*****SPOOKY SPOILERS AHEAD!*****

First Time’s Not Quite the Charm…

Before I get into 2023’s “The Haunted Mansion,” I wanted to drop a few lines about the first live-action version of “The Haunted Mansion,” which debuted 20 years ago (feels like both yesterday and forever ago).  2003 is a time when formerly R-rated comedy superstar Eddie Murphy was doing a lot of family movies (“Daddy Daycare,” “Dr. Doolittle”).  In “The Haunted Mansion,” Murphy played workaholic Jim Evers, one half of an ambitious husband/wife team of realtors who interrupt their family vacation to close the deal on haunted Gracey Manor. The Manor’s brooding occupant, the veddy veddy English Master Gracey (Nathaniel Parker), has designs on Murphy’s wife Sarah (Marsha Thomason)—whom Gracey believes is the reincarnation of his lost fiancée. 

Directed by Rob Minkoff (“The Lion King”) from a script by David Berenbaum, the movie features a nice supporting cast (Terence Stamp, Wallace Shawn, Jennifer Tilly), but has none of the mythical New Orleans’ French Quarter-vibe of the Disneyland ride. If anything, the 2003 movie’s Gracey Manor could almost be any gothic English manor from any horror movie, save for a few visual-aural nods to the Disneyland ride sprinkled here and there. The movie uses the Disneyland ride’s homages as seasonings—not integrating them into the story itself.  And the reincarnated-romance story is right out of Cliches ‘R Us. 

Twenty years later, current entertainment mega-empire Disney can now easily afford a do-over on “The Haunted Mansion,” and it has. Directed by Justin Simien (2014’s “Dear White People”) from a script by Katie Dippold (2016’s “Ghostbusters”), the 2023 reboot is much closer in setting and feel to the classic Disney ride…

“The Haunted Mansion” (2023)

The new movie opens with a flashback to an earlier, happier time when New Orleans-based astrophysicist Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield) meets love of his life Alyssa (Charity Jordan).  During their first meet, Ben discusses his work in optics; specifically, creating new supersensitive lenses that could theoretically allow him to ‘see’ objects in deep space that other camera systems can’t.  This piques the interest of Alyssa, who’s more spiritual than the agnostic Ben.  

Note: LaKeith Stanfield first came onto my radar in the amazing 2017 Jordan Peele horror/dark-comedy “Get Out,” where he played Andre Logan King; a young man whose body has been stolen by a cult of white folks who steal younger Black bodies to give new life to their aging brains. King’s former persona is somehow reactivated by Chris’s camera flash, which prompts Andre to scream in horror for hero Chris to “Get out!”  It’s an unforgettable moment in one of the best horror films of this century to date.

Later in the film, we see another flashback of the two where Ben playfully psyches Alyssa out with a proposal—only to show her his latest advanced camera, before presenting the actual ring next.  We then cut to a few years later.  Alyssa has died offscreen somehow, and her loss has left Ben a bitter, cynical alcoholic, eking out a living doing cheesy ghost tours for overly eager tourists in the historic French Quarter. 

Note: New Orlean’s historic French Quarter is (allegedly) one of the most haunted places in the United States, and it also figured very prominently in Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles” books, as the late author (a New Orleans native) often lovingly described the city with great passion and feel for its haunted history. The original Disneyland ride of The Haunted Mansion, which first opened at Anaheim’s Disneyland in 1969, is also ‘set’ in a recreation of New Orleans.  Side-note; one of Ben’s tourists is none other than “Haunted Mansion” costar Danny DeVito’s former “Taxi” castmate, Marilu Henner.

We then meet widow Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her 9-year old son Travis (Chase Dillon), who are the new owners of a large, dilapidated mansion called “Gracey Manor,” which was willed to her by her late aunt. Upon entering the vast, creaky, old house, trepidatious Travis immediately makes unwanted contact with the local spirits—999 of them, “with room for one more” (as the Disneyland ride promises).  At first, Gabbie is doubtful, until she sees undeniable proof of her ectoplasmic housemates firsthand, and decides the two of them need to get the hell outta there… 

Note: I was pleased to see Gabbie take her son and leave; something most people in haunted house movies never seem to do, and which most of us probably would do, if we’d learned that we’ve just moved into a home filled with hostile spirits.  I’m a nonbeliever in both ghosts and the supernatural, but if I were confronted with undeniable proof? I’d be inclined to err on the side of caution.  Even I were convinced the problems with the house weren’t spiritually-based, the fact that the house was trying to kill me would be reason enough to short-sell and run.

In his shabby, unkempt apartment, a depressed Ben is visited by scruffy, seemingly laidback priest/exorcist, “Father Kent” (Owen Wilson).  Kent acts more like a laid back surfer dude than an exorcist (there’s a reason for this), and Ben is not interested in the priest’s offer to use the advanced prototype camera to investigate ghosts in Gracey Manor.  When other persuasive attempts fail, cash proves to be the strongest motivator of them all, and doubting Ben joins Kent on his ghost-hunting expedition. 

