Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
6.1
Meh… after the truly shocking twist of the first film in the series, this one didn’t really have a lot of room to grow. Pretty run of the mill horror film that relies fairly heavily on jump scares. Few great moments. Good to see Katie Holmes on the big screen. Was just looking for more, and felt entertained but underwhelmed.
8.1
Better than I could have fantasized! A intricate story, with well crafted twists and smart use of special effects and tension made for another Blumhouse home run in my book! Fans of the classic show and fans of modern horror alike will find themselves thoroughly entertained and impressed. “Not everything is what it seems” is just the beginning as the fantasies turn to nightmares before your very eyes. Strap in, and enjoy the haunting images set against a strikingly gorgeous tropical backdrop. Think “couples retreat” meets “saw.”
8.2
A show as mysterious as the title… M. Night at the height of his powers, keeping you guessing at every twist and turn. Then second guessing your initial guesses. Then wondering “is that Ron Weasley from Harry Potter?” Then wondering why if the new nanny dabbles in the dark arts or is just odd? Then wondering who the hell came up with the fictional menu for this food critic?!? Then… completely dumbfounded by the conclusion of the season, wanting to find the producers and obtain a copy of Season 2 NOW! We need answers!
5.9
… and they thought changing the title was going to trick us. Well, that was an hour and a half of my life I can never get back. A cross between “Dr. Strange” and “The Witch,” or just watching “The Witch” on acid. Dark cinematography, unexplained creepiness, and almost nothing going on the whole time. Had it not been for the girl in the back row of the theater trying to cough up a lung, I almost fell asleep. Swing and a miss.
7.3
Seriously?!?!?! That’s how we’re going to leave this thing?!?
Get ready to be genuinely unsettled for two hours, and be left hanging in the end (in my opinion). Just as intense and jarring as the trailer, just when you think you have this film figured out, it takes a turn and keeps you guessing and off balance. Checks so many boxes… Open ended, old lady warning of bad things while also creeping everyone out, jump scares, ghosts, and the little girl with an imaginary friend(s). Imaginary friends are never good news in these things. Solid directing. Builds tension better than most these days. Jump scares and the natural mystique of the scenery used cleverly and sparingly, making them all the more effective.
Seeing as this film is based off the same source material, I’m excited to see what’s in store for “Haunting of Hill House: Season 2.”
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 