The Haunted Mansion

Two stars. Disappointing.

The balance between scariness and comedy isn't quite right here, and I think it's down to Eddie Murphy. Is this a star (ahem?) vehicle--a showcase for his talents as a family film entertainer, or is it a vehicle for ghostly special effects and gentle, PG-style jumpy horror? The story is simple, and the plot twists are obvious, so the film really has to stand or fall on its atmospherics, and how well its build-up of tension is punctuated by jokes. Unfortunately, it falls.