Disney’s Haunted Mansion has officially materialized in theaters nationwide, unleashing 999 grim grinning ghosts upon audiences.
Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) directed the new live-action adaptation of the famous, long-running Disney theme park attraction from the screenplay by Katie Dippold (Ghostbusters, “Parks and Recreation”).
Bloody Disgusting spoke with Simien for the film’s release about capturing the unique tone of the dark ride and what stars Lakeith Stanfield and Chase Dillon brought to the production.
The family-friendly feature emphasizes humor, but Haunted Mansion doesn’t shy away from inducing frights or tugging at the heartstrings.
Simien took the gateway scares seriously, stemming from his lifelong love of horror that began in childhood. The director’s origins with horror give insight into his approach to crafting gateway scares that don’t talk down to the film’s younger audience.
“One of my core memories is watching Nightmare on Elm Street at five years old.
Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) directed the new live-action adaptation of the famous, long-running Disney theme park attraction from the screenplay by Katie Dippold (Ghostbusters, “Parks and Recreation”).
Bloody Disgusting spoke with Simien for the film’s release about capturing the unique tone of the dark ride and what stars Lakeith Stanfield and Chase Dillon brought to the production.
The family-friendly feature emphasizes humor, but Haunted Mansion doesn’t shy away from inducing frights or tugging at the heartstrings.
Simien took the gateway scares seriously, stemming from his lifelong love of horror that began in childhood. The director’s origins with horror give insight into his approach to crafting gateway scares that don’t talk down to the film’s younger audience.
“One of my core memories is watching Nightmare on Elm Street at five years old.
- 7/28/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Disney’s Haunted Mansion seeks to course correct from its looser adaptation of the famous theme park dark ride in 2003 with a new, much more faithful feature-length adaptation. That’s a tall order considering the original attraction opened in 1969, amassing decades’ worth of lore and history within its hallowed, spooky walls. Yet director Justin Simien and writer Katie Dippold carefully thread 999 happy haunts into a cohesive but densely packed storyline that brings every bit of the grim grinning ghost funhouse antics, mythology, and details you’d expect. But it’s Simien and Dippold’s poignant approach to grief and death that solidifies their Haunted Mansion as worthwhile gateway horror for a new generation.
Once a promising young scientist, Ben (Lakeith Stanfield) now drinks his life away when not leading ghost tours in New Orleans. Ben’s deep in the throes of grief, trapped at a crossroads after his beloved wife’s passing.
Once a promising young scientist, Ben (Lakeith Stanfield) now drinks his life away when not leading ghost tours in New Orleans. Ben’s deep in the throes of grief, trapped at a crossroads after his beloved wife’s passing.
- 7/25/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Lakeith Stanfield, and Owen Wilson in Haunted Mansion.Photo: Jalen Marlowe
It would be interesting to see the version of Haunted Mansion that star Lakeith Stanfield seems to think he’s in—one where his jaded, grieving, scientist-turned-wannabe believer in ghosts could see his grounded performance...
It would be interesting to see the version of Haunted Mansion that star Lakeith Stanfield seems to think he’s in—one where his jaded, grieving, scientist-turned-wannabe believer in ghosts could see his grounded performance...
- 7/25/2023
- by Luke Y. Thompson
- avclub.com
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