Haunted Mansion (2023)
Director: Justin Simien
Screenwriter: Katie Dippold
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Chase Dillon, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Jared Leto
Haunted Mansion (2023) opens with LaKeith Stanfield’s Ben, a grieving and bitter former astrophysicist who now runs half-hearted ghost tours in memory of his late wife. Ben’s life is a study in unresolved pain: smart, cynical and emotionally withdrawn, he drifts through days that are heavier than his jokes. The film establishes him early as the central figure, a reluctant hero whose wounds drive the emotional core of the story.
Rosario Dawson plays Gabbie, a single mother who has relocated to the town with her son Travis (Chase Dillon). They purchase an imposing mansion that, implausibly for a recently unemployed single parent, comes with its own history—and a host of angry spirits. As the house’s hauntings intensify, Gabbie and Travis find themselves overwhelmed and desperate for help.
When an ordinary exorcism performed by Father Kent (Owen Wilson) fails, he recruits a mismatched team to investigate. Ben reluctantly leads the group, bringing with him a device from his scientific past: a camera lens that can reveal spectral presences. Joining him are Harriet (Tiffany Haddish), a flamboyantly dressed medium who struggles for respect, and Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito), a local historian whose physical fragility contrasts with his stubborn courage. The antagonist is a menacing dark spirit played by Jared Leto, whose return to power hinges on absorbing one more soul.
The film’s central conceit—an eclectic band of investigators confronting a single, escalating supernatural threat—is familiar. Audiences have seen similar dynamics: the skeptical scientist, the earnest believer, the comic relief, the wise elder. This film leans into those archetypes and occasionally flirts with fresh emotional beats, particularly around Ben’s grief and Gabbie’s struggle as a mother in crisis. However, many of the plot points follow predictable routes, and the narrative often feels like a checklist rather than a surprise.
One unusual choice is the film’s emotional center: the child Travis is not the story’s savior. Instead, the film places its stakes on adult trauma and redemption, with Ben taking on the role of protagonist who must confront his past to protect the living. That tonal decision creates mixed signals about the intended audience. Visual gags and lighter comedic moments suggest a family-friendly approach, yet themes such as existential dread, suicide, and graphic peril push the material toward a more mature sensibility. The result is a film that sometimes struggles to settle on a consistent tone.
Katie Dippold, the screenwriter, has a background that includes both comic and supernatural work. Her strengths show in occasional sharp dialogue and moments of clear character chemistry, yet the script often defaults to formula. The structure is serviceable but predictable: set-up, escalating hauntings, an assembled team, ritualistic confrontations and the final showdown. Several twists are telegraphed well in advance, which reduces suspense and robs climactic moments of impact.
The cast is uniformly capable. Danny DeVito brings a warm, weathered presence that grounds scenes with history and humor. Tiffany Haddish provides energy and a flair for comedic timing, while LaKeith Stanfield supplies the necessary emotional depth as a man battling grief. Rosario Dawson anchors the maternal stakes convincingly, and Owen Wilson’s easy charm lends a lighter counterpoint. Jared Leto’s villain is theatrically dark, though the character’s backstory and motivations are handled in broad strokes rather than nuance.
Where the film falters is in tonal balance and visual consistency. Special effects frequently skew toward the cartoony rather than the chilling, which undermines moments meant to be genuinely unsettling. Product placement and modern brand touches sometimes intrude on immersion, creating an occasional feeling that the film prioritizes commercial appeal over tonal cohesion. Despite engaging performances and intermittent moments of fun, the overall experience rarely rises beyond serviceable entertainment.
As a seasonal family-oriented supernatural comedy, Haunted Mansion can provide brief thrills and a few laughs, especially for viewers who enjoy seeing established actors in playful roles. But compared with classic family ghost stories that blend genuine warmth and creative scares, this version rarely reaches the emotional or imaginative heights one might hope for. It is watchable, and the cast makes the most of the material, but the film is unlikely to become a perennial household favorite.
Final assessment: the movie offers solid performances and a handful of enjoyable moments, but predictable plotting, inconsistent effects and an uncertain tone limit its impact.
Score: 15/24
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating: 3 out of 5.