Director: Vincenzo Natali
Writer: Brian King (Screenplay)
Starring: Abigail Breslin, Peter Outerbridge, Michelle Nolden, Stephen McHattie, Peter DaCunha, Samantha Weinstein, Eleanor Zichy
Plot: A teenager is stuck in a time loop that is not quite the same each time. She must uncover the truth but her actions have consequences for herself and others.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Nice Twist
Story: Haunter starts as we meet Lisa (Breslin) a fifteen-year-old girl who has to live through the same day over and over even explaining to her family Bruce (Outerbridge), Carol (Nolden) and Robbie (DaChunha) what is happening.
Wanting to breakout of this cycle Lisa starts seeing strange events happening around the house even though she keeps restarting her day. When Lisa also sees the day running differently it is the arrival of the Pale Man (McHattie) giving her a warning that pushes Lisa to look into uncovering the truth. Lisa knows she is dead and wants to communicate with the new inhabitants of the home as Lisa is only one of the victims of this killer.
Haunter brings a fresh approach to the ghost investigation sub-genre of horror because we are only used to seeing it on the living characters side but this time everything gets turned on its head as we follow the ghost trying to communicate with the living to help them. While this does take away any of the peril involved in the film it does make for a very interesting to follow mystery. I do also feel this is slightly lightweight for a horror film but still on that can be enjoyed.
Actor Review
Abigail Breslin: Lisa is our teenage girl that we follow living the same day over and over, she knows something isn’t right and when she figures out she is in fact dead she has to wonder why the living are communicating with her. Abigail is good in this leading role and the clear star of the show.
Peter Outerbridge: Bruce is Lisa’s father who is stuck inside this world where he has to constantly fix the family car. Peter is solid but really doesn’t develop the character enough.
Michelle Nolden: Carol is the mother of the family who is always has chores for Lisa to do. Michelle struggles like Peter to really make an impact in this role.
Stephen McHattie: Pale Man seems to be the man holding Lisa in this world even being the man that murdered the family. He is always staying one step ahead of Lisa being able to communicate between both worlds. Stephen does make for a good villain shining through this role.
Support Cast: Haunter has a small supporting cast which are mostly just the other victims that Lisa has to communicate with.
Director Review: Vincenzo Natali – Vincenzo gives us a lightweight horror with a really clever story that could easily be a one off television episode.
Horror: Haunter has very simple scares which do work but having our leading character being dead you just never feel any peril in the haunting side of the story.
Mystery: Haunter does use the mystery side of the story to its advantage making us truly wonder just what is going on within the household.
Settings: Haunter keeps us within the house for the whole story even if we arrive there at different times of crimes being committed.
Special Effects: Haunter has strong use of effects to blend the time periods using the times style of filming to its advantage.
Suggestion: Haunter is one I do think the horror fans out there will be enjoying but only if you like a good investigation style ghost film. (Horror Fans Try)
Best Part: Old style filing for final showdown.
Worst Part: You never really feel the peril because she is dead.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
Overall: Nice twist on the ghost investigation film.
Rating