Note: Owen Wilson’s laidback persona has become self-parodic these days, but it actually works for the movie, since his character is (SPOILER) supposed to be a fraud, not an actual priest/exorcist. 

A doubtful Ben goes with Father Kent to Gracey Manor, where he meets Gabbie and Travis, both of whom were forced to return, claiming that the ghosts followed them wherever they went.  With his camera’s batteries dead, Ben is not taking his ‘assignment’ seriously, despite the money.  Ignoring warnings from Travis and Gabbie, Ben takes a tour of this so-called haunted house.  After an inexplicable encounter with the ghost of a Mariner (Creek Wilson) within the mansion, Ben returns to his apartment, only to have the Mariner’s ghost haunt him within an inch of his life—including a spectral flooding that washes him right out into the street. 

Note: The talented Rosario Dawson (“Kids,” “Clerks II”) also plays former Jedi Padawan turned ronin Ahsoka Tano in the Disney+ “Star Wars” spinoff series “Ahsoka,” recreating the character in live-action from the animated Star Wars series’ “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels,” where Ahsoka was voiced by Ashley Eckstein.

Realizing that he and Kent are in over their heads, they seek help from an over-the-top psychic named Harriett (Tiffany Haddish). Later, over dinner at a local restaurant, Ben and Kent then steal blueprints of Gracey Manor from Professor Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito), an expert on the house whose heart issues prevent him from joining their nascent team of ghost-hunters.  With Harriet on the case, the group locates a hidden séance room within the mansion where she manages to make contact with the ghost of William Gracey. The ghost then writes a note instructing them to seek the help of his own psychic, Madame Leota.  However, before they can continue, an unseen force pushes Harriet out of the house in a rounded chair…

Note: The ejecting chairs used by the ghosts to rid the house of unwanted guests recreate the Disney ride’s “Doom Buggies”; small rounded transports that take visitors through the ride itself. 

After Harriet’s indignant ejection, the group is then joined by Bruce, who is similarly ejected by the ghosts before returning. Vowing to stay, the group collectively decides to spend the night in the mansion during their investigation. Despite his weakened heart, an undeterred Bruce survives an encounter with a ghost bride before locating the ghost of Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis), whose spectral head resides within a large crystal ball Bruce discovers in an attic trunk.

Note: I’ve been a fan of Danny DeVito since “Taxi” (1978-1983), though I think his character of Bruce feels like perhaps one character too many.  When it comes to haunted house stories, I think smaller casts are more effective and isolating (i.e, the quartet of 1973’s “The Legend of Hell House”).  All the same, DeVito adds his own unique charm to the movie, and I welcome his presence—whether the movie really needed him or not. 

The disembodied ghostly head of Leota sheds more light on William Gracey and the history of the mansion.  Gracey first employed Leota to contact the spirit of his dead wife Eleanor every night over the course of a year, which had the unintended side-effect of unleashing hundreds of ghosts into the mansion, where they became trapped. But Gracey’s story didn’t end there; an unseen force then tricked him into committing suicide while trapping Leota’s soul within her own crystal ball.

Note: Former cinematic scream queen and current Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis (“Halloween,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once”) is a perfect choice for Madame Leota, with a more forceful presence than the breathy-voiced Jennifer Tilly from the 2003 original.  It’s also nice to see Curtis tackle a horror movie (albeit a horror-comedy) that isn’t a damn “Halloween” sequel (clearly I’m not a fan of David Gordon Green’s “Halloween” reboot trilogy).  For the original Disney Haunted Mansion ride, “Madame Leota” was voiced by Eleanor Audley, who also voiced Malificent in “Sleeping Beauty” (1959) and Lady Tremaine in “Cinderella” (1950).

Harriet once again gathers the group for another séance where she hopes to astrally project herself into unseen corners of the house, but she ends up accidentally projecting Ben instead—sending him through the ‘corridor of doors’ (complete with animated paintings on the walls). During his discorporated sojourn, Ben meets the actual spirit of William Gracey (J.R. Aducci), from whom he learns the source of Gracey Manor’s malevolence; the infamous “Hat-Box Ghost” (Jared Leto). 

Note: Another major set piece from the ride is faithfully recreated in the movie’s Corridor of Doors, complete with animated artworks and an illusion of infinity.

