disclosure: I received a digital code for Disney’s Haunted Mansion in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was provided.
Halloween is almost here, and Disney movies are a fun way to celebrate. This year, be sure to add Disney’s Haunted Mansion to your family’s Halloween movie nights. With a star-studded cast, this movie is sure to please everyone. This is not the first time the tale of the Mansion has been shared on the big screen, but this iteration may be as close to canon as fans can get.
About Disney’s Haunted Mansion
Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, Haunted Mansion tells the story of Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), a single mom, who discovers that the home she and her son share is haunted by irksome ghosts. Hoping to restore domestic tranquility, Gabbie recruits a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid the house of the supernatural squatters. A non-stop blend of action, adventure and comedy featuring an all-star cast that includes LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto, Haunted Mansion was written by Katie Dippold and directed by Justin Simien. The film’s producers are Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, with Nick Reynolds and Tom Peitzman serving as executive producers.
What I Thought
Disney’s Haunted Mansion was surprisingly enjoyable. The 2003 version was ok, but the new version felt like it honored the story behind the Mansion and the characters involved. The movie does run a bit lengthy at 123 minutes. I did feel that the there were parts that ran extensively.
Disney’s Haunted Mansion carefully constructs a back story for Master Gracey and explains why Madame Leota’s head is floating in a crystal ball. Many cameos from the attraction can also be found throughout the film. The only problem I have is the inconsistency between this Haunted Mansion and the story from 2003. Hopefully, a newer version with a different story will not pop up in 20 years.
This is definitely a movie we would rewatch around the Halloween season.
Bonus Features
Watching movies at home always has perks – like unlimited snacks and bonus features! Bonus features for Disney’s Haunted Mansion does not disappoint. Just make sure that you budget enough time to enjoy them. The movie itself runs 123 minutes, and the two featurettes run a total of an extra 20 minutes.
FEATURETTES:
- Making Haunted Mansion (13:05) Hear from cast, crew and filmmakers about creating this grim grinning adventure based on the world-famous ride. See how the ghosts were “brought to life,” what role new technology played, and how the wildly popular attraction inspired the film’s design.
- 999 Happy Haunts (7:05) There are 999 Happy Haunts inside the Disney Parks’ attraction…but always room for one more! See all the Easter eggs (well, maybe not all of them) where characters big, small, alive, departed, human and otherwise appear in both the movie and the ride.
DELETED SCENES:
Take a look at some moments that passed on before the final version of The Haunted Mansion was finished.
- Carol (0:45)
- 1 Star (0:44)
- Harriet’s House Of Intuition (3:11)
- They Say The Place Is Haunted (1:16)
- Between Realms (1:42)
- Crump Manor (1:07)
- Emergency Baptism (1:01)
- A Good Head For Business (0:32)
GAG REEL:
Who knew making a scary movie could be so funny!
*Bonus features vary by product and retailer
How to Watch Disney’s Haunted Mansion
Bring the haunt home and add Disney’s Haunted Mansion to your movie collection. The film is available on all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu/Fandango and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and on Disney+. Disney’s Haunted Mansion is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and scary action.
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
