A Haunted Mouse!
If you’ve had the pleasure of visiting either Disneyland or Disney World (or a few other Disney parks worldwide), you are probably aware that the Haunted Mansion is one of their most popular attractions. I’ve personally visited the Disney World Haunted Mansion on three separate occasions and loved it every time. It’s one of the must-see items on my list whenever I travel to Orlando.
A film based on the attraction was released in 2003. It starred Eddie Murphy and the lovely Marsha Thomason as Jim and Sara Evers, a real estate “power couple” always looking for the next piece of property to sell. Sara decides that the family has been neglected for far too long (and Jim misses their anniversary) and that a vacation is in order. Jim suggests going on a lake trip. They take their kids, Megan (Aree Davis) and Michael (the funny Marc John Jefferies), on vacation, but on the way, Jim convinces the family to check out one potential home.
When they arrive at the mansion outside of New Orleans, they meet Ramsley (Terence Stamp), the somewhat sinister butler of Gracey Mansion. They also meet the owner, Edward Gracey (Nathaniel Parker), who takes a shine to Sara. The family gets trapped at the mansion due to a storm, but are invited to stay until it is safe to leave by Master Gracey. They are assisted by Ramsley and two other servants, Ezra (Wallace Shawn) and Emma (Dina Winters).
As the evening rolls along, odd things begin to happen. Jim meets Madame Leota (Jennifer Tilly), and the kids run into a glowing orb that appears to be friendly. Soon it is revealed that Master Gracey believes that Sara is the resurrected soul of his former lover, Elizabeth.
From there the story turns into a mystery, with Jim and the kids attempting to figure out what’s really going on and Master Gracey and Ramsley attempt to convince Sara that she belongs with Master Gracey. Of course, there’s one person in the mansion that has alternate plans for everyone, but I won’t reveal who that person is here.
Critics tore this film apart, but I don’t think that they saw it for what it was, a family spooky movie. The acting is fine and it was fun to seek out all of the nods to the theme park attraction that the film is based upon. There’s a forbidden love story, light comedy, and gentle scares that most families can enjoy together.
Hopefully more people will seek out this family film. It’s not as serious as the Pirates of the Caribbean films (and they really aren’t that serious to begin with), but it is just as good as The Country Bears film released one year earlier. It won’t win any awards, but you’ll have a good time watching this movie.
As always, thanks for reading. Since I posted about a family film tonight, I’ll have to crank up the terror tomorrow night! See you again real soon!
Ken's Alternate Universe! 