So I just got back from playing hooky this afternoon in a darkened movie theater watching The Haunting in Connecticut. It should come as no surprise to any of you even remotely familiar with me that horror is a passion of mine and I have loved and devoured movies in this genre since I was a wee lad. My parents used to warn me I'd get nightmares and be scarred for life.
They were right.
But all those horror movies through all those years has made me a bit of a jaded old fart when it comes to scary movies. I am sad to report that most horror movies are really just lame; calculated gross-outs, shrieking violins, and jump-out-your-seat "boos!" have really gotten rather old hat.
That's why when you come across a real gem, a movie that has it all, you rejoice in your own little dark and depraved way.
The Haunting in Connecticut has it all. It creeped me out, gave me some genuine shivers, even made me look away from the screen in terror a couple of times. Even better, it's well-written, well-acted, and has a great storyline, with a careful build up of suspense and dread.
I don't know much about the alleged "true story" upon which the film is based, but taken on its own, this haunted house tale is remarkably gripping and yes, even scary to this jaded old fart. At the heart is the timeless theme of the dead reaching out to the living because they want something from us. But you know the dead...they can't just come out and say what they want.
Damn passive aggressive ghosts.
Anyway, just wanted to give a two snaps up in a circle to The Haunting in Connecticut. And, on a personal note, this is one of the rare films where I can actually lay claim to knowing one of the producers. Daniel Farrands is a very cool guy who optioned my novel, IM a while back. Maybe the project fizzled because he was too busy with this one. But I'm glad he at least found something worthy to occupy his time away from bringing IM to the screen. Sigh. Maybe someday...
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Hey Rick! Welcome to blogger. I loved "A Haunting" the original was pretty darn chilling you can read a little bio here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_A_Haunting_episodes
ReplyDeleteMust admit, got all weepy during the ending.
Take care. xoxojess
Hey Jess,
ReplyDeleteThanks for following me over from MySpace. I'll check out the link and have already added the documentary about the case to my Netflix queue.
Man! This looks like great fun! I'm seeing Alien Trespass today - I'll see if I can find this for tomorrow, surely.
ReplyDelete- John Beck
Thanks for the recommendation, Rick.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the state of what passes for horror these days. So much so, I don't even watch anymore unless someone in the know (like you LOL) bothers to mention one he worth seeing.
Sounds like I need to find myself a movie date this weekend.
ali
My space blogging is pointless. I've moved everything over to FB, decided MS was great for listening and discovering great music. Oh wait? Wasn't that the original intention for MS? :)
ReplyDeleteI am taking a break from blogging but I will still be stopping by. xoxo
Enjoy the case study. It is fascinating.
This film was based on a story that appeared on the Discovery Channel. It was very creepy and this film completely did the story justice.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it yet... I do know that the story that plays out on the big screen is trumped up quite a bit from the original claims, but any claims about the supernatural are either flat out lies or they are what the individual perceives and is open to interpretation... its not like bringing a historical event to the big screen, then there is an obligation to be truthful to the events as they were recorded.
ReplyDeleteSince you give it two snaps up in a circle, I will definitely check it out.
As for IM.. maybe the project didn't fizzle. Maybe it just got put on the back burner. If this movie does well, it will give your friend more clout and freedom, which could aid in IM making it to the big screen... or even the little screen like on Logo. I'd take either :)
Call him up NOW and tell him I said he got his priorities bass-ackwards! IM first, superbly crafted quasi-true ghost stories later.
ReplyDeleteTwo smacks up in a bitch-slap circle for him!
;-)