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Directed by Max Carter and written by Andrew Barrer, Haunt brings us a ghostly story of affairs and tragedy.
Haunt bases itself around the Asher family who buy an isolated manor that is said to be haunted by the “Morello Curse”. This Curse has been derived from pediatrician Janet Morello (Jacki Weaver- Silver Linings Playbook) losing husband Franklin (Carl Hadra) and their three children in the house years ago. Janet sells the house to Alan Asher (Brian Wimmer) and his wife Emily (Ione Skye- Wayne’s Word), and they move with their three children, teenagers Evan (Harrison Gilbertson- Need for Speed) and Sara (Danielle Chuchran- SAGA: Curse of the Shadow) and young girl Anita (Ella Harris).
Shy Evan soon meets Sam (Liana Liberato- Trust, If I Stay), an introverted neighbor his age who has obvious troubles at home. Sam has been inside the Morello house before, so she knows how to sneak in at night and crawl into bed with Evan for comfort. Evan’s bedroom is the attic and Sam finds a radio apparatus used to communicate with the dead. Curious, the teens decide to test it out and much to their amazement it works. Unfortunately in trying to communicate with the no longer living they have opened a door to the spirit world, and its clear one evil force has some unfinished business as it unleashes its terror on the teens.
Although Haunt is not fantastic, and avoids taking the risks real horror fans want to see, it would probably scare a younger genre fan. Its techniques settle on predictability but it does occasionally work in creating an unsettling atmosphere, it just doesn’t deliver anything substantial.
Despite a small selection of nice visuals, Haunt never truly terrifies the audience. I wouldn’t recommended it but if you like your haunted house movies then Haunt definitely won’t be the worst in your list.
WICKED RATING: 3.5/10 [usr 3.5]
Title: Haunt
Director(s): Max Carter
Writer(s): Andrew Barrer
Stars: Jacki Weaver, Liana Liberato, Harrison Gilbertson
Year: 2013
Studio/ Production Co: QED International, Revolver Picture Company
Budget: (unknown)
Language: English
Length: 86mins
Sub-Genre: Mystery
