WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Haunting, The
Genre:Horror

Reviewed In Issue 36 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Bruce Dern & Lili Taylor

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 5
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): DreamWorks Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): ID9219DW
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 113
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1999
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Jan De Bont
(Screenplay/Written By): David Self
(Story): NA
(Music): Jerry Goldsmith
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Eugenio Zanetti
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Michael Kahn, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Jan De Bont
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth & Colin Wilson

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.32:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround EX
(Theatrical Sound): DTS, SDDS & Dolby Digital Surround EX
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on the novel “The Haunting Of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson, this 1999 version of The Haunting stars state-of-the-art special effects to transport us to the supernatural world of Hill House—a century-plus old mansion with a sad and ugly past. Dr. Marrow (Neeson) invites three subjects to the house for a seemingly harmless experiment. But the trouble begins when Nell (Taylor) becomes oddly drawn to the house—and the eerie spirit of the house seems to share the attraction to her. For a visual effects-free take on this terrific story, check out the 1963 version directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Harris, Clair Bloom, Richard Johnson & Russ Tamblyn where the bone-chilling frights come from the unseen.

LaserDisc Picture:


LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
(Directionalized Dialogue): Yes
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
No
Collector Edition:
No