It has been years since I've seen <I>The Haunting</i>, but there's plenty to say about it.
For starters, the cast is incredible. Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen WIlson, and Lili Taylor really pull it together during their time on-screen, forging a strong bond while the house comes to life, showing its true intentions.
Jan de Bont’s directing and eye for late-1990s special effects shine as the interior (of the large house) is beautiful and maze-like, taking viewers along on strolls or chase scenes through corridors long forgotten or never traveled. <A HREF="http://www.dreadcentral.com">Dread Central</A>'s <A HREF="https://letterboxd.com/chadiscollins/">Chad Collins</A> wrote a <A HREF="https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/458639/digital-ghosts-and-stunning-architecture-in-the-haunting/">fantastic article about the architecture</A>, stating that "the house is unequivocally the star". He's absolutely correct. Every piece of detail shown is nailed to perfection, including the statues and paintings, as is the cinematography that showcases it all.
I first saw the film in theaters (most likely due to a crush on Zeta-Jones, or possibly from Taylor's performance in <I>Ransom</I>), enjoyed it, and have not seen it since (until this review). The reveal, which I will not spoil, came very late into the film, and allowed us to see how and why Taylor's character was so important, although, and this being my only complaint, I believe she could've been more present instead of, in my view, mostly aloof and unconvincing.
Overall, beautiful structures, special effects, and one of the most beautiful sets I've seen on film (for a 90s film that didn't rely on cheap CGI) saved <I>The Haunting</i> from falling into my one-star review hell, so I suggest giving it a watch and allowing your eyes to experience de Bont’s adventure.
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