SYNOPSIS
A grieving widower rents an aging mansion on the other side of the country in an attempt to clear his head, only to discover it is haunted by the ghost of a young boy.
OPINION
This is one of those movies that stakes its reputation on a single scene. You'll figure out which one quickly - it's the one on the cover, and the poster, and... But it's not a gimmick film - it's a solid ghost story about spirits that must be laid to rest, real archetypal stuff. And just as you think it's about to end, there's one final twist to kick things into high gear and carry you through to the finish line.
CAST + CREW
Director: Peter Medak
(A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The Krays, Species II)
Cast: George C. Scott (Dr. Strangelove..., The Exorcist III)
Trish Van Devere (One is a Lonely Number, Where's Poppa?)
CONTENT (spoilered; highlight for warnings)
violence against children, antiques, family death, exhumation
CAREER STATS [on a scale from 1 (least) to 10 (most)]
FUN: 7
Good spooky stuff. Never drags. Great for groups!
SCARINESS: 8
You will develop wheeled-chair-phobia. The older, the scarier.
INTENSITY: 4
Consistently spooky, but nice, gentle, Sunday-evening spooky.
RECOMMENDABILITY: 8
A haunted-house classic that you can actually show the family!
SEE ALSO:
Pin, The Legend of Hell House, House (1977), House (1986)
