HAUNTED MANSION Captures the Spirit of the Ride

After moving to an estate overrun by spirits, a single mother’s only hope to save her son from 999 haunts are a band of unlikely heroes. Based on the beloved Disney theme park attraction, Haunted Mansion is a worthy adaptation that captures the essence of the ride, which is sure to bring joy and delightful frights to grim-grinning fans.

Life has dealt a bad hand to Ben (LaKeith Stanfield), and he’s now the grumpiest tour guide in New Orleans. With a past interest in paranormal investigation, though a non-believer now, he’s approached by a priest (Owen Wilson) asking for assistance ridding a house of spirits.

In it to make a quick buck, Ben arrives at the supposed haunted mansion where Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her young son (Chase W. Dillon) are left living in fear. His skepticism is soon gone as he realizes the house of haunts is not bogus. 

With the help of a cheesy psychic (Tiffany Haddish) and enthusiastic scholar (Danny DeVito)—and maybe a few ghosts—he’ll have to rid the mansion of the most dangerous ghoul.

Haunted Mansion is obviously not the first time audiences have hopped in a theater Doom Buggy to see the spooky dwelling on the big screen. While not a critical success, I never understood the hate towards the 2003 film starring Eddie Murphy. Though, I admit it didn’t make the best use of Haunted Mansion lore and theming.

In this newest iteration/reboot, there are no missed opportunities with conceptually bringing the ride to life. Director Justin Simien has clearly led the project with immense passion, which is visible in every scene. Disney fans will have an amazing time catching all the subtle and not-so-subtle references, even finer details that callback to both Disneyland and Disney World versions.

The film is a lovely treasure hunt of the most iconic facets of the ride and even Disney parks in general. You may even hear another famed ride’s familiar tune (if you’re paying close attention). And hardcore fans will enjoy seeing the Hatbox Ghost be a focal point in the story as the antagonist. 

The iconic character was quite an enigma in the history of Disneyland, having been removed from the ride in the early days and not returning until eight years ago. While Jared Leto portrays the spirit, he really disappears into the role, for better or worse.

With memorable set pieces and plenty of established lore at its disposal, Haunted Mansion doesn’t just bank on that carrying the film. It has a tight-knit ensemble cast that does a fabulous job of bringing humor and heart to the overall story.

Stanfield certainly stands out with an unexpectedly touching performance. Disney is never afraid to pull on heartstrings with their films, but I can’t say I thought I’d be tearing up by this film’s end, and he is part of the reason—as well as just serving as a great lead.

But aside from some emotional moments, the film has a lot of humor to bring back the lighthearted nature. Overall it has a nice balance that allows viewers to connect with characters but still have a ton of fun. The writing does feel juvenile at times, but it’s also perfect for the intended audience.

As a massive fan of the ride, I had a great time with this new Haunted Mansion. I’d be one to nitpick, but there’s not much I found myself harping on, aside from its runtime being a touch too long. It does have a very similar tone to the 2003 version, which I had selfishly hoped it would lean more heavily into the horror. But Simien and his team did a wonderful job regardless of making a film that is perfect for younger audiences and Disney fanatics alike.