Old and New Movie Review - Haunted Mansion

 

So with a new film released, I felt it was time to look at both of these films and see which one is the best. For clarification, neither film is a horror. But they are both scary as Disney can get with some unsettling themes and so forth. But most of you will already know which one I prefer already. But seeing as I have yet to review the other one, I may as well review both here. So let's see what awaits us in the Haunted Mansion, which is another ride at Disney theme parks I have been on at least once:

2003 Film

I should point out... to Disney that this earlier adaptation was made on an $80 million budget which compared to the 2023 film's $157 million budget, that kind of speaks volumes to how Disney are doing things these days (and it's not looking good for them). Jim Evers (played by Eddie Murphy) is a successful realtor who spends little time with his family. He one day attempts to make amends by suggesting a family holiday at a nearby lake. The lake in question (which happens to be a bayou) just so happens to have a mansion, which Jim is eager to make a deal on selling it. But as the deal talks begin, things start occurring within the mansion and Jim's wife Sara (played by Marsha Thomason) may have a crucial part to play to lift whatever curse is causing all these things to happen. I will admit that when I first saw this as someone who was just hitting puberty at the time, I didn't like it. It felt nothing like the ride and was just some excuse by Disney to make a film out of their rides after the success that the Pirates of the Caribbean films (themselves also based on a ride) have given them. But acknowledging the cult status it has had in recent years, it's a kind of fun little ride. It's not going to win many people over with its silliness, lack of anything scary and its forced jokes in places. But it's quite simply, a typical Eddie Murphy film and if that's good enough for you, then you might enjoy it more than I did. I still would say its a terrible film, but not as bad as I remember it. 6/10

2023 Film

This newer adaptation is focused on an astrophysicist called Ben Matthias (played by LaKeith Stanfield) who is developing a camera that can detect dark matter. He struggles to get over the loss of his wife who is a believer of the supernatural and eventually is lured into Gracey Manor which has said to be haunted with ghosts. At first, he dismisses the whole thing. But eventually is drawn back when he, and other characters, start having ghosts all around them. It soon becomes apparent that there is something that is terrifying these ghosts into bringing this unlikely group of individuals together, and they must work together to put an end to this curse once and for all or be among the many souls trapped within. I would say this is a much better take on the ride's lore and mythos. It's still not brilliant, but feels more like the ride in terms of the story, the lore and even how it tries to bring things from the ride into the film. It does it justice and is well acted. But I just can't really understand why so much money had to be thrown at this when Disney could've easily made it with less money. Guess they are getting lazy and too over-reliant on visual effects and CGI. 8/10

The 2023 film wins on the basis that it has more to do with the ride than the first one and is much more serviceable as a Haunted Mansion film. The 2003 film is not a good film by any means. But it works well as a family film if nothing else. Just don't expect hardcore Disneyland ride fans to be wanting to watch it all the time, for sure.