The Haunting (1999)

When Eleanor, Theo, and Luke decide to take part in a sleep study at a huge mansion they get more than they bargained for when Dr. Marrow tells them of the house's ghostly past.

Director:

Jan de Bont

Writers:

David Self (screenplay), Shirley Jackson (novel)

Stars:

Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson

3 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liam Neeson	...	Dr. David Marrow
Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Theo
Owen Wilson	...	Luke Sanderson
Lili Taylor	...	Nell
Bruce Dern	...	Mr. Dudley
Marian Seldes	...	Mrs. Dudley
Alix Koromzay	...	Mary Lambetta
Todd Field	...	Todd Hackett
Virginia Madsen	...	Jane
Michael Cavanaugh	...	Dr. Malcolm Keogh
Tom Irwin	...	Lou
Charles Gunning	...	Hugh Crain
Saul Priever	...	Ritchie
M.C. Gainey	...	Large Man
Hadley Eure	...	Carolyn Crain

Storyline

A remake of the classic 1963 movie "The Haunting" about a team of paranormal experts who look into strange occurrences in an ill-fated house. Through the course of the night some will unravel, some will question, and all will fight for their lives as the house fights back.

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Plot Keywords:

haunted house | mansion | insomniac | horror movie remake | old house | 

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Taglines:

Some houses are born bad.

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense horror sequences

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 July 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Haunting of Hill House

Filming Locations:

Belvoir Castle, Belvoir, Leicestershire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,435,140, 25 July 1999, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$91,411,151

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$177,311,151

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks, Roth-Arnold Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX SDDS DTS-ES

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Tolkin did an uncredited re-write on the script.

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Goofs

(at around 45 mins) Nell's car isn't seen in the carport in the first overhead shot of Hill House, in the first morning.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jane: You already owe two months worth of rent.
Eleanor "Nell" Vance: It's mine, and you're not taking it away.
Jane: Read the will, Nell. It states in plain language, the executor shall have the right to dispose of any and all personal property, as he shall see fit.
Eleanor "Nell" Vance: He's not even real family.
Jane: Yeah, maybe not, but clearly Mother thought Lou would be better off dealing with these unpleasant details than you.
Eleanor "Nell" Vance: [angrily] Unpleasant details? What have I been dealing with for the past eleven years? I've cooked, I've ...

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Crazy Credits

At the beginning, the music from Dreamwork's studio is not heard. Instead we hear the strange noises from inside Hill House.

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Alternate Versions

In Germany two versions of the end credits are existing: After the sign of "Dream Works" disappears the German theatrical and video and pay-TV version continues with the German dubbing crew and cast. The DVD version has only the end titles of the original version.

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Connections

Version of The Haunting (1963)

User Reviews

Not close to the original

I can't think why anyone would say, as some did, that this film is superior to the original. It is trite, formulaic, and not at all frightening. Like most horror films today this one is in your face with effects. The directors obviously assuming (correct in some cases) that we have lost our imaginations. There is not one ghost or swirling mass in the 1963 version with the incredible Julie Harris and Claire Bloom, but it will put you under the covers! Robert Wise treats his audience with respect and let's us scare outselves. Knowing the human imagination, when allowed to run, is scarier than anything you can put on film. He uses sound as a catalyst so effectively in one scene, you'll have chills on your chills.