Big in special effects, weak in scares
The original 1963 British feature “The Haunting,” based on Shirley Jackson’s novel “The Haunting of Hill House,” is among the best of the haunted-house genre. It is puzzling that moviemakers choose to remake classic originals. In this case, American moviemakers attempted to update the original with modern special effects and an impressive cast of name actors. The remake has been released on Blu-ray as the tenth in the Paramount Presents series.<br /><br />Eleanor (Lili Taylor) is an insomniac who has lived with her invalid mother and took sole care of her for many years until her death a few months earlier. Eleanor’s sister and brother-in-law intend to sell their mother’s house, leaving Eleanor homeless, with few financial resources and no skills valued in the job market. When her attention is drawn to a newspaper ad offering $900 to participate in a sleep study, she applies and is selected.<br /><br />The study is to take place at a massive mansion named Hill House. Eleanor is the first of the study subjects to arrive. She is shown around the magnificent house by its only other occupant, the solemn housekeeper Mrs. Dudley (Marian Seldes). Eventually the other subjects, Theodora (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Luke (Owen Wilson), arrive, as well as the professor conducting the study, Dr. David Marrow (Liam Neeson). Soon after the guests settle in, unexplained noises and events begin. Over the next few days, these become increasingly dangerous, and Eleanor appears to be the main target. Afflicted with frightening visions, she wonders whether they’re real or she’s going insane.<br /><br />The cast is first-tier, with Neeson, before his days as action-film avenger, convincing as a researcher who may be interested in something other than sleep disorders. Zeta-Jones’ Theodora is a fashionable New Yorker with a flair for trendy clothes and lifestyles. She indicates that she is bisexual but little is made of this point. Wilson is the down-to-earth good ol’ boy who is skeptical about the strange goings-on and Eleanor’s visions, which no one else shares. He can’t believe the house has a mind of its own.<br /><br />Taylor is well cast as the withdrawn, somewhat shy, and eventually terrified woman who must learn why she has been singled out. Her gradual change from unsuspecting victim to damsel in distress is paced well, and she elicits sympathy in part because she avoids doing the kinds of stupid things that drive horror fans crazy. Intelligent and reasonably cautious, she feels way out of her depth as she faces malevolent supernatural forces. Taylor conveys the vulnerability, confusion, and fear required by David Self’s script.<br /><br />The weaknesses of the film are its overuse of CGI, a meandering screenplay, and a too-lengthy running time. The CGI effects are impressive  but are more technical wonders than sources of terror. Director Jan de Bont (“Speed”) never creates the heart-stopping atmosphere so essential to a film like this. He uses huge set pieces, including a collapsing spiral staircase, a rotating floor and spinning mirrors, ceiling posts that shoot down to pin someone to a bed, a snapping dulcimer wire, gargoyle statues that come to life, wooden carvings that moan and shed tears, and a fireplace with a killer damper, but we marvel at the staging of these scenes rather than feel scared.<br /><br />The original practically dripped with atmosphere and succeeded mostly because of its taut script and first-rate performances. De Bont misses opportunities throughout. Some of the best scenes are those in which Eleanor walks slowly through endless hallways or when she is alone and noises are heard but nothing is seen. These are the moments that create the requisite chill. De Bont seems to have felt that he must rely on razzle-dazzle to hold the audience’s attention.<br /><br />This movie brings up an ongoing question: When the original is an established classic, why remake it? Perhaps filmmakers feel the reputation of the original will shine on the remake, or contemporary audiences demand more graphic scenes, or writers and director can put a new spin on the material. Whatever the reason, this remake of “The Haunting” is a disappointment.<br /><br />Bonus materials on the PG-13 Blu-ray release film include director Jan de Bont discussing “The Haunting,” a behind-the-scenes featurette, theatrical teaser trailer, and theatrical trailer. A digital code is provided on a paper insert included in the packaging.
The movie title "Paramount Presents: The Haunting (Blu-ray + Digital)," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 4.6 from 3951 reviewers. 
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The additional details include the following in key-value format :
 {"Genre": "Horror", "Format": "Blu-ray, Subtitled", "Contributor": "Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jan de Bont, Liam Neeson", "Language": "English", "Runtime": "1 hour and 53 minutes", "MPAA rating": "PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)", "Product Dimensions": "0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 3.53 Ounces", "Item model number": "BR59213827", "Director": "Jan de Bont", "Media Format": "Blu-ray, Subtitled", "Run time": "1 hour and 53 minutes", "Release date": "October 20, 2020", "Actors": "Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liam Neeson", "Dubbed": "French", "Studio": "PARAMOUNT", "Country of Origin": "USA", "Number of discs": "1"}

Here is a brief synopsis of the title : Widely regarded as one of the finest, and most terrifying ghost stories ever written, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House serves up sinister source material in this an edge-of-your-seat thriller, available for the first time on Blu-ray. For over a century, the foreboding Hill House mansion has sat abandoned… or so it seemed. Intrigued by its past, Dr. Marrow lures three subjects to the site for an experiment. But, from the moment of their arrival, as night descends, the study goes horrifyingly away, and Hill House unleashes its supernatural wrath on the unsuspecting subjects. Newly remastered from a 4K film transfer, supervised by director Jan de Bont (SPEED), the blockbuster adaptation features Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liam Neeson, Lili Taylor and Owen Wilson..