Bob PeryeaAn American Haunting - 2005
March 21st 2009 19:26
An American Haunting (2005) 5.5 out of 10
Dir: Courtney Solomon
This is a thinking man's horror movie. It purports to be the only American haunting that resulted in the death of a man.
Donald Sutherland (watch for the upcoming review of Invasion of Body Snatchers) plays John Bell who lived in 1817. The story winds through a letter written by Lucy Bell, his wife (played by Sissy Spacek [watch for the upcoming review of Katherine]). After an altercation at the local magistrates over a piece of land, Bell became convinced that he and his family had been cursed by his neighbor, Kathe Batts (played by Gaye Brown). His daughter is abused, beaten and raped repeatedly by the spirit. Eventually, Bell talks to Ms. Batts and she tells him that she never cursed them and his problems are his own. Eventually, he dies by having his daughter feed him poison, while his wife watches and does nothing.
The story opens with one of John Bell's ancestors reading this letter. Her daughter is suffering from nightmares, just like his. I won't tell you what the connection is but let me say this...
The American movie-going public that would actually go see a movie starring Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek are not stupid. Spare me the overt references from today to yesterday. The scenes of the haunting are well done and Rachel Hurd-Wood (playing Bell's daughter) did an excellent job!
I only wish that directors would leave me wondering if I am right. Don't close the movie with all of the loose ends tied up and everything easily explained. I want to wonder. Even Nightmare on Elm Street left some questions for me, like how was Freddy created.
The acting is good and the core plot is excellent. The tie to modern times is too in-my-face to not be annoying. I am hoping that Ms. Solomon will make more movies with a little less overt content.
I saw this on Fearnet.com and so can you!
Dir: Courtney Solomon
This is a thinking man's horror movie. It purports to be the only American haunting that resulted in the death of a man.
Donald Sutherland (watch for the upcoming review of Invasion of Body Snatchers) plays John Bell who lived in 1817. The story winds through a letter written by Lucy Bell, his wife (played by Sissy Spacek [watch for the upcoming review of Katherine]). After an altercation at the local magistrates over a piece of land, Bell became convinced that he and his family had been cursed by his neighbor, Kathe Batts (played by Gaye Brown). His daughter is abused, beaten and raped repeatedly by the spirit. Eventually, Bell talks to Ms. Batts and she tells him that she never cursed them and his problems are his own. Eventually, he dies by having his daughter feed him poison, while his wife watches and does nothing.
The story opens with one of John Bell's ancestors reading this letter. Her daughter is suffering from nightmares, just like his. I won't tell you what the connection is but let me say this...
The American movie-going public that would actually go see a movie starring Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek are not stupid. Spare me the overt references from today to yesterday. The scenes of the haunting are well done and Rachel Hurd-Wood (playing Bell's daughter) did an excellent job!
I only wish that directors would leave me wondering if I am right. Don't close the movie with all of the loose ends tied up and everything easily explained. I want to wonder. Even Nightmare on Elm Street left some questions for me, like how was Freddy created.
The acting is good and the core plot is excellent. The tie to modern times is too in-my-face to not be annoying. I am hoping that Ms. Solomon will make more movies with a little less overt content.
I saw this on Fearnet.com and so can you!
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