Eddie Murphy and Marsha Thomason are Jim and Sara Evers, a high-powered husband and wife realtor team. Sara is invited by Mr. Gracey (Nathaniel Parker) to visit his home for the purpose of listing the property. On the way out of town for the weekend, the entire Evers family, which includes son Michael (Marc Jefferies) and daughter Megan (Aree Davis), stop by the Gracey place, which proves to be a gothic, ante-bellum mansion back in the Louisiana bayous. There's a creepy cemetery stretching to the horizon out back. They're greeted by the sinister butler Ramsley (Terence Stamp). A convenient downpour closes the road, and the Evers must stay the weekend. Serious bummer for them as Master Gracey covets Sara's bod (in a G-rated sort of way).

Is this a scary movie? It provided a couple of frissons. Children may find it more frightening.

Is it amusing? Reasonably so. Eddie Murphy's humor is the constant which holds it all together. And there are a couple more chuckles coming from un-dead housemaid Emma (Dina Waters), who makes cookies, and the disembodied head of gypsy fortune-teller Madame Leota (Jennifer Tilly), who inhabits a large crystal ball.

The special effects are more or less up to the current standard, which makes them at least good overall. I particularly liked the household spirits, which morph in and out of a swirling ectoplasmic smoke that was quite well done.

The acting is, for the most part, adequate. Young Davis as the unflappable Megan occasionally steals the show and was my favorite player. Stamp tries so hard to make Ramsley ominous that he just comes across as wooden. Thomason is wholesomely pretty, but not much else.

Is this a great film? Not by a long shot. Is it even memorable? Nah. The plot is contrived and silly. But you won't feel cheated if you see it even at today's extortionate prices. And the kids will probably enjoy the hell out of it.


Schlock-horror   August 16, 2004
 4 out of 9 found this review helpful

Unamusing, incomprehensible, over-acted. The Haunted Mansion is a totally unimpressive film, once you take away the state-of-the art effects, but even these pale into comparison with 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Eddie Murphy again has one of his off-days, playing an unfunny cliche ridden character, whilst Terrance Stamp must be needing the money.
Basic synopsis; work obsessed father, beautiful wife, wholesome kids, locked in haunted mansion. Dead owner, creepy butler. Family in peril, Dad and kids save the day. How and why is unimportant, as you have seen it all before.
The Haunted House at Blackpool is more convincing.


Light hearted fun and entertainment.   July 17, 2004
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Haunted mansion is loosely based on the Walt Disney world ghost ride of the same name. It will not tax your mind but it will amuse, entertain and generally while away a very pleasant hour or so. My kids loved it and although children with a timid disposition might find it scarey in places, I would think most modern children would lap it up. I certainly enjoyed it even on the second and third viewing (Don't your kids watch a new film five times?).


funny,entertaining ,scary   June 11, 2004
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

overall this was a fun family film that id recommend you to watch-but perhaps not buy.if you are part of a family with young children{12 and under}then this is the perfect film to watch,all together,on a rainy saturday evening.your children will most definately love it.some seens are fairly scary {for kids}and others exceedingly funny.
from the first seen you are engaged and want to carry on watching it.the story,with superb acting from the hilarious Eddie Murphy,follows a guy{Murphy},his wife and kids.when they go to a mansion,the bad wheather proves them unlucky enough to have to stay the night there-and what a night it is!the history of the house begins to unraval in front of their very eyes and it leads to a mystery of the people who once lived there.filled with monsters,ghosts,horror and comedy ,this is an average but exceedingly entertainable film for all the family.


Scary for Kids, Tame for Adults, But Fun   April 22, 2004
 27 out of 28 found this review helpful

Jim Evers is committed to his real estate business, almost to the exclusion of his wife, also his partner in business, and kids. When they are offered an exclusive listing on a stately manor outside of town, it's too much for him to resist, and he insists on stopping on the way to a weekend trip. While they are eating dinner (they didn't seem to have much of a choice), a fierce storm comes up they are trapped for the night. The old place is creepy, however. As the characters get separated, they start to find strange things going on. Slowly, Jim and his kids begin to realize they must solve a mystery if any of them are going to get out alive.

Unfortunately for this movie, it came out so soon after PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN that the comparisons would be inevitable. It had huge shoes to fill, and comes up short. It is a fun movie in its own right, however, and deserves a look. The plot turns into a decent mystery that had me confused for most of the time. It does feature family movie cliches (workaholic dad, kid with a certain fear they'll have to over come), but builds in enough other plot elements these are kept to a minimum. Fans of the ride at Disneyland will find lots of fun nods to the inspiration to keep them entertained. There are funny moments throughout the movie. Probably my favorite gag was with the singing busts. I may have been the only person in the theater to get it, but any fan of barbershop quartets will appreciate it.

I've never been a fan of Eddie Murphy, and I did find his over the top acting to be annoying. But the other actors stepped up to the plate and kept me intrigued in spite of the lead. I especially enjoyed seeing Wallace Shawn in a hilarious turn as one of the mansion's servants trying to help Jim and the kids solve the mystery.

Don't be deceived, this movie will scare young kids. It is half comedy and half jump fest that works remarkably well. It's a tad creepier then the ride, so don't just use that as a guide. It would probably be best to watch it first and determine how your kids will react.

Disney has done this DVD right with a nice widescreen transfer and surround sound. In addition, they've got some great behind the scenes features and my favorites - outtakes and deleted scenes.

Those looking for a light scary movie will enjoy this. Just make sure your kids won't get nightmares first. A good film to make a family Halloween tradition.