Trailer (quicktime)

Based on true events that took place in Tennessee during the 1800s, where an unrelenting demon haunts and torments a teenage girl and her wealthy family - An American Haunting is based on the alleged only documented true case in U.S. history of a spirit causing a person's death.  This is nice to know going into the film, because by the time it ends, you feel like whatever story you were following somehow ended without you knowing it, and you're left with a twist that gives Hollywood its ugly reputation for butchering screenplays.  Not every story needs a mind-blowing twist at the end.  Whoever thought up this one should be shot - or made to stand in the foyers of movie theaters, explaining to movie-goers why they had to pay over $10 for such a mincemeat horror film.

Its based on the Bell witch.  The legend of the Bell witch is wide and well-known, and whenever you take on a story that has widespread believers and fact-gatherers - you'd best try to stick to the story.  Esle youre left with An American Haunting - a self-serving horror film that plays like a great, mature haunting flick for about an hour.  And then everything decomposes before your eyes.  What began like a unique and well-acted horror-drama - something along the lines of a cross between The Exorcist, Amityville Horror, and Little House on the Prairie (which I was eventually able to accept) - ends up turning into a cross between those films and an afterschool special.

But the film succeeds in some areas, and isn't a total failure.  In fact, it was enjoyable to a point.  Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek seemed odd and outdated choices for a horror film - but their veteran acting brought the film to the heights it was able to reach.  Fans of model actors will scoff at first, but anyone interested in a good story that takes its time to develop will be pleasantly surprised.  The cinematography and the script dialogue were pro.  In fact, American Haunting was turning out to be a mature ghost story that could've survived on DVD shelves for a few years to come.  But what screenwriters Courtney Soloman and Brent Monahan did to the end of this story is atrotious. 

Ill border a spoiler here but I wont ruin it for anyone - but you should know something before going paying money to see this film.  The source of the angry spirit is not what you would think.  Don't expect American Haunting to make clear sense.  You'll be reaching through plot memories to try and justify or explain things.  And fans of the Bell witch?  This story is based a little more loosely than they would like you to believe, on what happened regarding that haunting.  Its almost as if they borrorwed a legend and used it to set up an ending to a movie that you had no idea you were going to attend...

That aside, the tension factor does mount itself a few times.  The screeching music and quick editing and screaming are always good for irritating nerves.  An American Haunting does use its drama and setting to do some things successfully.  I was sold on the time period of the story - the setting and non-sugar-coated acting of Rachel Hurd Wood (who was the shining star of this film) didn't insult your senses in any way - she was a good cast and saved this movie from completely tanking.  The "ghost-cam" scenes were sufficient.  Either a lack of special effects budget or creativity gave birth to that one - but it was effective and in all honesty, I like when you don't see the "antagonist" and your mind is left to fill in the blanks. 

An American Haunting also broke a lot of scary-moment myths that you see so often in horror movies, and this was appealing.  Just because mom and dad come running into the room with friends, the haunting does not end.  She is lifted up right before their eyes and brutally abused, cutting out that "its all in your imagination" angle that drags on between outsiders and the victims for too long in a lot of films.  Also, just because your friend is laying in bed with you, keeping you company, this witch/spirit does not wait for victims to be alone.  It just attacks - anywhere and anytime - and drags the child upstairs from out of the living room to about rape her in front of everyone who cares to watch.  The presence was very in the family's face - like in Poltergeist - and had you on your toes.

Final Analysis:  Mixed bag.  Seek out Gravedancers (review) if you want a good ghost story.  As a whole, this movie blew chunks - but if you sit through it, there are actors and actresses that carry you through an otherwise butchered and not-fully-accurate story about the Bell witch.  Poltergeist, The Exorcist, Amityville Horror, Little House on the Prairie, and an afterschool special, all rolled into one.  This is not a good thing.  Had it been Laura Engels in that bedroom, getting slapped around... now there's a movie!