Plot: After a family is forced to relocate for their son’s health, they begin experiencing supernatural behavior in their new home, and uncover a sinister history.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Good Horror
Story: The Haunting in Connecticut starts as we meet the Campbell family mother Sara (Madsen), Father Peter (Donavon) and the tragic story of their cancer stricken son Matt (Gallner) they have also adopted Mary (Knight) with babysitter Wendy (Crew). To make the trips to the hospital becoming difficult the family decides to move closer to Connecticut.
Moving into the new house Matt starts seeing things around the house but he also knows if he admits seeing things he will be taken off the trial. With the visions becoming more frequent Matt turns to fellow sufferer Reverend Popescu (Koteas) to understand what these spirits want from him as he starts becoming distant to his whole family.
The Haunting in Connecticut is a horror film that parallels the realism of cancer with haunting, the idea that Matt knows he is seeing things but knows the effects if he admits it, this helps the story as we are led down a path of what is real or in his head. The problem with this comes to the fact it has to all be real for it to be an actual horror. The scares are well built up but do feel separate from the story. this is an enjoyable horror and has plenty of scares too.
Actor Review
Virginia Madsen: Sara is the mother of the family that has to take her son on long distance trip to the hospital to treat his cancer. Tired of the trips she decides to move the family closer but this will test the family more as we see them starting to get haunted by the new house. She has to remain strong through the testing time. Virginia is good in this leading role where we do know she is good in most horrors.
Kyle Gallner: Matt is our cancer victim that upon moving and starting new treatment starts having visions of something horrific in the house. As this become more frequent he tries to communicate to see what these spirits want but can he handle their answer? Kyle is good in this role as we see him going through everything.
Elias Koteas: Reverend Popescu is a fellow cancer victim but does understand what Matt is going through and offers to help deal with the demons inside the house. Elias is good in this role but I feel we need to see more from his character.
Amanda Crew: Wendy is the live in babysitter and niece to Sara, we never truly understand why she has moved in with them but she helps Matt try to get to the bottom of the mystery inside the house. Amanda is solid in this role and is the only one that tries to uncover the truth.
Support Cast: The Haunting in Connecticut has a supporting cast that includes the rest of the family and spirits keeping everything feeling like a family problem rather than overall haunting.
Director Review: Peter Cornwell – Peter does give us a good horror that has plenty of scares and a story that keeps us engaged.
Horror: The Haunting in Connecticut has well built up horror moments which contains shock moments.
Mystery: The Haunting in Connecticut does give us a ghost investigation style mystery as we learn what happened in the house.
Thriller: The Haunting in Connecticut does keep us on the edge wondering where the next horror moment will come.
Settings: The Haunting in Connecticut keeps most of the film inside the house which helps for the horror.
Special Effects: The Haunting in Connecticut has great effects that are used for the horror side of the film.
Suggestion: The Haunting in Connecticut is one for the horror fans to enjoy. (Horror Fans Watch)
Best Part: The research actually makes sense and is achieved in a library only.
Worst Part: Certain horror moments seem random.
Believability: Based on a true story.
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: Has one.
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes
Tagline: Some things cannot be explained.
Trivia: Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren, who are known for involvement in The Amityville Horror case, were investigators for this case.
Overall: Enjoyable horror that has good moments throughout.
Rating
