The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)

Director:

Peter Cornwell

Writers (WGA):

Adam Simon (written by) &
Tim Metcalfe (written by)

Release Date:

27 March 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Some things cannot be explained.

Plot:

After a family is forced to relocate for their son's health, they begin experiencing supernatural behavior in their new home, which turns out to be a former mortuary.

Plot Keywords:

Cancer | Mortuary | Reverend | Funeral Parlor | Vomit

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Virginia Madsen	...	Sara Campbell
Kyle Gallner	...	Matt Campbell
Elias Koteas	...	Reverend Popescu
Amanda Crew	...	Wendy
Martin Donovan	...	Peter Campbell
Sophi Knight	...	Mary
Ty Wood	...	Billy Campbell
Erik J. Berg	...	Jonah (as Erik Berg)
John Bluethner	...	Ramsey Aickman
D.W. Brown	...	Dr. Brooks
John B. Lowe	...	Mr. Sinclair
Adriana O'Neil	...	Chemo Nurse
Will Woytowich	...	Cop
James Durham	...	Matt's Cell Mate
Darren Ross	...	Paramedic #1
Sarah Constible	...	Paramedic #2
Blake Taylor	...	1920's Séance Attendee #1
Keith James	...	1920's Séance Attendee #2
Kelly Wolfman	...	1920's Séance Attendee #3
Jessica Burleson	...	1920's Séance Attendee #4
Matt Kippen	...	Strung-Out Guy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeny Cassady	...	1920's Hero Engraved Corpse #2 (uncredited)
Nicholas Podbrey	...	Engraved Ghost (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Cornwell

Writing credits (WGA)
Adam Simon		(written by) &
Tim Metcalfe		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Brooks	....	producer
Daniel Farrands	....	producer
Brad Kessell	....	co-producer
Phyllis Laing	....	co-producer
Jeff Levine	....	co-producer
Scott Niemeyer	....	executive producer
Lesley Oswald	....	line producer
Wendy Rhoads	....	producer
Jonathan Shore	....	associate producer
Andrew Trapani	....	producer
Norm Waitt	....	executive producer
Steve Whitney	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Robert J. Kral

Cinematography by
Adam Swica

Film Editing by
Tom Elkins

Casting by
Eyde Belasco

Production Design by
Alicia Keywan

Art Direction by
Edward Bonutto

Set Decoration by
Craig Sandells
Steve Shewchuk

Costume Design by
Meg McMillan

Makeup Department
Crystal Biloski	....	special makeup effects trainee
Joe Colwell	....	special makeup effects artist
Ken Culver	....	prosthetics technician
Mike Fields	....	special makeup effects artist
Alex Ganczar	....	special makeup effects trainee
Ediena Hawkes	....	key hair stylist
Steven Kostanski	....	special makeup effects trainee
Amanda Kuryk	....	first assistant makeup artist (as Amanda Lesage)
Jennifer Machnee	....	additional special effects makeup artist
Brenda Magalas	....	special makeup effects
Todd Masters	....	prosthetic makeup designer and supervisor
Doug Morrow	....	makeup department head
Sarah Pickersgill	....	special makeup effects artist
Nicholas Podbrey	....	special effects makeup artist
Nicholas Podbrey	....	special effects makeup coordinator
Dan Rebert	....	prosthetic makeup designer and supervisor
Catherina Saites	....	first assistant hair stylist (as Catharina Saites)
Forest Sala	....	head of hair department
Kyla Rose Tremblay	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Joanna L. Rees Jones	....	post production executive
Koah Kruse	....	post-production supervisor
Lesley Oswald	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Crossin	....	second assistant director
Richard O'Brien-Moran	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Ricardo Alms	....	set designer
Ryan Berzuk	....	assistant property master
Lloyd Brandson	....	co-lead scenic artist
Nick Burns	....	storyboard artist
Joelle Craven	....	graphics
Jason Gibbs	....	property master
Janet Kusnick	....	storyboard artist
Alexis Labra	....	on-set dresser
Gordon Lebredt	....	set designer
Bill MacInnis	....	assistant set decorator
Lisa Manchulenko	....	key greens
Robb Paraskevopoulos	....	carpenter
Bill Sinosich	....	on-set carpenter
Brian Smith	....	construction coordinator
Khali Wenaus	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Anke Bakker	....	sound supervisor
Brian Campbell	....	dialogue editor
Roberto Cappannelli	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jay Cheetham	....	background sound editor
Matt Dawson	....	adr mixer
Dario DiSanto	....	foley editor
Jesse Dube-Smith	....	sound trainee
Luke Dunn Gielmuda	....	sound designer
Jason Gaya	....	adr mixer
Graeme Hughes	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Kusan	....	sound recordist
Christine McLeod	....	co-sound supervisor
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Glen Noseworthy	....	foley recordist
Belinda Pattison	....	assistant sound editor
Iain Pattison	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jan Petrov	....	adr recordist
Christopher M. Ray	....	assistant re-recording mixer (as Chris Ray)
Adam Sharpe	....	foley recordist
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Wallace	....	sound designer
Matthew Wilson	....	sound effects editor
Tony Wyman	....	boom operator
Kris Fenske	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gideon Hay	....	special effects makeup
Brian Hillard	....	special effects makeup: Masters F/X
James Kozier	....	special effects co-coordinator
Cullen Redekop	....	special effects assistant
Tim Storvick	....	special effects coordinator
Hill Vinot	....	sculptor/fabricator: Todd Masters FX

