Summary Director Justin Simien’s reboot of Haunted Mansion is a visually scrumptious adventure that blends silliness and entertainment with an underlying theme of grief. The film’s script beautifully captures how grief affects people differently, exploring the main character’s struggles with giving up on his passion and clinging to routine. Haunted Mansion strikes a great balance between horror and comedy, with the cast’s commitment to silliness making the farcical moments work, and LaKeith Stanfield’s standout performance reminding us of his talent.
Editor’s Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the show being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Director Justin Simien, most recognized for his directorial debut, Dear White People, continued his dark comedy writing skills with Bad Hair in 2020. Though not as acclaimed as his debut, his second feature enabled him to play around with the horror genre while maintaining a playful and satirical style in his storytelling. Simien’s latest feature sees the director helm a reboot of Haunted Mansion, which is based on the classic Disney theme park attraction. Thanks to a fun and simple script, enhanced by Simien’s exhilarating and creative direction, the film is a welcomed surprise that is great for the entire family.

LaKeith Stanfield stars as Ben, a former paranormal investigator turned local New Orleans tour guide after a personal tragedy left him unenthusiastic about his career. Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) is a single mother looking for a fresh start for her young son Travis (Chase W. Dillon). Unfortunately for them, their new house is filled with spirits who refuse to leave, seemingly due to some unfinished business. With the help of Ben, an unusual priest named Kent (Owen Wilson), and local psychic Harriet (Tiffany Haddish), they traverse through the mansion seeking answers to determine, once and for all, what’s keeping the ghosts in this realm.

Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, and Danny DeVito in Haunted Mansion

This Haunted Mansion reboot is a win, and it stands out during a time when remakes are becoming too prevalent with very little quality to justify their existence. With Katie Dippold’s screenplay, this director-writer duo has created a visually scrumptious adventure great for all ages. Though it’s easy to recognize the silliness and entertaining elements scrambled throughout the film, this reboot is more than meets the eye thanks to its underlying theme of grief. With nicely written characters, all with vibrant personalities, everyone gets their time to shine, demonstrating that a film containing a star-studded cast doesn’t have to compromise on the quality of its writing.

Dippold’s script also beautifully encapsulates how grief can affect people differently. For Stanfield’s Ben, that means giving up entirely on his passion and holding onto a routine that consistently brings him pain over comfort. With such a heavy topic explored throughout this horror comedy, it may be difficult for viewers to see how it could be appropriate for all ages. Yet, Simien and company do an exceptional job making this friendly enough for young horror fans while also adding cleverness to its storytelling and referencing. The resulting balance is evident through his direction, as he transitions in and out of horror and comedy with style and timely effectiveness.

Jamie Lee Curtis in Haunted Mansion

At times, Haunted Mansion leans into farcical territory, especially during the moments the team has to literally battle certain ghosts. Yet, somehow, it all works thanks to the stellar cast’s commitment to being silly onscreen. Stanfield, in particular, is an enormous standout. Fans of the Sorry to Bother You actor won’t be surprised with his ability to lean into heartfelt moments, and even silly ones. But here, Stanfield goes above and beyond, reminding us of his talent and showcasing that nothing on his long list of great performances is a fluke. The supporting cast also provides all the laughter and entertainment you could want out of such a horror comedy. Truly, it appears that everyone was having the time of their lives.

A fun film for all ages, Haunted Mansion may be the remake you never knew you needed. The feature is full of great laughs and some age-appropriate scares that will keep viewers of all types glued to the screen. While heavy on cheese and silliness, screenwriter Katie Dippold is never afraid to discuss an important topic like grief through her characters. It brings a realistic element to the film and balances out some of the fantastical elements. Haunted Mansion may not break any barriers when it comes to storytelling, but thanks to a dedicated cast and their commitment to their characters’ vivid personalities, you can’t help but smile throughout.

Haunted Mansion is in theaters Friday, July 28. The film is 122 minutes long and rated PG-13 for scary action and some thematic elements.