Two dead boys (The Haunting In Connecticut [2009] (DVD))

Member Name: giksy21

Product:	The Haunting In Connecticut [2009] (DVD)
Date:	13/08/09 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: hard to say really. Can use the box to prop up a table?

Disadvantages: see the main body of the review.

We all like a good scare, yeah? I'm not talking about the shock horror tactics of hostel, or saw. I'm talking about a film in which the action takes a side seat, as the suspense builds up and kills you. So, with this in mind, a friend of mine lent me this film, as he said it was a good scare.

No, nerd that I am, I did a bit of research on the film before I watched it. Not to get any plot spoilers, or to look at any stills of the film. I checked it out because the front of the box said that the film was based on true events. Ever since Blair witch, I have loved the thought of a movie based on a real life event (or supposed real life event.). I think that it adds a lot to a film, and makes it somewhat more real if it really did, or potentially could happen.

Now, my internet trawling led me to some interesting info on the basis of the film. It seems, bizarrely enough, that there were alledged supernatural events in connecticut. The Snedeker family moved into a house in Southington, and soon realised that they were not alone. The case was taken up by the infamous paranormal investigative team, of Ed and Lorraine Warren. You can see all this stuff on their website, www.warrens.net.

The Warren's were probably more famous for their investigation into the Amityville horror (another real event.), but they had also investigated the house in Connecticut. They witnessed, and documented paranormal events, and found that there was equipment in the house that was used in a mortuary. It is believed that the activity stopped as a result of a seance led by Lorraine Warren, in 1988.

During the alledged events, the family were thought to have been raped, and sodomized by demons. Many accounts were taken of the sight of ghosts, and freaky events. Also there was a huge change in the character of the family's son. He became interested in domonology, and started to act strangely. This included a point where he was thought to have asked a neighbour for a gun to kill his step dad with.

Are these events the truth. Did this really happen? Well, I suppose we will never really know, but one thing is for sure. I have seen films based on worse stories! It seemed that they had picked a really interesting series of events, and used a bit of media spin to turn them into a potential melting pot, in horror terms. Would the film be good enough to live up to the story.

In a word, no. This film seems to have made the story too strong. Perhaps I spoilt it for myself by researching so much, but the film could never have been good enough, no matter who directed it, or starred in it. So, considering it was directed by, and starred relative unknowns, it never stood a chance.

=========== The plot ===============================

The plot, although touched upon, needs going over, as it varies from the true story somewhat. Matt Campbell is suffering from cancer. His mum takes him for groundbreaking therapy in Connecticut. She soon realises that the sheer distance between where they live, and the therapy is taking its toll on Matt. She decided to look for a rental house there, and finds one that is perfect, and for very small rent. It turns out that the house had a history! Soon after, Matt in particular starts to witness things, but it is put down as being hallucinations due to the treatment.

As the creepy history of the house becomes apparent, the apparitions start getting worse, and the bring in a holy man to find out what going on. They realise that the house was being used for demonic purposes, and that the souls here are angry. All that remains is to see if the Campbells will be able to stop the ghosts, or will the ghouls become too powerful?

========= My thoughts =============================

The idea was good. But to hype up a film so much, and then to produce such a poorly directed, and terribly acted film is a travesty. Its not to say that they did not have the budget. The acting is wooden, and shallow. No real emotion is injected into the performances. If I was really in a haunted house, you would know that I was bricking it. But with these guys, they may as well just have a bad dose of constipation. At least that would explain the pained performance.

The effects are not too great. Typical flash scenes, of gruesome sights. Ghosts walk accross mirrors, and then dissapear. Only the suspense is killed off, as the guy is on screen so long, you can almost see the price tag on the halloween costume he is wearing. There is no real build up to the plot. There is nothing, and then there is loads. No transitional period. Just that bloody annoying rhyme that Matt keeps saying. And the guy who plays the Reverend Popescu has got to be one of the worst character actors that I have seen in my life. So much effort was placed in the intricate media build up for the film, but it seems they may as well have burnt the money because the end product stinks.

For a realist like myself, the main problem with a haunted house story is that everyone involved in the story has to be incredibly stupid. The house is trying to kill you. Electricity flashing, shower curtains trying to suffocate you, ghosts creeping up on you. So, do you A. stay and get killed, B. stay and try and kill the ghosts, or do you C. RUN AWAY!!!!! I know which one I would go with. And the end result of this is that you are left watching the exploits of a group of stupid people, and you cannot help but think that they deserve all they get!! It would be different if something was holding them in the house, then maybe you might be sympathetic to their plight.

============ Conclusion =========================

In conclusion, there was a decent attempt to turn a typically boring, and unoriginal plotline into something more. But this has been wasted by not fufilling the promise set out by the media hype. If you promise big things, you have to deliver or you feel the wrath of the dissappointed viewers. I was one of those, and was quite annoyed at how well these guys managed to destroy a genre that I usually enjoy. A combination of poor acting, and useless effects and about as much suspense as watching paint dry, and you have The haunting in Connecticut. Eight producers collaborated to make this. Too many cooks? I think so!

Directed by Peter Cornwell

Produced by Scott Niemeyer
Norm Waitt
Steve Whitney
Paul Brooks
Daniel Farrands
Phyllis Laing
Wendy Rhoads
Andrew Trapani

Written by Adam Simon
Tim Metcalfe

Starring Virginia Madsen
Kyle Gallner
Elias Koteas
Amanda Crew
Martin Donovan
Sophi Knight
Ty Wood
Erik J. Berg
John Bluethner
D.W. Brown
John B. Lowe

running time 92 mins.

Available, quite cheaply at all good dvd stores. But I suggest saving the cash. G

Summary: A truly poor spook story.