The Haunted Mansion (2003)
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A workaholic realtor and his family become trapped in a haunted mansion where they must uncover the truth behind a century-old curse.
The story
Successful realtors Jim and Sara Evers, along with their young children, stop at Gracey Manor during a road trip to a nearby lake. They meet the owner, Edward Gracey, and his servants, who offer them a place to stay during a thunderstorm. While exploring the mansion, the family discovers a spectral orb and learns about the mansion's inhabitants, who are ghosts cursed a century ago. Jim becomes separated from his family and encounters Madame Leota, a ghost who reveals that the mansion's inhabitants can only enter the afterlife if the couple who cursed it is reunited.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Jim and Sara Evers, a workaholic realtor and his wife, stop at Gracey Manor with their children, Megan and Michael. While staying there during a storm, Jim is separated and meets Madame Leota, who explains that the mansion's inhabitants are ghosts cursed a century ago by the deaths of Edward Gracey and his lover, Elizabeth Henshaw. Leota reveals Sara is believed to be Elizabeth's reincarnation. Jim and Megan find a key in a crypt, while the children find a painting of Elizabeth. It is revealed that the butler, Ramsley, murdered Elizabeth to keep Edward from abandoning his heritage. Ramsley traps the children and throws Jim out, enchanting the house to keep him away. He blackmails Sara into marrying Edward. Jim breaks in, rescues the children, and stops the wedding. He reveals Elizabeth's murder letter to Edward. Ramsley summons wraiths, but a demon drags him to Hell. Sara is poisoned, but the spectral orb possesses her as Elizabeth, allowing her and Edward to reunite. The curse is lifted, and the Evers are given the deed as the ghosts depart for Heaven.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 88
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Minkoff
- Writers
- David Berenbaum · writer
- Cast and characters
- Eddie Murphy · Jim Evers; Terence Stamp · Ramsley; Nathaniel Parker · Master Edward Gracey; Marsha Thomason · Sara Evers / Elizabeth Henshaw; Jennifer Tilly · Madame Leota; Wallace Shawn · Ezra; Dina Spybey · Emma; Marc John Jefferies · Michael Evers
- Genres
- supernatural horror comedy; black comedy; children's; comedy horror; fantasy comedy; supernatural
- Themes
- grief; family; curse; afterlife
- Tone and mood
- atmospheric; family romp; chilling
- Premise and plot tags
- haunted house; reincarnation; ghosts; murder mystery
- Source material / true-story basis
- Disneyland attraction of the same name
- Franchise connections
- The Haunted Mansion
- Content notes
- ghosts; zombies
- Reception
- The film received negative reviews from critics but performed well at the box office and has since developed a cult following.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 14% · review count: 140; Metacritic · score: 34 · scale: 100 · review count: 34; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film features five 'Hidden Mickeys' throughout.; The character of the Ghost Host was cast as a tribute to Paul Frees.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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