"Hollywood Reviews

Bad Vibes By ROBERT WALDMAN

Moving into a new home can be a difficult process. Try making that transition when a family member is ill. Problems galore confront a family during the course of a relocation in The Haunting in Connecticut, an unqualified chiller from Maple Pictures now causing cold sweats at Tinseltown (on Pender, free parking), the Empire Esplanade 6, Empire Studio 12, Colossus and Famous Players Silver City auditoriums around B.C.

Take it from the name of this movie, something bad is going on in Connecticut. And it may well involve “spirits” from the past. Director Peter Cornwell (Ward 13) does a good job revealing the make-up of the Campbell clan. Like all of us, parents will do whatever they can to help a child in need. Due to the economics of the day Sara and Peter decide it’s in their best interests to relocate their charges to a place near a good hospital where son Matt can be cured of his ailments. Alas, not all is well on the home front but the move goes ahead as planned. Little do they know what’s in store.

Get ready for lots of eeriness once the Campbell clan set up shop in a large old style manor. Desperate to get their son into treatment the family fall prey to a series of strange occurrences that confuse and terrify them as the days go by. Through this ordeal Matt senses the bad forces that lie between the walls of this home and sooner, rather than later, each Campbell descendent is gripped with fear.

Jolts come fast and furious after a solid build up by director Cornwell. Cast as Matt in the pivotal role is Kyle Gallner (Red Eye) who really gets put through the paces as the sick kid. Trivia buffs may latch onto the fact that Kyle actually had a heart condition when very young so you could say this teen has been through the hoops in real life not to mention being able to play a sick teen with a determination to expose the demons in this locale.

Both parents also set off sparks with Virginia Madsen (Sideways) especially tender as a loving mom willing to save her son at all costs, no matter what the doctors and scientific community think. Canadian Elias Koteas (Collateral Damage) makes a nice appearance as a friendly clergyman with Langley born Amanda Crew (Sex Drive) full value as a sister to the conflicted boy.

Horror thrillers need good atmosphere. A lessening of the gore and an emphasis on the psychological mindset of those strange house custodians make The Haunting if Connecticut a cut above your traditional thriller and downright scary for those who don’t believe.

Read more reviews by Robert at www.moviereviewssite.com "