Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion (2023) is a supernatural horror comedy film inspired by Disney's classic theme park attraction. The story follows a single mother, Gabbie, and her son, Travis, who discover their newly purchased New Orleans estate is inhabited by ghosts. To rid their home of the spectral residents, they enlist a diverse team: an astrophysicist-turned-tour guide, a psychic, a con man posing as a priest, and a historian. Together, this unlikely group confronts the mansion's ghostly inhabitants, including the malevolent Hatbox Ghost, who seeks to collect 1,000 souls.
Concerns
Witchcraft & Occult
HighThe movie heavily features occult themes, including séances, mediums, psychics, and ghosts. The plot's resolution relies on occult incantations and confronting a malevolent supernatural entity, presenting a worldview centered on engaging with the spirit world.
The central plot involves characters conducting a séance to contact spirits and consulting Madame Leota, a legendary medium, to resolve the haunting. The protagonists ultimately defeat the villain, Alistair Crump, by performing an "occult incantation," highlighting the reliance on non-Christian magical solutions.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe film's director, Justin Simien, is openly gay and Black, and has publicly stated his intention for the film to speak to his 'Black, gay spirit.' While there is no explicit LGBTQ+ romance, there are subtle allusions within the narrative and character portrayals, which some viewers and critics have noted as part of a broader 'queer' subtext in Disney's storytelling.
Director Justin Simien stated his goal to make a film that "fed my Black, gay spirit as a kid" and expressed pride in accomplishing this for "this audience." Additionally, Movieguide noted "two light homosexual references," specifically mentioning "a brief allusion to a possible lesbian attraction between two female characters who hold hands in one scene" and "a tour guide in a side location acts in an effeminate manner."
Violence
MediumThe movie contains frequent supernatural violence, including characters being attacked and chased by ghosts. While generally not gory, there are depictions of peril and implied harm, with the main villain being a serial killer responsible for multiple deaths.
The film features "frequent scenes of supernatural violence" where "people are chased by ghosts and attacked with a hatchet." The antagonist, Alistair Crump (the Hatbox Ghost), is depicted as a "demonic ghost villain and serial killer" who committed hundreds of murders and tricked William Gracey into suicide.
Substance Use
MediumThere is brief and implied alcohol use. A character is shown and implied to be consuming alcohol as a coping mechanism for grief, but there is no depiction of drunkenness or glamorization of substance abuse.
The character Ben Matthias is shown with "brief alcohol use," and it is implied that he is "drowning his grief in alcohol" due to his wife's untimely death. Additionally, multiple sources confirm that "characters are also shown consuming alcohol in the film."
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe film contains numerous jump scares and supernatural threats. Ghosts and eerie imagery are frequent, along with themes of death and grief. While intended as a horror-comedy, it is considered scarier than previous adaptations and features a menacing demonic villain.
The film incorporates various "jump scares" and "frequent scenes of supernatural violence" where characters are startled or threatened by ghosts. The primary antagonist, the Hatbox Ghost (Alistair Crump), is a "demonic ghost villain" aiming to acquire 1000 souls, creating sustained tension and peril for the characters.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe film presents a "strong occult worldview and false occult theology." While a character poses as a priest and uses Christian symbols, these elements are depicted as largely ineffective or superficial in comparison to the occult practices that drive the plot and its resolution. Mentions of Heaven and Hell are vague and not aligned with Christian theology.
Movieguide critiques the film for its "strong occult worldview and false occult theology," noting that while a character poses as a Catholic priest, the protagonists defeat the villain through an "occult incantation." Furthermore, the film's references to Heaven and Hell are described as "too vague and uncertain as well as not Christian or biblical."
Romance and Sexual Content
LowRomance and sexual content are minimal and largely implied. The primary romantic element is the protagonist's grief over his deceased wife, serving as a motivational backstory. There is one instance of suggestive visual imagery noted by a review outlet.
The character Ben Matthias's primary motivation and emotional arc revolve around his profound grief for his deceased wife, Alyssa, highlighting a past romantic relationship. One scene features a candle held by Ben that becomes possessed and is described as taking on a "comically phallic shaped" appearance.
Profanity
LowThe film includes infrequent and mild profanity, with several exclamatory phrases and a few instances of more common, less offensive curse words.
Movieguide reported "two or three obscenities (including one 'd' word) and six light exclamatory profanities." Specific examples of mild language used in the film include "damn," "pissed off," and "son of a gun."
Disrespect & Rebellion
LowInstances of disrespect and rebellion are mild. One character, Father Kent, is a con man posing as a priest, and the protagonist initially exhibits skepticism and misanthropic tendencies, rather than overt defiance against legitimate authority.
Father Kent is identified as a "con man posing as a trained priest", implying a deceptive act of false authority rather than direct rebellion. Ben Matthias initially displays a "misanthropic guy that kind of hates people" and skeptical demeanor, showing reluctance to participate in the ghost-exorcising efforts.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
PG-13. The film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for "thematic elements and scary action." This recommendation is supported by the presence of frequent supernatural violence, jump scares, and mature themes of grief and death which may be difficult for younger children to process. The movie also features a strong occult worldview and brief alcohol consumption.
Additional Notes
The movie delves into mature themes of grief and loss, particularly through the protagonist Ben Matthias's backstory and his journey to find closure after his wife's death. The film also includes numerous Easter eggs and references to the Disneyland attraction for fans.
Related Reviews
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