Disney’s highly-anticipated film, “Haunted Mansion,” had its world premiere without actors due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. The first reactions to the film, directed by Justin Simien, have started pouring in.
Inspired by the classic ride at the Disneyland Resort theme park, “Haunted Mansion” tells the story of a woman and her son who enlist a group of spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural beings.
Steven Weintraub from Collider praised Simien and screenwriter Katie Dippold for their work on the adaptation. According to Weintraub, the film is a must-watch for families as it manages to spook kids and make adults laugh. He also highlighted the abundance of Easter eggs referencing the ride that fans will enjoy.
POC Culture editor, on the other hand, called “Haunted Mansion” a love letter to the iconic Disney ride. They mentioned that the film is a family-friendly thriller with an outstanding cast led by LaKeith Stanfield. They also mentioned the fun cameos and jump scares that add to the overall experience.
The founder of Nightmarish Conjuring, Shannon McGrew, is still collecting her thoughts on the film. However, she commended the amount of heart in the movie, attributing it to the excellent writing of Katie Dippold. McGrew mentioned that the film tackles death and grief in a palpable way while balancing between humor and horror.
According to Joseph Deckelmeier from Screenrant, “Haunted Mansion” is an entertaining movie that the whole family can enjoy. He mentioned that the film offers fun scares for kids and numerous Easter eggs for eagle-eyed Disney parks fans.
On the other hand, journalist Laura Sirikul expressed her surprise that “Haunted Mansion” was released in the summer instead of around Halloween. She also mentioned that the film competes with “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” which are not necessarily meant for children. Sirikul praised the film’s quirky jokes and one-liners but noted that the first act was slow before picking up the pace.
The star-studded cast of “Haunted Mansion” includes LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, and Winona Ryder. Hasan Minhaj and Dan Levy also make appearances in the film.
“Haunted Mansion” is set to hit theaters on July 28, offering audiences a thrilling and humorous experience with nods to the beloved Disney ride.