal system. As a writer, he is best known for his supernatural fiction, which he described as "strange stories".

<i>The Haunting</i> (1999 film) American horror film by Jan de Bont

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.

<i>The Grudge</i> 2004 American film by Takashi Shimizu

The Grudge is a 2004 American supernatural horror film directed by Takashi Shimizu, written by Stephen Susco, and produced by Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and Takashige Ichise. A remake of Shimizu's 2002 Japanese horror film Ju-On: The Grudge, it is the first installment in The Grudge film series. It stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, KaDee Strickland, Clea DuVall, and Bill Pullman. Takako Fuji, Yuya Ozeki, and Takashi Matsuyama portray the characters Kayako Saeki, Toshio Saeki, and Takeo Saeki from the original films. The plot is told through a nonlinear sequence of events and includes several intersecting subplots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghost story</span> Literary genre, work of literature featuring supernatural elements

A ghost story is any piece of fiction, or drama, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them. The "ghost" may appear of its own accord or be summoned by magic. Linked to the ghost is the idea of a "haunting", where a supernatural entity is tied to a place, object or person. Ghost stories are commonly examples of ghostlore.

<i>The Others</i> (2001 film) Film by Alejandro Amenábar

The Others is a 2001 gothic supernatural psychological horror film written, directed and scored by Alejandro Amenábar, starring Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Elaine Cassidy, Eric Sykes, Alakina Mann and James Bentley. Set in 1945 in Jersey, it focuses on a woman and her two young photosensitive children who experience supernatural phenomena in their large manor after the arrival of new servants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed and Lorraine Warren</span> American paranormal investigators

Edward Warren Miney and Lorraine Rita Warren were American paranormal investigators and authors associated with prominent cases of alleged hauntings. Edward was a self-taught and self-professed demonologist, author, and lecturer. Lorraine professed to be clairvoyant and a light trance medium who worked closely with her husband.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Gallner</span> American actor (born 1986)

Kyle Steven Gallner is an American actor. He began acting in 2000, earning recognition for playing Bart Allen in the superhero series Smallville (2004–2009), Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas in the mystery drama series Veronica Mars (2005–2006), and Reed Garrett in the police drama series CSI: NY (2006–2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Nickell</span> Skeptic and paranormal investigator (born 1944)

Joe Nickell is an American skeptic and investigator of the paranormal.

Ray Garton Jr. was an American author of horror fiction for adults and young adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghost hunting</span> Investigating reportedly haunted locations for ghosts

Ghost hunting is the process of investigating locations that are purportedly haunted by ghosts. The practice has been heavily criticized for its dismissal of the scientific method. No scientific study has ever been able to confirm the existence of ghosts. Ghost hunting is considered a pseudoscience by the vast majority of educators, academics, science writers and skeptics. Science historian Brian Regal described ghost hunting as "an unorganized exercise in futility".

<i>The Echo</i> (2008 film) 2008 American supernatural horror film

The Echo is a 2008 American supernatural horror film directed by Yam Laranas and written by Eric Bernt and Shintaro Shimosawa. It is a remake of the 2004 Filipino film Sigaw, which was also directed by Laranas. The film stars Jesse Bradford and Amelia Warner, with Iza Calzado reprising her role from the original.

<i>Haunting of Winchester House</i> 2009 American film

Haunting of Winchester House is a 2009 supernatural horror film produced by The Asylum. The story revolves around a family that moves in as new caretakers of the Winchester Mystery House but encounter the spirits within. It utilizes a fictionalized version of the life of Sarah Winchester.

<i>The Innkeepers</i> (film) 2011 American film

The Innkeepers is a 2011 American supernatural horror film written, directed and edited by Ti West. It stars Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, and Kelly McGillis. Its plot follows two employees at the Yankee Pedlar Inn who, during its last weekend of operations, attempt to document the alleged supernatural activity in the building.

<i>A Haunting in Salem</i> 2011 American film

A Haunting in Salem is a 2011 3D horror film directed by Shane Van Dyke and starring Bill Oberst Jr., Courtney Abbiati, Jenna Stone and Nicholas Harsin.

Peter Cornwell is an Australian filmmaker. Cornwell got his start working at the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) in Sydney, Australia. Cornwell left ABC in order to create Trephine Production Studios, which he used to complete his award-winning short Ward 13, a stop motion animation that enjoyed success at several international film festivals. Ward 13 received the FIPRESCI Award from the International Federation of Film Critics at Valladolid, and was short-listed for an Oscar nomination in 2005.

