Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” returns to the big screen with Justin Simien at the helm and a star-studded cast, including Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, and Danny DeVito. The film follows Gabbie, a single mother, and her son Travis as they move into a haunted antique house. To expel the supernatural entities, they enlist the help of various characters, such as a priest, a medium, and an astrophysicist.
Despite its potential, the film struggles with execution. The script, crafted by talented writer Katie Dippold, delivers forced and lackluster humor, with Wilson and Haddish carrying the comedic load. While the film includes sporadic playful chases and spooky scenes, it fails to maintain tension until the climactic third act.
“Haunted Mansion” delves into themes of grief and vulnerability, offering some family-friendly spookiness, but it misses the mark with underdeveloped characters and underutilized comedic talents, falling short of becoming a Halloween classic. Visit moviesjoy for more!