 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Haunting
- Review Date: July 26, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Horror
- 1999
Common Sense Media says
High-tech remake is dumb and overblown.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has some scary, intense scenes, but no gore. There's some social drinking.
What's the story?
In THE HAUNTING, Liam Neeson plays a doctor who (contrary to any sense of scientific ethics) invites three people to a spooky mansion for what he tells them is insomnia therapy. In reality, it is a part of his study of fear. The three subjects are Luke, a surfer type (Owen Wilson), Theo, a bi-sexual artist who enjoys being provocative but is basically good-hearted (Catherine Zeta-Jones), and Nell (Lily Taylor), a quiet woman who has spent years taking care of an invalid mother. The house is indeed amazingly creepy, accurately described by Theo as the house from Citizen Kane crossed with the house from The Munsters, with gossamer curtain and gothic carvings.
Is it any good?
This high-tech remake of the creepy classic is dumb and overblown, but some teenagers will have a good time with it, especially if they watch it together. Its only possible merit is that it is too silly to be scary. There are some good special effects and a couple of "boo!"-style surprises. But the plot and dialogue so interfere with the mood the movie is trying to create that they become the best possible protection against anyone -- even a 12 year old -- taking it this movie seriously.
Kids who are genuinely interested in scary movies should watch the original version, directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Harris and Claire Bloom, to see how subtle story-telling can be much more unsettling.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about some of the serious themes raised by the movie, including the ethics of scientific experimentation, the role of fear in evolution, child labor, and the paranormal, but perhaps of more interest and value is a discussion of why people like to be scared in a controlled environment like a movie, and what is and is not really scary.
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AGE
Made me nearly fall out of the chair laughing at the special effects.
I am 11 and the movie did not scare me at all. Me and my friend were watching it togther at a sleepover. She is the same age as me. She got scared. I thought the special effects were funny to laugh at. It is more the idea of the movie that is scary, not the movie. But I like scary movies unlike other 11 year olds.
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AGE
daddy long legs 11 yrs old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie is a must see Id say 8 and up it all depends on how your kid takes movies let your kid go see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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AGE
Offensive!
I find it offensive that the mention of bi-sexuality is categorized under sex. Thats not about sex it's about a person's lifestyle. That is very offensive.
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AGE
Better than expected...
After reading some reviews, I was afraid this was going to be terrible, but it was bearable. I recommend it. There is a comment about having a girl having boyfriends and girlfriends, twice, and difficult to discern which way she means since she uses them in the same sentence. A guy ogles a girl in her tight outfits, but its not bad. Language wasn't bad for PG-13. About ten to fifteen from d-mn, h-ll, God's name in vain, and maybe a sh-t. I recommend ClearPlay DVD Player version (clearplay*)
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AGE
It wasn't too bad actually, a tad misjudged
This was good! Common Sense Media, I'm afraid you got it wrong. Terriffying, but good. And Lili Taylor was in it! The acting was good, the affects were medium, it kept with the story, and generally freaked me out. I can't believe people are so critical about it, but then again we each have our own tastes. Still, its not bad, they obviously worked hard on it. Sometimes I got confused. One of the woman was bi-sexual, no big deal, nothing for people to be wigging out about. At first I thought it was a comedy when I saw Owen Wilson (haha-no) one characters head gets cut off (not completely shown) and there are bones found in the fireplace. Kinda a bad story, the end confused me even more, but it was a bareable movie. I can't stand horror flicks though, but my mom was watching it, so I did too.
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AGE
So-called "remake" is much worse then the original movie. Some scary stuff.
The 1963 horror movie "The Haunting" from the superb director Robert Wise is one of my favourite movies of all time. This 1999 remake however is cliched, fools around with the story (if you saw the original you will know what i mean) and does not know where to put special effects.
Really, if you want to scare someone, then do NOT use CGI effects.
There is violence in this movie but nothing too strong. A boy is decapitated but it is not shown in explicit detail. You later see the head rolling (no blood).
The movie is extremely scary - for younger children.
Teenagers will know what they are about to watch before seeing the movie, and they will most likely have no nightmares. Suitable for teenagers 14 and up.
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AGE
Just to be safe, I am not reviewing the remake. I am reviewing the 1963 original that is fun, scary, and unsettling. This movie should only be watched by older children and teens because most of the horror is in your head and told by the story. There are some shown scares but no bood or gore and no real ghost shown in the movie. This movie is about a experiment at hill house in the country where the hauntings start. One of the people gets drawn to the house and is soon sent over the edge (cookoo!?). This is the greatest haunted house movie ever and is good for people who can understand it. There is some language, pretty strong for a movie that was made in the early 60s. What te he'l and da'n this. One of the girl chacters is thought to be bi-sexual but nothing is disscused or shown. This movie is scary, go and watch it. (not the remake the 1963 one made by robert wise). SCARY!
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AGE
Dumb, dont waste your time
this movie was dumb and fake. The acting was terrible and the whole premise cheesy. I would rate it PG-13 for Intense sequences of terror and violence.
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Jan De Bont |
| Cast: | Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liam Neeson, Owen Wilson |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 113 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 27, 1999 |
| DVD release date: | November 23, 1999 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense horror sequences |
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