` when the crypt door creak and the tombstone quake spook come out for a swing wake happy haunt materialize and begin to vocalize grim grin ghost come out to socializewho would have think that at this point the walt disney company would be at a big crossroad with their adaptation of classic theme park attraction . when the family orient studio announce the trio of ride base feature and many be quick to call disney executive crazy and desperate for story idea . most of the movie go public would have agree with them after the embarrassment that be the country bear in july 2002. almost one year after that box office flop and disney bounce back big with the surprise hit of the summer and pirate of the caribbean represent the curse of the black pearl and which steam roll it way to $ 300 million domestically and possibly two sequel . with both a hit and a miss in their hand and disney third and final theme park adaptation and the haunt mansion and could swing either way but the company executive would have it be a hit for sure . the presence of star lead eddie murphy should assure this . grant murphy have have plenty of recent adult orient flop such a showtime and i spy but his reputation a a family film star have be remarkable include his most recent hit and daddy daycare . can he continue the streak with the haunt mansion . if the marketing campaign for the film have anything to say about it and the answer should be a big yes . the story focus on a man who enter a haunt house with his family and must do whatever he can to save them from it ghostly in habitant . jim evers be a successful real estate agent along with his partner wife and sarah and but doesn not seem to find the time to spend quality time with his family . he miss soccer game and anniversary and barbeque for his work . see his problem and jim decides to take the entire family out to the lake for the weekend to make up for his mistake . at the last minute and sarah receive a call for her to stop by the gracey manor to help sell the decrepit estate . she at first decline but jim urge her to take up the offer for the sake of the business and the family . unfortunately they get more then they bargain for a creepy incident occur around every corner and the entire mansion itself seem to be hide a disturbing secret . jim evers must discover the mystery in the haunt mansion before it too late for his family and himself . the story for the haunt mansion and though well intentioned and seem lack and predictable . the opening sequence of the feature ruin any suspense for many late event and could have be do in a different way that do not give away much of the story before the audience even have a chance to settle down in their seat . the cast of the haunt mansion be a relative bunch of no name but they try to their best and which work effectively for the most part . eddie murphy lead the group with a moderate performance a jim evers . the problem lie in the fact that murphy be not all that funny in the feature and really isn not give anything to do that get a laugh . nathaniel parker and who portray master gracey and give a wonderfully victorian style performance that both creepy and effective . he start off a sinister character but by the end and you realize his true intention be as evil a they may seem . terence stamp achieve an amazingly creepy performance a the butler and ramsley . though the character seem to be a supporting role at first and a the feature roll on he become more central to the storyline and therefore much more effective . jennifer tilly be a delightful highlight a madame leota ( aka the float head in the crystal ball ) and stay true to character within the attraction for most of her time on screen . the only disappointment in the casting area involve terence stamp and dina water who play the servant of the mansion . stamp and who be most famous for his role in the princess bride and could have be use in a more humorous way then he be here but the filmmaker fail to do so . the two be barely use at all which result in a disappointing aspect of the feature and which could have be avoid if they be use more prominently . overall and foolish mortal should heed this warning . if you be look for another pirate of the caribbean and wait for the film sequel rather then search for it in the haunted mansion . not to say that the film be not entertaining and it have it moment and but the haunted mansion doesn not even come close to the spectacular filmmaking that be present in the summer swashbuckler . the problem lie mostly in the plot that be often flat and predictable ruin many of the film twist before they be even set up . so what be the offender of this horrible filmmaking crime . the action of the opening credit . if you have to see this film but do not want the film secret give away early then keep your eye close for the first three to five minute . if anything reasonably favorable can be say of this film and it have to be the solid special effect and the creepy atmosphere the filmmaker be able to maintain despite a weak story . disney fanatic will love the many tip of the hat towards the inspiration of the film include the hitch hike ghost on the side of the road . there be no doubt that this film will be a family friendly hit over the thanksgiving weekend but for those look solid filmmaking should save their money for the like of elf . my rating represent ½ out of 5 ( grade represent b ) .