Once back in his body, Ben becomes determined to learn the true identity of the Hat-Box Ghost.  The group first takes a collective breather as they prepare to spend yet another night in the haunted mansion…

Note: While the 2003 and 2023 versions of “The Haunted Mansion” are as different as any two movies based on the same idea can be, they do manage to have one or two elements in common, one of which is the formerly cowardly son who has to work up the courage to become a hero in the story.  In the 2003 movie, Marc John Jeffries played Eddie Murphy’s 10-year old son Michael, who is terrified of spiders, but is encouraged by his father and sister Megan (Ariel Alexandria Davis) to overcome his fears. In the 2023 film, Gabbie’s 9-year old son Travis, played by Chase Dillon, is similarly paralyzed by fear at the start of the movie.  We also learn Travis is bullied at school, during a later scene where he bonds with Ben (whom he comes to see as something of a father figure). Unlike Michael, Travis suffers most from his own lack of self-esteem following the death of his father.

The next morning, Ben and Bruce decide to take this very cold case to the police.  With astrally-projected ‘eyewitness’ Ben unable to get an exact match for William Gracey’s murderer in photos, a sympathetic-yet-condescending cop asks Ben and Bruce what they would do in his place. Ben suggests using a sketch artist.  Based on Ben’s description, the sketch artist (Dan Levy) makes a comically exact sketch of the entity, who is eventually identified as one ‘Alistair Crump’; a wealthy young man who suffered abuse from his father after the death of his mother.  Upon exile from the estate, Crump jealously stalked and killed other wealthy elites to avenge his outcast status.  Crump was eventually beheaded by servants who turned against him.

Note: The sketch artist scene, with “The Daily Show” costar Dan Levy as the artist, is a clever sight gag.  Another interesting aspect to Alistair Crump’s backstory is the fact that he was abused by his father, which makes the vengeful ghost oddly sympathetic, while delivering an evergreen message; abuse too often begets abuse. In this way, Crump’s fate as a bullied/abused young man acts a warning for those who’d bully or abuse kids like young Travis.

Back at Gracey Manor, the ghost-hunting group learns they need to find some artifact of the late Alistair Crump’s to exorcise his ghost from the mansion. Ben, Kent and Travis decide they need to reach Crump Estate, which has become a tourist site, in order to retrieve Crump’s hat—which is rumored to be on the grounds.  However, the malevolent ghost of Crump has locked down all exits from Gracey Manor. As they try to escape the main reception room, it walls stretch and distort, making their escape all the more challenging. Eventually, Ben, Kent and Travis make their way outside and head for Crump Estate…

Note: Another famed set piece from the ride is successfully translated onto the big screen; the Haunted Mansion ride’s Stretching Room—a cleverly disguised elevator—is now a (literal) escape room. Once again, this new version of “The Haunted Mansion” successfully incorporates elements from the ride into the story, instead of using them only as occasional set dressing.

Once at the Crump Estate, the trio learns that the Mariner ghost (which haunted Ben earlier at his apartment) has followed them.  The Mariner tells them Crump is seeking a voluntary, living sacrifice to become Gracey Manor’s thousandth ghost—which would free Crump from his confinement.  Breaking away from an unhelpful tour guide (Winona Ryder), the Mariner helps the trio locate a narrow crawlspace where they might find an authentic artifact of Crump’s.  With Ben and Kent too big to enter, they coax Travis into overcoming his fears and entering the crawlspace.  Travis locates Crump’s hat over his rotted skull, and takes it back with him. Their mission successful, the group returns to Gracey Manor…

Note: Seeing Winona Ryder in a cameo as the Crump Estate tour guide was a bit of a surprise. Ryder is perhaps best known for her roles in Tim Burton’s gothic horror comedies “Beetlejuice” (1988) and “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) as well as Netflix’s 1980s horror/sci-fi inspired series, “Stranger Things” (2016-present).  She also had a role in 2009’s “Star Trek” reboot as Amanda, the human mother of the half-Vulcan Mr. Spock.

Returning to Gracey Manor with the hat from Crump’s severed head, Ben and Kent then free Gabbie, Harriet and Bruce.  As they prepare to ritually exorcise Crump, the tricky ghost flings the hat into the burning fireplace, with Bruce managing to retrieve a small piece of it. Realizing Crump needs a voluntary sacrifice, Ben learns that he and Travis share something in common; they’re both grieving a recent loss; Travis for his father, and Ben for Alyssa.  Crump is planning on exploiting Travis’s angst, but Ben intervenes—convincing Travis to let go of his grief.  The movie then reaches a climax in Gracey Manor’s sprawling graveyard, as Crump faces down Ben and Gabbie with his army of 999 ghosts.  Meanwhile, the admitted fraud “Father” Kent—who isn’t really a priest—does a Spartacus on the ghosts; convincing them to turn on their master, Crump.   Fighting his own weakened heart, Bruce hurriedly delivers the final remaining piece of the hat to Harriet, who begins the exorcism ritual.  As Crump’s powers begin to weaken, the evil spirit tries to persuade Ben to cross over and become the thousandth ghost—so he can reunite with Alyssa.  But Ben has already made his peace with Alyssa’s loss.  With Crump’s final appeal a failure, Ben kicks the evil spirit into an open grave, banishing him into the underworld with a final burst of energy.

