The only thing scary about Disney’s 2003 attempt at turning its iconic hair-raising ride into a movie was how much everyone hated it. It wasn’t particularly funny or frightening for anyone of any age. Twenty years later, though, it seems like the Mouse House might have finally figured out it can do both with an adaptation. The first full trailer for Haunted Mansion has plenty of laughs, plenty of ghouls, and plenty of reason to believe this latest attempt at turning the Disney Parks attraction into a featured film will be spec(ter)tacular.
Is this movie going to scare some kids? Absolutely. We know because we expect some parts to scare us, too. There’s a reason this film is rated PG-13, whereas the 2003 adaptation The Haunted Mansion got a PG designation. But that’s a good thing! If you ever rode the attraction as a kid you were probably scared by some of it. Especially that opening waiting room with the moving pictures, which this Haunted Mansion trailer reveals will be one of many Easter eggs and reference to the ride.
What exactly is going on in this adaptation, though? Why would anyone go some place so haunted? Here’s the film’s brief official synopsis from Disney:
Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.
Directed by Justin Simien (Dear White People), the movie boasts a terrifyingly good cast. The movie stars LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost.
Will this prove to be the adaptation we’ve waited 20 years for? We’ll find out this summer when Haunted Mansion comes to theaters on July 28. But just based on this trailer alone we’re pretty sure it’ll be a lot better than the original. It will be really scary if it’s not.
