I’ve been excited about Disney’s upcoming new live-action adaptation of Haunted Mansion! The movie looks like it will be a fun and spooky film for the whole family, and now the first reactions have dropped online and critics seem to have enjoyed it. It sounds like it will be an entertaining movie that will actually deliver some good scares.
The premiere of the film was recently held at Disneyland and because of the writer’s strike, none of the actors showed up to promote the film. Instead, Disney used theme park actors to walk the red carpet as various Disney characters.
The reactions that have come out so far say the movie has lots of laughs and jump scares; has a big heart; is surprisingly creepy; emotionally rich; and that fans of the attraction will love the movie. Apparently, it’s packed full of Easter eggs.
Here are some of the reactions I found on Twitter:
Did not expect #HauntedMansion to be a study of loss and grief, but 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 pic.twitter.com/GK4TwsdHB0
— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) July 16, 2023
I’m still gathering my thoughts on #HauntedMansion but I will say this, the amount of heart it has couldn’t have been achieved without the writing of Katie Dippold. She weaves together a story that tackles death/grief in a palpate way while riding a fine line btwn humor/horror. pic.twitter.com/hgaLAIS5hK
— Shannon McGrew 🎃 (@shannon_mcgrew) July 16, 2023
Grim grinning ghosts a’plenty in #hauntedmansion This movie is surprisingly creepy, consistently funny, and also emotionally rich. Performances are great (DANNY DEVITO!) & if you love the ride— Justin Simien & Katie Dippold are obviously huge fans and they made it fun for us 👻
— Grae Drake (@graedrake) July 16, 2023
#HauntedMansion is a ton of fun — so much so that I’m ready to go back already! pic.twitter.com/UVL5yTGcNi
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) July 16, 2023
Initial thoughts on #HauntedMansion before full review closer to its release. What a fun movie that is written with love for the attraction. Fans of the attraction will love this movie. We sure did! #999ghosts #dapsmagic pic.twitter.com/i4NZMUsj6q
— Daps Magic (@DAPs_Magic) July 16, 2023
Social embargo for The Haunted Mansion has lifted, so here’s my initial thoughts. It a lot of fun and filled with tons of Easter eggs from the ride. Didn’t expect a story about loss and grieve. Cast fantastic and LaKeith is a standout.
— Wendy Lee Szany (@WendyLeeSzany) July 16, 2023
#hauntedmansion is an entertaining movie for your whole family can enjoy. There’s some fun scares for the kids and a lot of Easter eggs for you eagle-eyed #disney parks fans. pic.twitter.com/tunhNGRFDm
— Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) July 17, 2023
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. Director Justin Simien & screenwriter Katie Dippold did great work. pic.twitter.com/07MfbUUCFC
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) July 16, 2023
The movie is inspired by the classic theme park attraction, and the clip teases a few little Easter eggs that I’m sure fans will notice. 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.”
The movie was directed by Justin Simien. It features an all-star cast ensemble cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, and Danny DeVito star, with Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota, Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, and Hasan Minhaj will also appear in the new movie. Then there’s Jared Leto, who is taking on the role of the infamous Hatbox Ghost.
Haunted Mansion opens in theaters on July 28th.
This content was originally published here.