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THE HAUNTING (1999) |
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MORGAN'S RATING |
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| Action director Jan de Bont remakes Robert Wise's subtle and terrifying 1963 haunted house tale as a computer-effects laden thrill ride. A professor and three subjects spend a night in an old house with sinister secrets for the sake of a sleep disorder study...but no one gets much sleep. Based on Shirley Jackson's novel. |
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| Lili Taylor (Eleanor 'Nell' Vance), Liam Neeson (Dr. David Marrow), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Theo), Owen Wilson (Luke Sanderson), 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), Kadina de Elejalde (Rene Crain), Alessandra Benjamin, Karen S. Gregan, Brandon Jarrett, Mary McNeal, William Minkin (Psych Patients), Debi Derryberry, Jessica Evans, Sherry Lynn, Miles Marsico, Courtland Mead, Kelsey Mulrooney, Kyle McDougle, Hannah Swanson (Children, voices), Leigh-Anne Cooper (Kid, uncredited), Travis Tedford (Additional voices, uncredited). |
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SOME HOUSES ARE BORN BAD. |
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PRODUCTION INFORMATION |
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DIRECTOR: Jan De Bont (Speed 2: Cruise Control).
WRITERS: David Self, and based on the novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.
PRODUCERS: Susan Arnold, Donna Roth and Colin Wilson.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Marty P. Ewing.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jan de Bont, Samuel Z. Arkoff (uncredited) and Steven Spielberg (uncredited).
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Jerry Goldsmith.
DISTRIBUTOR: DreamWorks SKG. |
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QUOTES |
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FACTS |
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Eleanor: Purgatory is over, you go to hell. |
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RELEASE DATE: July 23rd, 1999 (USA)
BOX OFFICE OPENING: $33.4 ?million (USA)
BOX OFFICE RESULT: $91.4 million (USA)
BUDGET: $80 million (USA)
- The creaks and moans heard throughout the house were pre-recorded and played during filming in order to get a more natural expression of fear out of the actors.
- The house used in the film is located in Grantham, England and is owned by the University of Evansville (Indiana). It is used by students that study aboard.
- Several of the sets depicting Hill House were built in the hanger that haused The Spruce Goose, the mammoth airplane built by Howard Hughes.
- The title of the movie was changed from "The Haunting of Hill House" because of another film to be released later that year entitled The House on Haunted Hill (1999).
- Liam Neeson is afraid of heights so his fear when he was dangling off the flight of steps whilst trying to save Nell, required no acting.
- Harlaxton Manor (the name of the house) actually has a ghost that is sometimes seen by its residents.
- Writer Michael Tolkin, as script doctor, did a uncredited re-write on the script.
- The outside of Hill House, as well as some interiors were filmed in Harlaxton Manor, in England.
- The part of the big lion head in the fireplace was originally played by a large green ball.
- Liam Neeson nicknamed Catherine Zeta-Jones "The Welsh Gazelle", because they repeated a running take time after time, and he couldn't keep up with her.
- Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel was originally attached to photograph the movie and even completed some of the filming, but dropped out due to creative differences.
- The project was originally with Dimension Films, with Wes Craven attached to direct.
- Nominated for five 2000 Razzie Awards for Worst Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Worst Director (Jan de Bont), Worst Picture, Worst Screen Couple and Worst Screenplay. |
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Luke: What's the deal with the Addams Family mansion? |
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Theo: You feel cut off from the world, but the world has missed you. Happy tossing and turning. |
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Theo: You don't get this from the Martha Stewart catalog. |
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David Marrow: OK, so why are we here? Probably to answer the most basic question: "What is wrong with you people?" |
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Eleanor: Have you ever kept something for yourself because you were afraid?
Theo: All the time. |
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Eleanor: Have you ever kept something for yourself because you were afraid?
Theo: All the time. |
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David Marrow: Ok, so what do we all need in life? What are the basics? Food, water, shelter...
Theo: ...Sex. |
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Luke: I'm not staying in this freaking house another second, so come on. |
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CRITICAL COMMENTS |
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"The Haunting is not scary or even remotely interesting, just downright boring. Quite a surprising accomplishment for the director of Speed." -- Morgan Muscat, The Action Kings |
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"A flat, draggy exercise in cheesy special effects and grandiose art direction palming itself off as a horror film." -- Edward Johnson-Ott, Nuvo Newsweekly |
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"A mess, a jumble of fancy special effects that are supposed to be scary but are really just fancy, further decorated with dribbles of dialogue , most of which are unintentionally hilarious." -- Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com |
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"When The Haunting finally limps to its conclusion, you may feel like booing the screen." -- Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News |
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"The characters are on the dramatic equivalent of Death Row." -- Desson Thomson, Washington Post |
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"The Haunting is a muddled mess that defies any rationality." -- Susan Stark, Detroit News |
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"Worse than awful!" -- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly |
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