‘Haunted Mansion’ Review: Disney Horror Comedy Channels Its Spooky Illusions from Original Ride
variety.comPeter Debruge Chief Film Critic For a few years there back in the early ’80s, Disney took a turn to the dark side, releasing live-action movies like “The Watcher in the Woods” (featuring a creepy late-career Bette Davis) and “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (from the mind of Ray Bradbury) that were intense enough to inspire nightmares — in kids, at least.
The youngsters of that time are now parents, and some are surely asking themselves how far they can trust Disney not to traumatize another generation when a movie like “Haunted Mansion” comes along.
Truth be told, the PG-13-rated feature — which marks the studio’s second big-screen adaptation of its spooky theme park attraction — isn’t really that scary.
Director Justin Simien (“Dear White People”) leans more on comedy than horror, bringing together a handful of funny stars to deal with Gracey Manor’s ghost problem.
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