An American Haunting
User Score
4.8 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 40 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 40
  3. Negative: 22 out of 40

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  1. mattyabrams
    Sep 26, 2012
    9
    unusually creepy, this film gives some high-profile J-horror remakes a run for their money, it is scary, the cast is rather fitting, and it has a relatively solid plot.
  2. DanL.
    May 7, 2006
    2
    There is such thing as too much music, and for God's sakes, could we stop moving the camera for one second? Besides that, well, still not good. