Starring: Chad Michael Murray, Abigail Spencer, Katee Sackhoff, Emily Alyn Lind
Director: Tom Elkins
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 100 minutes
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars
Let’s get this out of the way…what were they thinking with this title? I remember when I first say this film announced on Bloody-Disgusting and I just thought to myself “WTF, are they serious?” I understand that “The Haunting in Connecticut” was a very successful film but they could have easily have just called this “The Haunting in Georgia” and it would have gotten much more respect. It is based on a true story and in fact the film is quite awesome! Yes, I am serious. The film is scary and has about tons of really great jump moments. I mean seriously, a man can’t handle that much! The story itself might not be the most well thought out of the year but it delivers the scares and for me that is the more important. After watching as many shitty horror films as I do per year, this was easily one of the better and quite impressive. I don’t look forward to going to bed tonight though. I will look forward to the third installment “The Haunting in New York” for sure!
Director Tom Elkins gets his first time in the director’s chair with this film and really proves his knows what he is doing. He previously worked as an editor on films like “The New Daughter” and “Red Eye”, so he knows the genre quite well. Since he also edited this film, he succeeds in piecing the good parts together well and effectively. I can’t wait to see what his next directorial effort will be. Chad Michael Murray and Abigail Spencer both deliver strong performances or at much they can expect from a direct-to-video sequel. The star of the film for me is Emily Alyn Lind. She is absolutely amazing and might I mention only 10 years old! You might know here best from her roles in films like “Won’t Back Down” and “J. Edgar, as Shirley Temple” and her TV role in ABC’s “Revenge” as Young Amanda Clarke. She is going to be a huge actress for sure as she grows up, she keep an eye out!
Official Premise: Building on the terror of The Haunting in Connecticut, this horrifying tale traces a young family’s nightmarish descent into a centuries-old Southern hell. When Andy Wyrick (Chad Michael Murray, House of Wax) moves his wife Lisa (Abigail Spencer, TV’s “Mad Men”) and daughter Heidi to an historic home in Georgia, they quickly discover they are not the house’s only inhabitants. Joined by Lisa’s free-spirited sister, Joyce (Katee Sackhoff, TV’s “Battlestar Galactica”), the family soon comes face-to-face with a bone-chilling mystery born of a deranged desire a haunting secret rising from underground and threatening to bring down anyone in its path.
Lionsgate delivered a very impressive Blu-ray release for this film. It also comes with an Ultraviolet streaming digital copy. The 1080p transfer looks absolutely stunning within its 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The visual aspect of the film is a real home run and is well represented here. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track is also amazing. Yes, some of the jumps are a little cliche but it is effective and very scary. The special features are a bit of a let down though. There is an audio commentary track with Director Tom Elkins, Writer David Coogeshall and Co-Producer Brad Kessell, which is not bad. “Seeing Ghosts: The True Story of the Wyricks” is a cool feature for all ghost lovers. There are over 15 minutes of deleted scenes with optional commentary with Director Tom Elkins and also some outtakes. Lastly there is a trailer for the first film and the sequel.