An American Haunting (2005)

Based on the true events of the only case in US History where a spirit caused the death of a man.

Director:

Courtney Solomon

Writers:

Brent Monahan (novel), Courtney Solomon

Stars:

Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, Rachel Hurd-Wood

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald Sutherland	...	John Bell
Sissy Spacek	...	Lucy Bell
James D'Arcy	...	Richard Powell
Rachel Hurd-Wood	...	Betsy Bell / Entity Voice
Matthew Marsh	...	James Johnston
Thom Fell	...	John Bell Jr.
Zoe Thorne	...	Theny Thorn (as Zoë Thorne)
Gaye Brown	...	Kathe Batts
Sam Alexander	...	Joshua Gardner
Miquel Brown	...	Chloe
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Elder #1
Shauna Shim	...	Anky
Madalina Stan	...	Ethereal Girl
Philip Hurd-Wood	...	Partygoer (as Phillip Hurd-Wood)
Vlad Cruceru	...	Richard Bell (aged 6)

Storyline

In 2006, in Red River, Tennessee, a teenager has frequent nightmares. Her mother reads an old letter from 1817 written by her ancestor, Lucy Bell. After a dispute of lands judged by the church, her husband John Bell is cursed by his opponent Kathe Batts, who has a fame of being a witch. From this moment on, an entity threatens John and her daughter Betsy Bell, attacking the girl during the nights. With the support of Betsy's school teacher Richard Powell, who tries to find rational explanations for the manifestation; her brother John Bell Jr.; and their friend James Johnston, who unsuccessfully tries to exorcize the entity from the house, the family does their best to protect Betsy in the haunted house.

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Plot Keywords:

flashback | year 1818 | paranormal phenomena | ghost | flash forward | 

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Taglines:

Possession Knows No Bounds

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Genres:

Drama | History | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense terror sequences and thematic material

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is actually based on a purportedly true story. Andrew Jackson was quoted as saying, "I would rather take on the entire English Fleet than stay one night at the Bell House," however his presence at the house is disputed and there are no official records that confirm he was actually present or witnessed any supernatural activity. The haunting is documented in M. V. Ingram's 1894 book, An Authenticated History of The Famous Bell Witch. This movie was based on the book by Brent Monahan,The Bell Witch: An American Haunting the Famous Bell Witch. However, the Ingram book has been called into question by researchers, who have noted that it's based on secondhand accounts and that no firsthand accounts to the haunting survive, and records from the time have not supported the story of the haunting. The Ingram book calls on quotes from letters and diaries but those documents no longer exist (if they ever did) and it is impossible to verify if the haunting actually happened or if it was a hoax or an early urban legend. Some researchers have even raised the possibility that the Ingram book was actually a work of fiction now mistakenly believed to be a factual account.

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Goofs

Right after John Bell gets knocked out by the door slamming shut, the "spirit" re-opens the door. A hand can be seen quickly pulling away from the knob on the other side.

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Quotes

Richard Powell: This... entity... do you believe that it can read your mind?
John Bell: No. But I do believe that it can hear our conversations, that's how it knows our every move.
Richard Powell: But it is only present on this property!
[Richard raises his eyebrows, suggesting that if they leave without saying a thing, the entity probably wouldn't know, or follow]

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Alternate Versions

The DVD is released in an Unrated Version, which has a number of differences from the original PG-13 version.

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Connections

Version of Bell Witch: The Movie (2007)

User Reviews

The worst thing to happen to TRUE ghost stories since The Amityville Horror

I went to the theater too excited to see another true ghost story come to life on the big screen. READ READ READ online and their is so much to offer on the Bell Witch Haunting. One of the most documented case's ever. The only documented case in the United States that a ghost killed a human being. So with all the information known on the case, Why would they slaughter a story so much? Amityville was another example of a story that if they stuck to the fact's it would be great. Hollywood can take their movies and shove them. The acting was good, but that is the only positive thing I can say about this movie. For God's sake the effect's were B movie like. Sorry guy's, maybe next time they tell a true life story they should stick to THE STORY!

Details

Official Sites:

CTV International [France] Official site

Country:

UK Canada Romania USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

An American Haunting

Filming Locations:

Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,380,000, 7 May 2006

Gross USA:

$16,298,046

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,612,137

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allan Zeman Productions, Midsummer Films, Remstar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min 91 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1