Haunted Mansion Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A bunch of paranormal misfits decide to Airbnb a haunted house in New Orleans, only to realize the ghosts have a strict no-refund policy.

🍿 Haunted Mansion: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Gabbie and Travis Move In

Single mom Gabbie and her son Travis move into Gracey Manor in New Orleans, hoping for a fresh start. However, they soon discover the mansion is haunted by numerous ghosts. Unable to cope with the supernatural occurrences, Gabbie seeks help to rid the house of its ghostly inhabitants.

Enlisting the Experts

Gabbie hires Ben Matthias, a widowed scientist-turned-paranormal photographer, along with Father Kent, a quirky priest. They then recruit Harriet, a psychic, and Bruce Davis, a historian, to form an unlikely team of experts. Their mission is to uncover the secrets of the mansion and find a way to exorcise the ghosts.

Unraveling the Mystery

The team explores the mansion, encountering various ghosts and uncovering its dark history. They discover Madame Leota, a trapped spirit inside a crystal ball, who reveals the story of William Gracey and a malevolent entity named Alistair Crump, also known as the Hatbox Ghost. Crump has trapped 999 souls and seeks one more to escape the mansion.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield): A widowed scientist-turned-paranormal expert who is hired to photograph the ghosts in Gracey Manor.
• Gabbie (Rosario Dawson): A single mom who moves into Gracey Manor with her son, only to find it haunted.
• Father Kent (Owen Wilson): A conman posing as a priest who gets involved in the haunting of Gracey Manor.
• Harriet (Tiffany Haddish): A French Quarter psychic who helps the group rid the mansion of ghosts.
• Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito): A crotchety professor and historian who provides expertise on haunted houses and the mansion’s history.
• Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis): A legendary medium trapped in a crystal ball who helps the group understand the mansion’s haunting.
• Alistair Crump (Jared Leto): The Hatbox Ghost and malevolent spirit who is the primary antagonist, seeking to escape the mansion.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Gabbie: “Yeah, we gone.” – Gabbie says this after seeing the ghosts in the Haunted Mansion for the first time, realizing the situation is beyond her control.
• Gabbie: “I know this place isn’t as warm as I hoped. But I’m gonna light a vanilla candle, and it’s gonna be a game-changer.” – Gabbie says this, in an attempt to make the best of moving into a creepy and old mansion.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $150,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $67,653,287
• Worldwide Gross: $117,449,790

💥 Haunted Mansion Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this movie expecting a cheesy Disney flick, and honestly, I wasn’t totally wrong. But it has its moments! The visual effects were pretty cool, especially the stretching room scene. LaKeith Stanfield was surprisingly great, and I really felt for his character’s grief. I think kids will enjoy this a lot more than adults, but if you’re looking for some easy entertainment with a touch of nostalgia, give it a watch. It won’t blow your mind, but it’s a good time.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the Disney Parks’ Haunted Mansion ride”
  • “Those who enjoy family-friendly horror comedies”
  • “Viewers interested in ghost stories and paranormal investigations”
  • “Fans of the cast, including LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, and Owen Wilson”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild horror elements”
  • “Themes of grief and loss”
  • “Supernatural occurrences and spooky visuals”
  • “Some jump scares”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “While not a masterpiece, ‘Haunted Mansion’ offers a fun and spooky experience for families. The cast is charming, and the visuals are a treat, though the plot can feel a bit predictable. Perfect for a lighthearted Halloween viewing.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Critics agree that the new ‘Haunted Mansion’ adaptation is a missed opportunity. It is not as scary as it could be, and relies on familiar tropes. However, the cast tries, and younger viewers may still enjoy it.
• Common Sense Media: “This is a visually stunning movie with a mix of funny and scary parts. It tackles grief in a thoughtful way but might be too intense for very young viewers. It’s a fun family film if you’re prepared for some spooky moments.

Audience Reactions

Fans of the ride will love all the Easter eggs and references!: The film is a decent tribute to the Haunted Mansion ride, with plenty of nods to the original attraction.

The cast has great chemistry, especially the comedic performances by Owen Wilson and Tiffany Haddish.: The ensemble cast delivers solid performances, making the characters engaging and fun to watch.

Overall Consensus: A mildly entertaining adaptation of the classic ride, with some fun moments and a charming cast, but ultimately forgettable.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Gracey Manor in the film is specifically modeled after the original Disneyland Haunted Mansion, incorporating many of the ride’s iconic designs and architectural features.”
• “Crump Manor, featured in the movie, takes its inspiration from the Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World, offering a visual contrast to Gracey Manor.”
• “The filmmakers included numerous Easter eggs and subtle references to the Haunted Mansion ride, ensuring a faithful adaptation that would resonate with fans.”
• “The Disney’s 100th anniversary logo had several variations for the film. The actual film logo is brighter than usual and is desaturated.”

🖥️ How to Watch Haunted Mansion?

Haunted Mansion (2023) is available for streaming on Disney+. You can also purchase or rent it on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Haunted Mansion, you might like these similar films:

• The Haunted Mansion (2003): A direct comparison as it’s the original live-action film adaptation of the same Disney theme park ride.
• Ghostbusters (1984): Features a team of paranormal experts dealing with supernatural occurrences and comedic elements in a haunted setting.
• Beetlejuice (1988): Combines horror and comedy with a focus on a family dealing with unwanted ghostly inhabitants in their new home.

🛒 Haunted Mansion Related Products

• Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies: This book explores the history of the Haunted Mansion ride and its various iterations, including the recent movie. It includes concept art, behind-the-scenes photos, and interviews with the creative teams.
• Disney Parks Haunted Mansion Doombuggy Vehicle: A detailed replica of the iconic Doom Buggy vehicle from the Haunted Mansion ride. Perfect for display or adding to a Disney collection.
• Haunted Mansion Funko Pop! Vinyl Figures: Funko Pop! figures of iconic Haunted Mansion characters like the Hatbox Ghost and Madame Leota. Collect them all!
• Haunted Mansion Wallpaper Print: Recreate the spooky elegance of the Haunted Mansion with a roll of wallpaper printed with the ride’s signature pattern.

🎧 Soundtrack

Haunted Mansion features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “His Soul Left Gloss on the Rose” – performed by The Soul Rebels
• “Grim Grinning Ghosts” – performed by Eerie Music

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

July 2023 Movies Ranked!

Curious how Haunted Mansion stacks up against other summer blockbusters like Barbie and Oppenheimer? This video gives you a quick ranking of July 2023 releases – I was surprised by where Haunted Mansion landed!

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