Haunted Mansion first reactions say it’s spooky, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional

gamesradar.com:

Haunted Mansion may have had a subdued premiere amid the ongoing SAG and WGA strikes, but that hasn’t stopped reactions flooding in for the new Disney movie.

The horror comedy directed by Justin Simien and written by Katie Dippold is based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name. This version follows Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and Travis (Chase W. Dillon) as they enlist the help of a team of supernatural experts to exorcise their mansion from the ghosts inhabiting it. LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto all also star.

POC Culture writes, "It’s a love letter to the iconic Disney ride & a family-friendly thriller. The cast, led by LaKeith Stanfield, is outstanding & hilarious. Full of fun cameos, references to the ride & a healthy dose of jump scares."

Collider’s Steve Weintraub shared his thoughts on Twitter, writing: "Happy to report #HauntedMansion is one of those family films that will spook kids, make adults laugh (a lot), and fans of the ride will keep pointing at the screen because it’s loaded with Easter eggs."

#HauntedMansion    was entertaining, filled with one-liners & quirky jokes. The first act was a bit slow but speeds up in the 2nd&3rd to a good pace. Good scares for kids. Disney fans will love the Easter eggs. Tries a little too hard to be deep, but it's still fun to watch.July 16, 2023

Variety critic Jazz Tangcay tweets that she "did not expect Haunted Mansion to be a study of loss and grief". She adds, "Justin Simien delivers the better adaptation of the beloved ride through his storytelling. Lots of laughs and plenty of jumps. Kris Bowers’ score is a delight, top-notch production design. Fab cast."

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