I used to have a theory about public service. To guarantee that
the 535 representatives on Capitol Hill were truly serving the
public good, I thought that every other year, they should pull a
name out of a hat, and whichever representative or senator came
up, he or she would be summarily executed. I was young and
foolish when I crafted this theory.
There is really little to add to Ace's damning review of "The
Haunting". But after I saw this video, my theory was revived
in my mind, with the locale changed to Hollywood. I had my
fingers crossed as they pulled a name out of a box in front of
Mann's Chinese theatre, and Jack Valenti announced that
screenwriter David Self would be hung at 12:00 am.
This is the worst mega-budget monstrosity I've ever seen (and
yes, I realized I was extremist on "The General's Daughter"
a while back, but I was hasty: "The Haunting" is a much
worse film). How bad? Shortly after release, Liam Neeson told
some magazine that "The Phantom Menace" was his last
film (he recanted shortly thereafter). I'm guessing it had
nothing to do with "The Phantom Menace."
This is a film that a studio should apologize for.
This is a film that makes me think that Alec Baldwin was lying
when I heard him tell Charlie Rose that when a film doesn't work
out, "it's not like we planned to make an awful picture."
"The Haunting" is made more wretched because it is
purports to be a remake of an excellent supernatural/psychological
thriller. In actuality, the two films have little in common save
the title.
You almost have to see it to truly appreciate how bad it really
is.
Almost.
On the plus side, Catherine Zeta-Jones is in skimpy clothing most
of the film.
