Film Reviews

The Haunting In Connecticut

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Elias Koteas
• Details: US/92mins (15A)

Horror has been a strange place of late, with most installments in the genre being either a sequel to a poorly realised franchise (Saw), or a reboot of a once classic entry (Friday the 13th, Halloween). The Haunting in Connecticut must be commended for the almost old school approach it takes to its subject matter; but despite a couple of decent scares, and some foreboding ambience, this is far too incoherent and poorly scripted to work on any other level other than the most basic.

The story, we're informed at the beginning, is based on actual occurrences surrounding a family who move to a house with an elaborately morbid past, in order to be closer to the hospital where the eldest son is being treated for cancer. We're informed early on that his chances of dodging the boney finger of The Grim Reaper are slim, but that a new pioneering medical study might offer a miracle cure if he reacts well to the drugs. On the downside to said miracle cure, he can also start hallucinating - this is where things start getting a little Amityville. See, apparently, those close to the pearly gates are more susceptible to such types of occurrences, so the unfortunate youngster is, at first, the only one to see what is going on. But, of course, that all goes out the window as soon as the pacing gets too sluggish and we need to see some charred figures, jolting us from our chairs.

For the most part, this is a decently made film that is nicely shot and moderately well acted. But the character driven plot that the makers try so desperately to sandwich into the mix just never comes off. Characters act in a manner that completely serves the plot, simply so the film has a chance to scare; this is hardly something new, or even worth mentioning, but for the fact that it desperately wants you to become embroiled in their domestic turbulence. It's forced and awkward, and feels like an afterthought. Not worth your nine quid by any stretch of the imagination, it may warrant a watch on DVD.

Review by Mike Sheridan