The Haunting 1999
6/10
Three subjects (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson and Lili Taylor) are recruited for a sleep study to a huge scary mansion (HIll House) when really the professor (Liam Neeson) is studying fear. Haunty scariness ensues.
This film was almost universally strongly condemned. It's a loose remake of the popular 1963 film, which I think is a large part of it's poor reviews. I think most are overly harsh.
This film really shows off the spectacularly beautiful & enormous insides of Harlaxton Manor (Hill House), which the original mostly did not. The use of, & cinematography of the mansion is stunning. The characters are likeable (& it's always nice to see the breath-taking Catherine Zeta-Jones), but of little depth.
The first 3/4ths of the films play close to The Haunting original in general scene by scene 'haunting' fare entertainment, except the 1963 had a much better flair of subtlety. The ending quarter of the film inflicts a damaging simple, bland, awkward, SFX-heavy resolution. I wasn't satisfied with the 1963's puzzling ending, but this one was worse... for adults.
If you like beautiful interiors, and effective use thereof, and 'haunting' SFX, I think you'll enjoy the 1999 version. It's not very scary, but it is engrossing & pleasant mild entertainment.
Odd Thomas
6.5/10
"n a California desert town, a short-order cook with clairvoyant abilities encounters a mysterious man with a link to dark, threatening forces."
Reminded me The Frighteners a great deal. If you loved Frighteners (I didn't), I'm sure you'll like Odd Thomas. It hit me as a 'Supernatural' TV episode meets a '24' TV episode; and I enjoyed some of those eps much than this. Technically sound, nice SFX, good acting, well paced, & the unfolding mystery & events are mildly entertaining.
Personally, I think I found the film a bit too old-hat... contrasted with say, "John Dies at the End" which was much more cerebral, original, funny, twisty, etc. After the first 15 mins, the rest of it was a repeat of that; of which I was quite familiar. I didn't find it suspenseful, & found myself waiting for the end, which played as expected. There's nothing wrong with it, per say, just too standard for me.