<i>The House That Would Not Die</i> 1970 American TV series or program

The House That Would Not Die is a 1970 American made-for-television supernatural horror film starring Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Egan, Michael Anderson Jr. and Kitty Winn. It premiered as the ABC Movie of the Week on October 27, 1970.

<i>Ghosts of War</i> (2020 film) 2020 horror film

Ghosts of War is a 2020 British supernatural horror film written and directed by Eric Bress. The film stars Brenton Thwaites, Theo Rossi, Skylar Astin, Kyle Gallner, and Alan Ritchson. It was released on DirecTV on 18 June 2020.

The Ammons haunting case, also known as the Demon House, is an alleged haunting and demonic possession which occurred in Gary, Indiana in 2011. Latoya Ammons, her mother, Rosa Campbell, and her three children claimed paranormal activity occurred in the residence. The story was published in 2014 and received national attention.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Haunting in Connecticut". British Film Institute . Archived from the original on November 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ "The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) — Financial Information". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Episode Notes for A Connecticut Haunting in a Keen Author's Court". MonsterTalk . Skeptic. August 10, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  5. ↑ Bendici, Ray (March 25, 2009). "Damned Interview: Ray Garton". Damned Connecticut. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012.
  6. ↑ The Haunting in Connecticut at Rotten Tomatoes
  7. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (June 11, 2010). "Gold stays ghoul with third 'Haunting'". Variety . Archived from the original on June 16, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Madsen Experiences Haunting in Connecticut". ComingSoon.net . May 15, 2007. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023.
  9. ↑ Mayberry, Carly (September 14, 2007). "Trio go "Haunting" with Madsen". Reuters . Archived from the original on November 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ King, Randall (April 13, 2020). "Homegrown horrors". Winnipeg Free Press . Archived from the original on November 13, 2023.
  11. ↑ Reyes, Kyle (March 11, 2009). "A Connecticut Haunting: The Reel Deal". NBC Connecticut. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023.
  12. ↑ Brown, Alan (2008). Ghost Hunters of New England. UPNE. p. 7. ISBN   978-1-58465-720-0.
  13. ↑ "Connecticut Haunting". Mysteries at the Museum . Season 7. Episode 1. September 12, 2014. Travel Channel . Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  14. ↑ Radford, Benjamin (March 26, 2009). "The Real Story Behind 'The Haunting in Connecticut'". Live Science . Archived from the original on June 15, 2013.
  15. ↑ Nickell 2012, p. 286.
  16. ↑ "March 27–29, 2009 Weekend". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved April 14, 2009.
  17. ↑ "The Haunting in Connecticut". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved June 4, 2022. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  18. ↑ "The Haunting in Connecticut". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  19. ↑ Rich, Joshua (December 20, 2019). "Box Office Report: 'Monsters vs. Aliens' opens at No. 1 with $58.2 mil". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  20. ↑ Phipps, Keith (March 26, 2009). "The Haunting In Connecticut". The A.V. Club . Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  21. ↑ Moore, Roger (March 26, 2009). "Amityville' retread manages a few surprises". The Charlotte Observer . Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  22. ↑ Ebert, Roger (March 25, 2009). "The Haunting in Connecticut review". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  23. ↑ "'The Haunting In Connecticut' Tops DVD And Blu-Ray Charts". All Headline News. July 23, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Rentrak Announces Top DVD & Blu-ray Sales And Rentals For Week Ending July 19, 2009". Bloomberg News . July 23, 2009.
  25. ↑ "Lionsgate and Gold Circle Films' Supernatural Horror Thriller, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, Spooks Its Way to the Number One Spot on the DVD and Blu-ray Charts". Lionsgate. July 23, 2009. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023.
  26. ↑ Gingold, Michael (July 22, 2009). "The Haunting in Connecticut (DVD Review)". Fangoria . Archived from the original on July 25, 2009.
  27. ↑ The Fear Is Real: Reinvestigating the Haunting (in Connecticut) , retrieved January 13, 2019
  28. ↑ "Update: 'The Haunting in Georgia' Shooting This Summer... Without Ti West". Bloody Disgusting . March 25, 2010.
  29. ↑ "A Haunting in Georgia Finds Its Director". Dread Central. April 15, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Editor Turns Director for 'The Haunting in Georgia'". Bloody Disgusting . April 15, 2010.
  31. ↑ Larson, Ryan (February 6, 2013). "The Haunting in Connecticut 2 Ghosts of Georgia". Shock Till You Drop .

Sources

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.