Of all the horror sub genres, nothing hits home quite like a good haunted house flick. As much as I love dim-witted hotties getting mowed down by a social misfit, there’s just something spectacularly horrifying about an unwelcome presence invading the one place a person should be able to seek refuge. For me, the absence of special effects provides a more authentic feel. These movies vindicate the creaks and moans of an old building and give reason to question every bump in the night. Below are a list of movies featuring houses where not even Kid 'n Play would party.
The Changeling
Yes there was a movie directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Angelina Jolie that came out a couple years ago and no this is not it. This one came out in 1980. (That’s 30 years ago by the way!) OK, so here’s how the story goes...After losing his family to a traffic accident, John Russell (George C. Scott) relocates in hopes to start fresh. As a composer and music professor, Russell sets out to find a place he can call home. Of course, he stumbles upon an all-to-convenient, competitively priced mansion that has been abandoned for the last decade. Shortly after spending time there he realizes the catch, unexplained phenomena begin to occur. Alright I admit, the premise for The Changeling doesn’t sound very original, but as Russell follows the clues provided by these supernatural manifestations the results are extremely compelling. Suspense is generated not only through an anticipation of the next scare, but by the curiosity created by the plot’s unraveling.
Lady in White
Lukas Haas stars as Frankie Scarlatti, an intelligent child with an imagination unappreciated by his peers. After telling a scary story in class, a red-headed bully and his accomplice lock Frankie in the school’s coat closet after hours. Realizing an escape is futile Frankie consigns to spend the night. Like the movie Witness, Haas is at it again; seeing things he shouldn’t. The remainder of the film revolves around the mysterious and frightening scene Frankie observes. Paranormal activity occurs in a less traditional residence, a cliffside cottage. A great blend of a murder mystery, horror, and haunted house Lady in White is just as frightening as you remember.
Poltergeist
If you haven’t seen this Spielberg classic yet, now is the time. Everything you were scared of as a kid is brought to life. The dark corners, the top of the stairs, clowns--nothing is off limits here. Craig T. Nelson steps out of his coaching role to play the father of the Freeling family. Strange things begin to happening in and around their home. Fierce thunder storms, unusual electrical issues, animated objects, and hallucinations ensue. In one of the scenes that likely drove the MPAA to establish the PG-13 rating, Poltergeist plays on the fear some of us have when looking into a mirror in the dark. Viewers of the film will empathize with the family as they struggle to understand why they are being targeted. After watching this you’ll be grateful the digital TV’s of today no longer produce white noise.
The Shining
Having grown up in the Portland area, The Shining holds a special place in my heart. Surrounded by snow drifts and towering fir trees, the Timberline Lodge atop Mt. Hood can appear both eerie and majestic, depending on the day. Known in the film as the Outlook Hotel, the lodge attracts Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), an author hoping to find inspiration through isolation. Accompanied by his wife Wendy and son Danny, Jack pays the hotel a visit. Despite the caretaker’s warnings, Jack decides to check in. A vivid vision from Danny warns him of the terror contained within the hotel’s walls. Wendy’s re-telling of a time her husband flew off the handle give us a glimpse into what Jack is capable of. In true Stephen King fashion, the stage is set for something horrific. The audience is on edge. Jack’s work isn’t progressing and he becomes increasingly frustrated. Frustration turns into insanity. While most horror films rely on an external, anonymous attacker preying on a group of well-acquainted friends, The Shining presents us with a father/spouse as the antagonist--a result that is refreshingly disturbing.
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