AFI Fest Report: An American Haunting Review

I was also at the screening at the Arclight theaters and I have to say how bad it really was. It was trying so hard to be the next great American horror film. The music was so redundant and overdone. And yes there were little girls with long black hair AGAIN in some scenes. The POV of the spirit is the lamest thing I've ever seen. It's also very redundant. The whole dream/nightmare/memory thing...whatever it was...felt so unnecessary and redundant. There's so much redundancy and boredom to this film. The only reason why I jumped at some parts and many times why I do this in horror movies is because of the loud music. Who doesn't jump at sudden bursts of trumpet sounds? And Rachel-Hurd Wood was not that great either. She was much more believable in Peter Pan. She needed a rougher edge to her character and I think her innocence in real life bleeds through too much in her character. There was also a very awkward scene where she does the whole "twitching-I'm possessed-help me" act and the family is just staring and edited in a way that makes them look so careless. I couldn't help but laugh. Her whole twitching thing looked so fake as well. For some reason that moment totally made me picture the director shouting out his commands "scream! shake harder..HARDER!!" And Donald Sutherland can not act in this as well. And Sissy Spacek I feel like just wants money. She hasn't been in anything good since In the Bedroom. Story's pretty weird. For devil's sake....it's the same director as Dungeons and Dragons. He was ranting on to a select few of us outside the theater of the plot points and why people did this and that. No one can possibly know that the first viewing. Ok..enough of my ranting. I think with a lot of smart editing, and different choices of music placing, this film can be somewhat good.

I was at the Sunday afternoon screening of "An American Haunting" as the AFI Fest. I had been waiting to see this film having checked out the legend on line and being a fan of Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek. First, I must say that I disagree with the reviewer above reagarding Rachel Hurd-Woods performance. I think that perhaps he prefers something different. She was absolutely captivating to look at, and I felt that her perfomance was very restrained, as were all the performances. I immediately, from teh first moment, was drawn in by her character, and I thought that she did a terrific job portraying what was clearly a confusing and terrible situation for her character and the Bell Family. I am not sure whether we watched the same film, or perhaps it's because we are just a different sex. But, I found this film to look, cinematically fantastic, so the TV look comment surprises me a lot. The whole look was creepy and added to the fear and mood on old Tennessee. I found myself on the edge of my seat, and frankly, had trouble sleeping for a few days after watching the film. What I really liked was that this film did not spend time trying to get a lot of cheap thrills, and there was virtually no blood or gore, except where it really made a difference in one scene which I will not ruin for future viewers. The spirit scared me, and I loved that they chose to show us what the ghost saw, but not what it looked like. I thought this was great! I do agree that the music was a little large at times, but it's a small complaint overall. I was just really glad to see a film in this genre that was not another Vampire story. I'm not sure that I would call it horrror, I think it fits more into the suspense or thriller category. My three friends and I were scared and on edge throughout, and certainly there were a lot of jumps, but we were more interested in the mystery unfolding. I wish there had been another screening because, I wanted to see it again so I could see where they gave clues towards the ending, which surprised three of us. One of my friends figured it out! Anyway, if you are looking for a quality film in this genre, then I highly recomend "An American Haunting". Having recently seen "Emily Rose", this film certainly a far superior, scarier and more interesting film.

Matilda

Don't you believe this other crap here, An American Haunting is a knockout, terrifying 'grab you by your throat' ghost story that recalls Jack Clayton's The Innocents and Robert Wise's classic, The Haunting. They've just all forgot what a good horror movie is made of! An American Haunting is the scariest, most intelligent ghost story to hit the screen in two decades. More original than The Others (which was a watered down cocktail of The Innocents and The Sixth Sense), and ten times more original and effective than the pallid The Exorcism of Emily Rose, An American Haunting wastes no time in setting itself up as a thriller with something more on its mind than just simply rehashing the same old grab bag scare tactics that every 'Exorcist' remake/rehash resorts to. Based on The Bell Witch, an apparently true account of demonic possession that resulted in the first recorded case of a ghost actually killing a human being over a hundred and fifty years ago in Tennessee, the film elevates itself by not wallowing in cheap tricks to scare you, and by always taking the high road. And, by doing so it creates it's very own world, a unnerving mood and an a undercurrent that prevails throughout until, when you least expect it - it strikes out, grabs you by the throat, and doesn't let go until the very last frame. The sheer terror of waiting and watching until the entire story unfolds (in a way you least expect) is so original and surprising, that by the time the finale hits you, it shatters you like no other horror film you've ever seen . The performances by Donald Sutherland and Rachel Hurd-Wood are first rate. It's their story all the way, and the beauty and generosity of the other actors subtle, effective performance (especially Sissy Spacek) is a testament to their respect of the material. But the real star of this film is director/writer Courtney Solomon. After having recovered from the bollocking he took for the impossible task of bringing Dungeons & Dragons: The Movie, to the screen Mr Solomon has rebounded with a story he was born to tell, and the result is an assured, first rate thriller, told with intelligence, force, style and wit. It's a roller coaster ride all the way, so fasten your seat belts. The audience I saw it with at the AFI Film Festival could not have been more responsive. You could actually feel the hair on the back of your neck standing up. The cinematography by master Adrian Biddle and the score by Caine Davidson are first rate, and help propel you into an unforgettable ghost story that will linger in your memory and haunt your dreams/nightmares for months after.

