Here's the premise: four people trapped in a very large and very spooky mansion that seems to have a life of its own. Add in a solid cast (Liam Neeson, Lili Taylor and Catherine Zeta-Jones) and a proven director (Jan de BontSpeed and Twister) and it sounds like a sure-fire idea for anyone in the mood to be scared. Unfortunately, the execution doesn't live up to the hype.
The set, built at a reported cost of $8 million, is undeniably impressive. Early on in the movie, the audience is taken on a tour of the house and the possibilities for terror seem vast. Unfortunately, much of the house is only so much window-dressing, as the movie focuses on some very hokey computer effects for the film's fright-inducing moments. The preview audience I saw the film with spent a lot more time laughing than shrieking. That's never a good sign.
J Robert Parks
