Memorable, crazy movie

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

...I'm kidding...it sucked. 'Spoiler Alert, Spoiler Alert". 1800's, old house, family, evil MAN- HUSBAND, rapes daughter and she comes back as a ghost. Heard the story before? Sure you did. Man-bashing of the late 90's and early 2000's. Based on a true story? Sure and I enjoy swallowing vomit. I will say this was a clever concept the only thing missing was a writer. Plot, script, and originally were totally lost in this silly adventure. Tell me why The powers to be always have to sell out to lefty-pandering? Getting back to an earlier point, this thing was based on a real story which one? Ahhhh...you know...the one about a ghost in a house, yeah that one. Come on, all these ghost stories are loosely based on about 10 tales that are supposedly real scary stories. Wake up. Now I know some people may like this movie - why? Lack of taste maybe? Very sheltered living? Original thought for them is eating breakfasted? Or just slept through most of the movie like me? I don't know who they are or what they are taking, but keep that garbage away from me. I find it hard to believe that sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland signed on to do this un-flushed waste. That is unfair. It did seem as though it began OK, but after a few minutes soon found its way on the road leading to Badmovieville. For me it appeared these two main stars were really suffering to complete this horrible task. So do I recommend this movie? Let's see you have read my review so far and you have questions - really? Well then sure go ahead and watch this movie in demand to pay twice the price...you deserve it.

A divorced mother is living in the woods with her daughter suffering from nightmares. She finds a letter from 1848 by the previous occupant recounting the tale of the Bell Witch. It's 1817 Red River, Tennessee. The church finds John Bell (Donald Sutherland) of usury for charging 20% interest against rumored witch Kate Batts. However Batts doesn't get her expected reciprocity and vows revenge on him and his beloved daughter Betsy (Rachel Hurd-Wood).It looks good but there are few scares. The jump scares come with regularity which only makes it less scary. It's a lot of loud surprise noises and horror soundtrack. Sutherland and Sissy Spacek seem to be slumming it here in this one. This could work with Rachel Hurd-Wood front and center. Instead the movie starts with another girl in a different time period. It takes awhile to get to her and the movie keeps going back to the veterans. The reveal is problematic and a little bit confusing. This is a fair ghost story but it isn't scary.

The acting in this movie is not bad but what else would you expect with Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek in it? The real problem that I have with this film is it purports to be based on a real event. About the only things that are real here are the characters names. Some one decided to make John Bell the nasty rapist father. While common enough even back then I imagine, there is nothing to support this libelous assertion. In the actual legend the spirit is around for several years before Bell dies. This spirit becomes more and more understandable until it can be heard reciting sermons, scripture, bawdy songs, etc. It supposedly even carried on conversations with people. If that had occurred why wouldn't it have said something about the assaults? In this movie it is Betsy who is suppose to be projecting the spirit as a protest for the rapes. The end of the movie is a joke. As a later day relative reads the suddenly found letter about the events in 1817 her daughter is picked up by daddy for visitation. Then as they drive away the spirit appears and she goes running after the departing car. This is where this movie ends. If not for the really good acting I would have given it a three.

Being the Horror freak that I am, I like reviewing the films I watch, for future references as wall as for others to hopefully read and benefit.An American haunting is a ghost story attempting to raise fear in the hearts of spectators without using the common methods. Unlike other ghost films, no visible ghost with a creepy face is visible here, except for in one scene towards the end, and even then only for a second. Also, there was no use of the annoying "sudden occurrence + loud bass music" (and that's good, for I'm tired of directors using that cheat).So, while "playing fair" in trying to make us scared - the outcome was fairly disappointing. The story is good (though the film is based on a novel, so I could only be decent and give credit to the author for that, rather than the director or screenwriter). The turn of events towards the end was successful in catching me off guard. In the beginning of the film I actually guessed the information uncovered towards the ending, but the film did a good job in throwing me off and making me forget about it.Acting-wise, this film is a complete let down. Except for Mathew Marsh, whose vivid and true acting of religious/drunk James Jhonston was an island of comfort in a sea of let-down, the actors were mediocre at best. I'm not sure it was only the acting, perhaps also the direction... but the way the family reacted to the tragedy that befell them was as unrealistic as possible. It was like an unnatural disaster had happened, and their reaction is "meh, this isn't good..."All in all, I did enjoy watching An American Haunting, but wasn't at all spooked by it. The entire "horror" part was simply absent. Objectively - I wouldn't blame anyone who would't like this film one bit. However, if nothing more - it serves as a good "trailer" for Brent Monahan's novel, of which I wouldn't have known without this film, and which I'm now very curious to read!