Dowes anybody know when this movie will have a full release in Canada

oh my gosh, this daniel fredericks guy is so over the top and sounds like a studio executive who obviously does not know what good movies are. It truly was not engaging at all. I know a lot of people that did not like this film that went to the same screening. The story is so questionable. This can't be true. Please believe me. It's not a good film. The Others was much more entertaining and The Exorcism of Emily Rose was a lot more frightening because the devil is real.

I am very much looking forward to this film. It is one of the last films that Adrian Biddle was part of before passing on this past December.

I'd just like to point out that so far every comment made by critics of this film has either been made by half wit people who can't spell to save their lives, cannot back up their point, or do so with idiotic references to absurd concepts of supernatural beings existing.

I'd just like to point out that so far every comment made by critics of this film has either been made by half wit people who can't spell to save their lives, cannot back up their point, or do so with idiotic references to absurd concepts of supernatural beings.

There have always been legends of demons, ghosts, and ghouls; religion upholds that such things exist. But, to avoid debate over this topic, I'd just like to say that the idea of supernatural beings is frightening worldwide, perhaps because all of us intuitively know that there could be something with a cunning mind watching us; it's the same principle that all children have a belief in Heaven unless told otherwise, and that in humanity's darkest hours we pray to God, because we hope there is someone there.
By the way- have you ever encountered a culture that has not had supernatural beliefs of some kind? If you can say "no," then the only thing you're refering to is the atheist Soviet Union, which was brought down.

As far as the devil existing and the implication that the Soviet Union fell due to lack of a belief system shows how little knowledge the writer has of Russia, the history of Russia or the politics that failed there. This idea of an afterlife and supernatural entities just shows how far we still have to go in evolution.
Getting back to the film, I believe Sissy Spacek is a legend and played her role with an intensity so believable (as well as the others) that for a moment, I too believed in ghosts. Well done. Bravo to Sutherland, Spacek and the rest. I hope this is a sign of better horror movies to come, but I won't hold my breath... Hollywood needs to lay of the pipe or something because they have been producing virtually 100% crap of late with the exception of this one.

Any one tell mewho was doing all this in the movie the witch or her father ?

i usualy enjoy horror films, such as The Shinning, Carrie, Poltergiest, The Thing and more recently The Skeleton Key, i found an American Haunting to be a very poor film, more creepy little girls wandering around woods, her bed covers being invisably taken off her, on her, off her again, the plot switches right at the end but who gives a toss.
This film bored me senseless i wouldnt even get it out on video and i was actually looking forward to its cinema release.

There was however a film i saw on tv that was much more scary, i dont know if any of you would maybe know the title, it was set in i think the 70's about a family in a house with about 3 ghosts and 2 demons, there is a scene in the film were an exorcism is done on the house and after it is done a woman is taking washing downstairs and halfway down the stairs she is pushed by an invisable force, anyone got any ideas as to what the title is?
Thanks

This movie, to me, epitomized what I consider to be a true concept movie. Yes, I know, ALL movies are conceptual in one form or another. And they ALL usually tell a story, that is, beginning, middle and end. But some tend to stand out in what I like to call a TRUE, LEGITIMATE concept. A catagory all their own so to speak. Basically, what if this did REALLY happen? Though it probably couldn't, and probably never actually did, IF...it did, what would it look like? THIS...is where the true skill and/or artistry comes in to play.
For example, I was on the side on my friends house one night and I thought I saw someone sitting in the dark near the wall. It really looked like a human form sitting on the garbage can. Hidden in the shadows just enough to see them but not enough to make out their identity. I didn't THINK I saw someone, I was actually in the PROCESS of BELIEVING that I was actually looking at a person, who had wandered in the yard and was kicking back in the dark by themself. In fact I actually saw it move just enough. As if this person was re-adjusting their neck.
I was about to say "hey", when I decided to reach out and touch instead. It was a just a bag of leaves with newspapers on top. THEN...it no longer looked like a person at all. I was now left standing, contemplating my temporary lunacy and wondering if I should EVER be allowed to go outside ever again. Especially at night. Did I see a ghost? Well, yeah. BUT...since I reached out and solved the mystery, the story never gets told and no one would care to repeat it. Even if they actually did hear it.
NOW...I saw it move. Did I? Obviously not. The garbage did not move, I just expected it to. So therefore, it did. In MY MIND.
NOW...if I had NOT reached out and just ran off, the story WOULD be true and able to be told in TWO disticnt fashions. That is...1)I saw an intruder/trespasser 2)I saw a ghost. BUT, since I solved the mystery, THIS is the only version I get to tell. Boring and laughable.
Well, if I said that I saw a ghost, I get to be one of the few million people who think that they did. And, it makes for neat campfire fodder. Now, it just makes me look like a tool who probably should be told when to go to bed and when to take my meds.
The point being, finally, that it's fun AND normal to be scared by ghosts in a movie, WHATEVER century. And NOT fun or normal to be scared by bags of garbage...I think. IN ANY EVENT...

