On July 28th, Disney released their latest film based off the classic Haunted Mansion ride, located in multiple Disney locations.
While this is not the first movie Disney has made based on the iconic ride, it is a certainly a unique addition to Disney's latest theatrical releases.
To give a quick spoiler free review.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. I was so happy with how many Easter eggs and ride references there was in this film. There was true comic relief that made me laugh out loud in the appropriate places, some unexpected emotional moments, and a great story to go along with the rides original lore.
I was very weary about Tiffany Haddish's character as I sometimes finds that she plays a character obnoxiously to the point where it stops being comic relief and it becomes annoying.
Her character was the surprise comic relief that genuinely made me laugh. There were jokes that showcased her personality but it was not over the top to where the commentary turned into cringe moments.
With the talk of ghost and the afterlife, I was surprised to see the movie cover the subject of grief. While I won't spoil the specifics, I will say if you are a person who has experienced any type of grief in life, this will definitely make you emotional at times.
A personal opinion, I think I enjoyed Jennifer Tilly's version of Madam Leota vs. Jamie Lee Curtis. Now this is not saying I didn't enjoy Curtis' interpretation, but I think Jennifer Tilly reminded me more of mysterious aura that I feel while riding The Haunted Mansion.
I also favor Jennifer Tilly's tone/ raspy voice that I felt was more in tune with the ride's version of Madam Leota.
Also a personal quip, I was waiting the hear and see the Grim Grinning Ghost like how the originals showcased. A new twist on the song was added to the movie and while it was fun, I missed hearing the ghoulish version of the original.
Lastly, if you are thinking about taking your children, keep in mind that the movie is rated PG-13. Although there's no gore or adult language, some scenes may be frightening for young children. My daughter is 10 and has been on the ride at Disney World multiple times without being scared (unlike her Mom as a kid, I was petrified)
She enjoyed the movie, didn't find any parts overwhelming or scary, and laughed multiple times through out the film.
You know your child best, use your own judgement to determine if they can handle the spooky scenes in the film.
Overall, I throughly enjoyed the latest version of the theatrical version of Haunted Mansion. Come into the theater expecting a family friendly spooky tale that is a delightful treat if you're a fan of the iconic ride!
Comments