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transcending the cliches...
by Bela L (movies profile)
Apr 7, 2007
64
of
73 people found this review helpful
This film transcends the concept of horror that we've come to know as of late. Amidst the gore of the texas chainsaw, the bumping in the night by the boogeyman and the death rattle from a stranger calling, this movie glues one to their seat.
More blood equals more scares? Hardly. In fact, An American Haunting delivers more goods than the slate of "horror" films of the last 25 years. How in the hell did this creep up on us like a bat out of hell?
The creative powers that be have assembled a stellar cast that includes horror veterans Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek playing John and Lucy Bell respectively. As for Betsy Bell, played brilliantly by Rachel Hurd-Wood and the professor played by Master and Commander's own--James D'Arcy. By all accounts, this is a dream cast that doesn't rely upon the tits and ass that seem to plague our multi-plexes as of late.
Bell Witch lore has been written and rewritten since the late 1800's and will most likely be scrutinized until the end of the time. The book that this film is based upon is lifted from a journal that was recently unearthed in 1998.
There are no 'Rings' or 'Grudges' or 'Emily Rose's' to compare this to. People seem to be comparing, but this just shows that they drifted through the film and didn't let the latent subtext reach them.
John Bell raped his daughter. That is as simply put as one can put it. We don't see him rape her, but we see karma in the form of a spirit that haunts him and the Bell Famuly until the tragic end. End of what you may ask? Well, one must visit the theater to see how it ends.
I commend this film for its efforts. Not since 'The Burning Bed' and Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting (1963)" has a film resonated so deeply. Transcending the basic principles of a psychological thriller and the a-typical horror schlock, An American Haunting cuts eep into your soul.
One must mention the beautiful cinematography by the late Adrian Biddle and admire his bleak and unsettling visuals. The darkness is as 'black as pitch' as John Bell would say and his light warms one's soul. A final job well done to a master craftsman and pioneer of cinematography.
Witnessing abuse in my household, I was gripped with awe and wonder at the film's underlying message. With no lavish effects to bog the narrative down, the director maintains an eloquent balance of bumps in the night and character development. Donald's eyes are on fire and whenever he's on screen, he steals the scene. Even down to the way he says 'he's going to bed after he finishes his pipe', dread consumes one as you watch his menacing eyes move left to right. Something wicked permeates from his gestures and goes for the jugular.
Sissy Spacek turns in a wonderfully crafted performance, reminiscent of her role in "In The Bedroom" and ignites the screen with her docile mannerisms and utmost care for her young Betsy. Seeing her go from semi-passive to a very aggressive woman near the end, made me smile with delight.
And that leaves us to young Betsy. Beyond magnificent. Rachel Hurd-Wood turns in an award winning performance. Whereever she took herself mentally for some of the scenes in this film must have been scarier than hell. This is method acting at its finest. Not since seeing little Gage in stephen king's 'pet semetary' have I felt morbidly terrified for the circumstances surrounding a young actor's scenes.
An American Haunting packs an emotional punch that will leave a viewer spinning for days. I hope that audiences find this indie gem of a film before it leaves the theatres with the onslaught of mindnumbing hollywood films of 2006. Boo! |
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