I forgot what we were talking about. But feel free to re-tell my tale whenever you please. Especially at weddings and bar mitzvahs. Because if I ever get invited to such occasions, I will for sure. Your loving patron and biggest fan...Sonny of Swayze:)

I just saw the movie last night. I was looking forward to a really good ghost story with modern day special effects. The movie was incredibly boring, the acting was dry and there were no special effects. To make matters worse if that were even possible, the real story behind this confusing plot was that the father was molesting his own daughter. A total waste of time and money.

I dont know why anybody would think this movie was good. If you havent seen it, here is the main outline of the movie. In the beginning, a girl is running away from something in the woods. It is modern day. She runs back to the house and ends up waking up and having it be a dream. Her mom walks in the room and tells the girl to get ready for something. The mother then sees a weird doll with a crack in the head that you see continuously throughout the movie yet has no significance. The mom tells the daughter that she should never go in the forbidden attic again. The mom walks into another room and begins reading a letter about the past. The scene flashes back to some old forest. There is a trial going on. John Bell is accused for usury and theft of another woman's property. She "puts a spell" on John and his family. That night, John's daughter Betsy, becomes "possesed" and weird stuff happens to the house. Betsy twitches and her hair is pulled by the demon. The family watches (including the father). This happens again later on after some talking. This ends up being a dream. Then Betsy is at school sleeping. The teacher looks at her weird. Its rescess time. Betsy is swinging with a girl that only she can see. This ends up being another dream after some other events. The next night she is then again posessed and thrown around. This ends up neing ANOTHER dream. After the dream they show some black woman. She shows the mom a bag of bloody clothes and says that they are the blood of everyone and tells everyone they are cursed and cant burn the clothes. John Bell is now cursed and having a bad time. He walks to the woman from the beginning's house to talk to her. When he walks up, he is holding a cane and looks a lot like Gandolf. That is probably then only good part in the movie. Anyways, she says that she did not and could not curse them. Then John patheitcally tries to kill himself with a revolver that isnt loaded. Next a bunch of men try to move Betsy from the house. They are in a carriage and the poltergist (however you spell it) is trying to find the. the poltergeist point of view is absolutely horrible and makes me laugh. It finds the carriage and crashes it. The carriage does a flip and slams to the ground. They show Betsy still sleeping inside the carriage. Amazing how deep she sleeps. So then i think it ensd up being another dream. But they flash over to the mother and she hears a voice speaking in her ears. It is saying "you know the truth". It flashes through her eyes and she sees that John has raped the girl and he is standing there with the bloody cothing with the girl laying on the bed. It flashes back to the woman. She is shocked. It flashes back to present day where the womans daughter is being taken away. Shes tries chasing after the car for some reason and then it goes to the credits. How anybody liked this movie i do not know. If you want a good laugh or need a place to sleep, i suggest seeing this movie. But in retrospect its about a man who raps his daughter and makes it look like a poltergeist....i think. If im wrong and someone wants to clear it up, gimme a holla.

okay, heres the movie...girls gets popped by poppa. ooo scary its an invisible ghost, no wait...is that Gandalf? hey what do you know, its big poppa giving his daughter some suga. thank you for wasting my 8.50 and 2 hours of my life whoever made this movie.

Pablo es muy gayo y le gusta chupa mucha peine.

I live in Tennessee and grew up on Bell Witch stories since my home is not far from Adams Tennessee. I can say that I did not like how the movie ended. Living in Tennessee and hearing the stories since my youth never did I hear a story that depicted the ending of this film. I was sadley disappointed in this movie.

I thought the flick was pretty good...it was scarier than I thought it would be but in a real way...it is obvious to me that some of the comments on here were made by people who didnt get what the poltergeist really was. My only real prob with the movie is that I think for any man taking his 13 year old daughter to this film thinking it might be a horror will be pretty uncomfortable by the end with the whole father daughter rape scenario...after all that is pretty much what you end up with when its over...kind of an uncomfortable ride home if your kid is expecting something spooky and easy to blow off.