Visual Effects by
Austin Basile	....	digital compositor
Ann-Marie Blommaert	....	visual effects project manager
Landon Bootsma	....	digital compositor
Dan Brittain	....	digital compositor
Todd Busch	....	visual effects editor
Drake Conrad	....	digital colorist
Pete Dionne	....	3d supervisor: Technicolor
Steve Elliott	....	visual effects I/O: Technicolor
Colleen Jenkinson	....	visual effects producer: Technicolor Creative Services
Stephen Misek	....	effects technical director
Erik Nordby	....	visual effects supervisor
Jeremy Price	....	visual effects artist
Persis Reynolds	....	visual effects executive producer: Technicolor Vancouver
Michael Stewart	....	digital compositor: Technicolor
Tomaso Tartarotti	....	digital compositor
Patrick Thompson	....	digital compositor
Matt Yeoman	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Megan Herkert	....	wendy stunt double
Alyssa Jantz	....	mary stunt double
Garth Merkeley	....	matt stunt double
Chuck Robinson	....	off camera stunt driver
Kristen Sawatzky	....	sara stunt double
Dan Skene	....	on camera stunt driver (as Daniel Skene)
Rick Skene	....	stunt coordinator
Sean Skene	....	cop stunt double
Richard Thomas	....	stunt fireman

Camera and Electrical Department
François Balcaen	....	key grip
John Clarke	....	gaffer
Allen Fraser	....	still photographer
Caley Gibson	....	camera trainee
Casey Harrison	....	second assistant camera
Jason Heke	....	second assistant camera
Junichi Hosoi	....	steadicam
Jonathan Kennedy	....	grip
Ryan McGregor	....	camera trainee
W. James Meagher	....	lighting technician
William Mills	....	dolly grip
Doug Petersen	....	grip
Rebecca Sandulak	....	still photographer
Ben Stouffer	....	daily electrician
Terry Thiessen	....	grip
Brad Vos	....	camera operator: 'a' camera

Casting Department
Jim Heber	....	casting: Canada
Kari Rieger	....	extras casting
Joey Ritche	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Paula Dunfield	....	key costumer
Amy Sztulwark	....	costume buyer
Angela Wells	....	costume truck supervisor

Editorial Department
Adam M. Duthie	....	first assistant editor
Kate Kroll	....	post-production coordinator
Jennifer Taylor	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Hal Beckett	....	conductor
Hal Beckett	....	contractor
Hal Beckett	....	supervising music editor
William Boston	....	orchestrator
Meagan Carsience	....	music editor
Sherri Chung	....	orchestrator
Greg Hamilton	....	music preparation
Robert J. Kral	....	orchestrator
Roger Monk	....	score mixer
Milton Nelson	....	orchestrator
Vince Renaud	....	score mixer
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
Marissa Steingold	....	solo vocals
Sandy Taronno	....	guitar advisor

Transportation Department
Scott Quantrell	....	driver
Corey Walker	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Lindsay Affleck	....	office production assistant
Lesa Andelson	....	production counsel
Neal Baksh	....	assistant location manager
Matthew Benson	....	production executive
Peter Block	....	production executive
B. Pat Burns	....	rehearsal actor
Paul Courchaine	....	first assistant accountant
Laura Daniel	....	assistant: Mr. Cornwell
Kiran Dhillon	....	office intern
Chris Doss	....	executive in charge of finance
Cathie J. Edgar	....	location manager
Laura Forrest	....	travel services provided by
Andrew Gallinger	....	locations key
Suraj Gohill	....	production lender
Tamara Harland	....	location production assistant
Jennifer Hoffman	....	assistant: Mr. Brooks
Cathie Hutfluss	....	medical consultant
Robb Inniss	....	assistant production coordinator
Robb Inniss	....	production coordinator: pre-production
Shannon Jacques	....	stand-in
Heather Joyce	....	director of marketing: Gold Circle Films
Mary Catherine Little	....	assistant: Mr. Niemeyer
Todd Masters	....	prosthetics supervisor
Tamara Mauthe	....	production coordinator
Allan McGowan	....	security
Karly Meola	....	assistant: v. madsen
Alanna Mills	....	continuity
Alanna Mills	....	script supervisor
Nicolas Phillips	....	lead lighting technician
Nicholas Podbrey	....	prosthetics coordinator
Nicholas Podbrey	....	puppeteer
Carmen Reed	....	creative consultant
Jayson Schimnowski	....	production assistant
Allen Snedeker Sr.	....	creative consultant
Dylan Tarason	....	executive in charge of production
Kevin Waehner	....	assistant: Mr. Kessell
Adam Wilton	....	office production assistant
Dylan Woodley	....	accounting clerk
Sheila Woodley	....	production accountant
Ryan Wuckert	....	location scout
Todd Zeller	....	unit publicist

