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The battle between PG-13 and R rated horror is going to heat up a bit this weekend as THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT is released to the masses. I attended an advance screening of the LIONSGATE ghost story and did not know the rating of the film going into it. Actually I didn't even think about it. It wasn't until my daughter tapped my arm during the opening credits and asked me what it was rated that I even thought about it.
It's rated PG-13 by the way but I urge you to forget that info and just go see the film with a "non-rated" frame of mind. So many times I hear horror fans bitching about PG-13 horror and in some instances I see the point but this film is the exception. It is PG done right.
HAUNTING tells the supposed true tale of a particularly creepy haunting that took place in the 80's. It is important to point out that the film appears to be loosely based on the actual facts and there has certainly been more than a little Hollywood influence thrown in for good cinematic measure. I'm not going to go into all the ins and outs of what actually happened and what is in the film. I'm reviewing the film here not the flim makers ability to provide us with a factual film. The poster touts Based on a true story and the important thing to remember is that word Based. Not an actual recounting of the event but just Based. If you're going to be that nit-picky you''re not going to enjoy the film anyway but I wanted to make the point.
The film itself does a great job of being creepy and suspensful while never crossing that line into "gore-drenched" or "torture-porn". There are some very disturbing images and more then a few cringe inducing moments but nothing that you need be concerned about your "tweener" viewing.
I know some of you hard core horror fans just threw your arms up and walked away from the computer but you know what, it's your loss. The film is quite good and deservent of your time. It is well written, very well acted and damn it, I had a great time watching it.
Some spoilers ahead so stop now if you don't want to know anything about the film.
We meet up with the Campbell family as they are returning from the hospital. The mother, wonderfully portrayed by Virginia Madsen, is driving her son home from a treatment. A cancer treatment. Her son Matt ( Kyle Gallner) is really sick, terminally sick and they have just started an experimental treatment that is basically his only medical hope. They are diving several hours back and forth for the treatments and it is really taking its toll. They are having to stop al the time so Matt can puke his guts up and it is gettng damn near impossible to make the trip all the time. The decision is made that the family will find a rental house closer to the hospital so the long trip will not be needed and although they have no idea how they are going to pay for it Mom finds what appears to be the perfect place ( arn't they always) as its big enough for everyone and more importantly, it's cheap.
She orginally passes on the house as the landlord does tell her about the properties "little bit of history" and she just kind of gets a bad vibe but while making the long return trip back Kyle gets violently ill so she turns the car around and tells the man she'll take the rental. Gotta do what you gotta do.
The family moves in and almost immediately the wierdness begins. Matt is the first to start seeing the events but the problem is that the drugs he's taking to fight the cancer can cause hallucinations. The family has been informed by the doctor that if he starts to see things to report it immediatly as it may mean he needs to be taken off the meds but they seem to be helping so they kind of ignore the first few incidents.
As you might imagine as the film progresses so do the paranormal events and all the while we learn more and more about the houses past. Some strange things have happened there and I will leave it to your viewing for you to discover them. The film does have its fair share of "jump scares" which I know angers a lot of you, the old cheap scare but it also has more then a few really terrifying moments. I loved the FX work on the etched bodies. You'll know what it is when you see it. They manage towards the end to throw a nice little curve into the storyline adds to the fun and in my opinion enhances the viewing so wait and watch for it.
Overall, I really enjoyed the film. The group I viewed it with seemed to like what they were seeing as well. Lionsgate has done a fine job of bringing us a nifty little ghost film that teens and adults can equally enjoy.
Sure it's PG but for me, this time that stands for PRETTY GOOD.
THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT opens everywhere this Friday.
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