One may think that an entire movie based on an amusement park ride is overambitious, if not also slightly redundant. One may also assume that TWO movie adaptations of the same ride cannot possibly tell any kind of unique story. Those were my thoughts, at least, before being wowed by yet another spooky, fun, and magical depiction of Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride.

Fans of the original 2003 adaptation starring Eddie Murphy will not be disappointed, nor will those looking for a fresh, modern take on the story. LaKeith Stanfield steps into the scary movie archetype of non-believer turned ghost-fighter when he is looped into a scheme by Rosario Dawson’s Gabbie to rid her new house of ghosts. He becomes part of an unlikely crew of misfits brought together by fate and urgency to discover the mansion’s secrets before they become a part of it forever.  

A hilarious cast makes for the funniest scary movie possible. Danny Devito’s Professor and Owen Wilson’s Father Kent especially provide a perfect balance of jokes to offset the spooky thrills. In between the ghost-fighting and quipping, the characters- each with a type of ghost from their past haunting them- find heartwarming hope and strength in each other. The quick-witted and wise-beyond-his-years boy Travis, played by Chase Dillon, seems to be the glue that holds this strange mosaic of people together. 

The set stays true to the ride’s design in many ways; inspired by the real life Shipley-Lydecker house in Maryland. In true Disney style (a la hidden Mickeys) the mansions’s many rooms each have countless covert details giving insight into the personalities of the spirits that inhabit the space. The mansion itself is a character on its own, and the design of every last detail goes into creating a personality for this voiceless cast member.

Finally, of course, the nods to and inspirations from the original Haunted Mansion ride have to be appreciated. As anyone who has been lucky enough to experience the ride at Disney would know, the long-time crowd-favourite is a delightfully spooky (not scary) ride through a mansion haunted by a cast of trouble-making spirits. This film adaption was plenty nostalgia-inspiring for fans of the ride with important motifs included throughout the film such as the seance chairs, floating candelabras, endless hallways, and other Disney-esque quirky hauntings. Though some criticism has come from this adaption’s swaying from the exact details of the ride’s storyline, I would argue that enough of the classic influence was retained to stay true to the ride while still shaking things up enough that the plot doesn’t become stale. 

Overall, it is hard to find much not to like about Haunted Mansion between an impressive cast, whimsical set design, and an injection of funky New Orleans culture. It is safe to say it has beat the common beliefs against remakes and sequels and has all the makings of a new family Halloween classic.