Thanks
Dalibor Backovic	....	special thanks (as Dalibor Backovich)
Peter Block	....	special thanks
Kenny Boyce	....	we would like to thank: manager of film & special events, city of Winnipeg
Johnny Cash	....	in memory of
Jason Constantine	....	special thanks
Abby Elkins	....	special thanks
Sam Elkins	....	special thanks
Suzy Elkins	....	special thanks
Eric Gable	....	special thanks
Louise O'Brien-Moran	....	special thanks
Carole Vivier	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Lionsgate (presents)
• Gold Circle Films (presents)
• Integrated Films & Management (as Integrated Films)
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) (with the participation of)
• Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit (with the participation of)
• Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit (with the participation of)

Distributors

• ACME (2009) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Benelux Film Distributors (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Future Film (2009) (Finland) (theatrical) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Maple Pictures (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Noble Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Prisvídeo - Edições Videográficas (2009) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Falcom Media (2009) (Austria) (all media)
• Falcom Media (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Falcom Media (2009) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Imagem Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Ledafilms (2010) (Mexico) (TV)
• Lionsgate (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2008) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Maple Pictures (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Midget Entertainment (2009) (Denmark) (all media)
• Noble Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Noble Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Noori Pictures (2009) (South Korea) (all media)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)

Special Effects

• MastersFX (prosthetics and creature effects)
• Technicolor Creative Services VFX Vancouver (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Mi Casa Multimedia  6.1 7.- DVD/BD mastering
• Bulletproof Recording Company  soundtrack
• Cine-Byte Imaging  digital intermediate
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Sonic Magic  ADR recording
• Sony Pictures Stock Footage  stock footage
• Soundtrack  adr facility
• Vancouver Film Orchestra, The  score performed by
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of terror and disturbing images

Runtime:

92 min | 102 min (extended cut)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44104) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-15 | Brazil:16 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Netherlands:16 | Sweden:15 | Mexico:B15 | Hong Kong:IIB | South Korea:15 | Singapore:PG | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 | Japan:PG12 | Australia:MA (2009) | New Zealand:R16 | Malaysia:PG-13 | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Teulon, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

Lionsgate

Trivia:

The story was first featured in the novel "In A Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting" written by Ray Garton.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Reverend took out an eyelid from the box to look at it, it vertical, when the shot is from over his shoulder the eyelid it is horizontal. Yet back to a side shot, it is once again vertical.

Quotes:

Reverend Popescu:[before the house is burning down] Fire release spirits.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Paranormal Witness: The Real Haunting in Connecticut (#2.7)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Feetsball Fun

Horror Grounded in Reality is Back, Finally!

I'm sure it helped that I was in the right mood and the right atmosphere when I saw this movie at a midnight screening at South by Southwest, but The Haunting in Connecticut was a horror movie that really struck a chord with me.

I'm a longtime fan of this genre, getting acquainted with all the old classics and cult films through USA Saturday Night Horror when I was young, and continuing to see and love newer ones, such as The Ring, throughout college. However, when I go on a rant about the current state of horror movies, I tell people that today's movies make you heighten your sense of disbelief too much in order to be scared – I call it "fantasy horror." There aren't enough movies like The Exorcist anymore where it absolutely feels real, like something that has always existed but you've just been lucky enough to avoid.

I loved The Haunting in Connecticut, because it is much closer to reality horror than fantasy, and I suppose that's because it's based on a true story. It just doesn't feel like it came straight out of someone's imagination. It was the kind of movie where, not only did I find myself wondering about the true story of the Snedeker family, but when I went to sleep that night, I couldn't help pondering the history of my own home and its previous tenants. If you're the type of person who loves horror movies, I assume that's the exact creepy way you want them to resonate.

Besides the background story, one of the other reasons I think this movie worked was because of the performance of Kyle Gallner. This young man plays a much more complex (and believable) protagonist than most of the ones I've seen in horror films lately, as his character, Matt, has a very familiar (and scary in its own right) disease that makes him question whether the haunting is real, or a symptom of his sickness. I venture to say that his character could have made an interesting movie even BEFORE the paranormal activity starts, but Gallner was exceptional in this role, and I think we'll still be talking about "the boy in The Haunting in Connecticut," 10 years from now.

So for true horror movie fans, I definitely recommend checking this one out. Sometimes there's nothing wrong with a horror movie based completely in fantasyland, like Nightmare on Elm Street, but the creepiest horror usually has a dose of reality. This film will scare you, it will make you think and it will leave a lasting impression.