Top 13 Haunted House Favorites
Steve Barton
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Session 9 (2001)
Sound is such an integral part of making something scary. Mercedes McCambridge’s voiceover work in The Exorcist is every bit as important in making Regan into the incredibly scary monster that she was as any prosthetic or makeup. And in Session 9, so much of what is frightening is on cassette tapes. And, of course, the voice we keep waiting to hear in Mary Hobbes’ sessions is Simon’s. And Simon turns out to be just the malignant, malicious force he is billed as by Mary’s other personalities. Now, whether you believe Simon was actually one of Mary’s personas or a genius loci (spirit guardian) of the Danver’s State Mental Hospital, one thing is certain: some vicious and vindictive entity was exerting its will on the workers in that hospital, and director Brad Anderson did a fantastic job bringing it all to life in the outstanding Session 9.
1408 (2007)
A less famous Stephen King-penned haunted hotel jaunt, 1408 was adapted from a short story with the same name. It seems that King just has a knack for dreaming up haunted locations. Starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, 1408 is the kind of movie that gets into your mind and grows roots, especially if you’re a parent. The scenes of Cusack’s character, Mike Enslin, with the ghost of his deceased daughter are absolutely haunting and are, without a doubt, the most powerful parts of 1408. The manic, disjointed dream/haunting sequences of the movie really draw the viewer into the story and create an atmosphere where you can believe you are watching a man actually experiencing a true haunting and losing his mind. Powerful and memorable.
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Michelle Pfeiffer was unforgettable in that Catwoman getup, but her performance in What Lies Beneath was quite impressive as well. And the film itself takes audiences by surprise. How scary can a movie starring Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford be? Turns out the thing was pretty damn scary. Brilliant director Robert Zemeckis seemed to know exactly what buttons to push to build tension and suspense. The telltale doorknob opening on its own repeatedly signaled to viewers that it was time to sit up because something scary was coming. And how great was Ms. Pfeiffer delivering that classic line, “I think she’s starting to suspect something.” “Who?” “Your wife.”
House (1986)
William Katt was “The Greatest American Hero,” and he was a damn fine ghost hunter as well. Katt starred as Roger Cobb and headlined House, a film with a cast of crazy characters, ghosts, beasties, and baddies. Additional cast members included George Wendt and Richard Moll, but the real thrill of House was in the creatures doing the haunting. Moll’s Big Ben was great, but it was Sandywitch that really stole the show. She was one of the more gruesome supernatural beings you’ll ever find, but check out the clip; she definitely had the bosom to fill out the skimpy lingerie she wore. Horror-comedy has been all the rage lately and many filmmakers are now doing it well. House was a successful horror-comedy in 1986 when good films in that sub-genre were hard to come by.
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