To the people who liked this movie: What are you thinking? Never once did the movie give me the sense of fright. The "haunting" sequence was too over the top and grew old quickly. It was difficult to care for any of the characters, and there were so many scenes that felt like a waste of time or fillers, i.e.: the dream sequences. The twist felt like a weak attempt to surprise you, rather than being surprised I sat there with a sour look on my face and began laughing. We all have our own opinions, but honestly I think people who KNOW movies better than others will NOT like this film.

To the people who liked this movie: What are you thinking? Never once did the movie give me the sense of fright. The "haunting" sequence was too over the top and grew old quickly. It was difficult to care for any of the characters, and there were so many scenes that felt like a waste of time or fillers, i.e.: the dream sequences. The twist felt like a weak attempt to surprise you, rather than being surprised I sat there with a sour look on my face and began laughing. We all have our own opinions, but honestly I think people who KNOW movies better than others will NOT like this film.

I am amazed how ignorant critics have become when it comes to brilliant movies these days. Most critics thought Titantic was a crappy movie until it made lots of money and then all the critics backtracked and gave it nothing but good ratings. If it doesn't have crazy psycopaths mutilating teenagers or gay cowboys, than its not a good movie??!!
My wife and I are big time Horror fans and recently we have been disapointed with the needless gore designed to disturb the public. This was the first movie we have seen in a long time that actualy put goose bumps up and down my spine! Excellent movie that is not stop action from beginning to the end and has a very intense ending. If you ever had any encounters with ghosts in real life or even something remotely close, then you will defenately be freaked out after this movie!

are you serious?

I loved this movie. Those who think it is a bore, must be the blood loving Chucky kills Jason type viewer. Sorry to disappoint you that a psycho doll didnt make you scream. This movie was filmed beautifully, the actors were believeable, the script well written. I know that several people I know that saw it couldnt understand it........but it takes intelligence to see a film with twists and turns to the plot. I was scared, I was interested and I UNDERSTOOD what was going on. I have recommended it to all I know. Thank goodness Hollywood has stopped the madness of vampires and possessed dolls and finally made a good creepy movie with depth!!!

What makes you assume I like those hack n slash movies? Child's Play was crap, but I'd rather watch that than this. You're offended because someone puts down a movie you liked? Honestly this movie was weak, besides the weak "suprise" ending tell me how this movie is "well written." It amazes me how people can honestly see this movie and think it's well written...

I liked this film alot, not the best film ive ever seen but certainly not the worst.
I have to agree with what someone else said, there are far to many gore flicks (not even horrors or thrillers) making it to my screan and they are all rubbish with a 1000 year old guy who has 1 inch wrinkles on his old rotten face and stabs up all of his family and then get some woman pregnent who gives birth to a 6 legged boy who then goes onto to eat human heads and some how has amazing strength strong enough to pull a his own jaw off his head with 2 fingers and then eat it.
Is this the sort of movie that all these stupid thick people of todays society like. No but if you are normal then you might like it.
This film was well made that acting was all good, the story line was good, interesting, dont think ive ever seen a film quite like this before, the camera work and colours were very good.
A good, sensibl horror watch it.
people who dont like this movie, go and cut up a half human half lizard head with a spoon and then spray all the green and purple acid blood over all your neighbours who will then get infected with a deadly virus which will take over the world.
Anyone who sais this film is poor, weak, rubbish etc is a negative idiot (prob a drug addict)

So Popa did a girl and pretended that it was ghost ? but we saw girl hanging i air , it was not popas ghost besides ghost raped her so what ? ghost started to copy popas actions ? but its bellwitch its not bell witch man ghost i think :) but dont know true story so could tell me anyone about ghost and father rape ????

I loved it. I usually don't watch horror movies (it's not my favorite genre), but I read the true story and I was curious. Besides Rachel Hurd-Wood is my favorite actress since Peter Pan, I couldn't miss it. And I really, really liked it. It wasn't frightening in the true sense of the word, but if you think about it this is the scariest thing you'll ever see. Your father, someone who's supposed to love you and protect you, is the real danger. You're not safe, not even in your house. I actually think the actors were amazing, especially Rachel and Sissy Spacek. James D'Arcy was great, as well. And what I really liked was the ending. It took me completely by surprise, and that's a great thing, don't you think?;D It was worth watching it!

eres una estupi da y una imbecil

Look if anything if you have trouble sleeping you should try some natural remedies such as the tea and other stuff but also try home made carrot juice. WBR LeoP

I rented this movie and watched it when it came out. It just showed on Showtime, so I watched it again.
I am confused. With the hints of rape by the father to the daughter....was this in the actual folklore story of the actual Bell Witch, or was this something Hollywood made up for this movie ?
I seriously would like to know. I live in Tennessee and have always been fascinated by this story, but now that I've seen this movie twice, and see what everything is hinting at, it's kind of ruined it for me.