Note: The graveyard—one of the last stops on the Haunted Mansion ride—is wisely saved for the final confrontation of the film as well.

The extended coda of the film sees Ben returning to a teaching career, while ‘Father’ Kent finally becomes an ordained minister.  On his apartment doorstep, Ben sees a stray cat with the name “Tater Tot” on its collar; a reference to his late wife’s favorite food, which Ben takes as a sign that she’s still with him. Returning to visit Gracey Manor on Halloween, Ben finds Gabby and Travis successfully cohabitating with the house’s 999 ghosts, who are no longer under the evil influence of the banished Crump.  Ben is also pleased to hear that a newly confident Travis been elected to his student council, as he joins Gabbie, Travis, Kent, Harriet and Bruce around the large banquet table of Gracey Manor for a Halloween feast…the ghosts merrily dancing around them.

Note: This film is to the Haunted Mansion ride what 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” was to that attraction; a full-on epic treatment that smartly incorporates elements of the park ride into the script.  If there’s anything lacking in this version of “The Haunted Mansion,” it’s a Captain Jack Sparrow; a singular, colorful breakout character. The ensemble of this movie is a bit too busy for any one character to earn that status.

The End.

The Disneyland Ride Realized

I’ve attempted, in some small way, to offer a few comparisons between the Disneyland ride with some of the 2023 movie’s recreations.  Forgive the variable photo quality on my part, but it’s difficult to take non-flash photography in a deliberately-darkened venue, as your moving conveyance jostles you from side-to-side (!).  All the same, I hope these photo comparisons give some small sense of the ride itself, and of how faithfully the 2023 movie recreates it for the cinema.

All the beats of the ride are there, even if they’re out of sequence with the ride’s chronology.  The movie features opulently recreated versions of the Stretching Room (the cleverly disguised elevator where the ride begins), the Corridor of Doors (with animated paintings), the Dancing Ghosts in the Dining Room, the Graveyard, and the iconic Hitchhiking Ghosts. There’s even a version of the ride’s “Doom Buggies,” as rounded chairs are used by the ghosts to forcibly eject certain humans out of Gracey Manor.  Unlike the 2003 misfire, this version better incorporates elements of the ride into the story.

Summing It Up

“The Haunted Mansion” at Disneyland was, and is, one of my favorite attractions of the park. It just doesn’t feel like a trip to Disneyland if I don’t do the Haunted Mansion once.  The 2023 movie does a beautiful job of bringing the ride to life for the cinema (with considerably more heft than the 2003 version).  Sharing the same lighthearted ‘spirit’ as the ride (forgive the pun), the new movie even manages to include a bit of authentic New Orleans location shooting for atmosphere. 

The movie’s central characters Ben (LaKeith Stanfield), Gabby (Rosario Dawson) and Travis (Chase Dillon) make for a nice-enough central trio, and while I have no objections to the comedic side-characters of Kent, Bruce, Harriet and Madame Leota (all played to the hilt by their respective veteran actors), the movie does feel a bit too busy at times. When it comes to haunted house movies, less is usually more (see: “Legend of Hell House,” “The Changeling”). Shaving about ten minutes off in editing might’ve made the film a bit tighter as well.  Then again, even the Disneyland ride itself often has a long line to get inside, so chalk that nit up to my own impatience, perhaps… 

As the story of “The Haunted Mansion” unfolded, I was thinking how similar it felt to the recent horror sequel, “The Exorcist: Believer,” released earlier this month. Both movies feature young, widowed, agnostic photographers living in the southern United States (Georgia, Louisiana) who join unlikely groups of ‘experts’ to exorcise a powerful spirit and save a child.  While “The Exorcist: Believer” is an uninspired retread of the 1973 original, “The Haunted Mansion” is lighthearted, Halloween-spirited silliness the whole family can enjoy.  Of the two movies, “Haunted Mansion” more successfully delivers what it advertises.  Not a fair comparison, perhaps, but an honest one.

Like the ride, 2023’s “The Haunted Mansion” delivers breezy, mildly-spooky entertainment for all ages, even if it’s a bit long and overproduced at times.  And while fans of Disney’s Haunted Mansion attraction will no doubt enjoy counting the various Easter eggs of the ride hidden within the film’s visuals, movie fans can just sit back and, well… enjoy the ride.  

Doom Buggy optional.

Where To Watch

“The Haunted Mansion,” both the 2003 and 2023 versions, are currently available to stream on DisneyPlus. The 2023 movie is still available in some theatrical venues for the Halloween season as well.