Search - The Haunting [Widescreen] on DVD

The Haunting [Widescreen]

Actor(s): Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lili Taylor, Owen Wilson, Bruce Dern
Director(s): Jan de Bont
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Movie Details

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children
Movie Release: 1999
DVD Release: 11/23/1999
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
Edition: Dual Layered,Special Collection
Audio Tracks: English
Subtitles: English
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 53 mins
Studio: DreamWorks
Total Copies: 14
Genres: Horror, Haunted House Film, Supernatural Horror, Ensemble Film
See Also: The Haunting [DTS]

DVD Synopsis

In the 1860's, industrialist Hugh Crain financed the construction of Hill House, a beautiful but forbidding mansion where Crain hoped to house a wife and children. However, Crain died an unexplained death at Hill House, and ever since tales have circulated that the mansion is haunted by evil spirits. 130 years later, Dr. David Marrow (Liam Neeson), long fascinated by the Hill House legend, brings three people there for what he tells them will be a study in sleep disorders. Theo (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is outwardly brave, but it soon becomes evident that Hill House's sinister reputation has her on edge. Luke (Owen Wilson) quickly finds himself wondering: if this is really about studying sleep, why bring everyone to a haunted house? And Nell (Lili Taylor) finds herself inexplicably drawn to the mansion, with a fascination that soon bears terrifying fruit as the true story of Hill House is revealed. The Haunting was directed by Jan de Bont; the screenplay was written by David Self and based on Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting Of Hill House, which was also the basis for Robert Wise's 1963 film The Haunting, widely regarded as one of the screen's finest ghost stories. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Actors

Liam Neeson - Dr. David Marrow
Catherine Zeta-Jones - Theo
Lili Taylor - Nell
Owen Wilson - Luke
Bruce Dern - Mr. Dudley

Editorial Review of DVD

Jan de Bont's spook-filled The Haunting comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. There are no subtitles on this release. Supplemental materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette, production notes, a pair of theatrical trailers, and cast and crew biographies. Genre enthusiasts will enjoy the superb picture and sound, which is really the only selling point for this disc. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Aimee S. (Ariadnae) from SCOTTOWN, OH wrote on 11/21/2008...

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I wanted to like this movie, I really did. It had Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who are both always great. Yet, it fails where the original film suceeded so well. It sacrifices story at the hands of special effects and the result is an okay film that never comes close to the legacy of the original. Shirley Jackson's novella, "The Haunting of Hill House", builds the tension slowly and methodically. We never see what is haunting the house in the original, in this version we see it and it'sm not remotely scary, just mildly amusing. Save yourself a credit and put the original "The Haunting" on your wishlist.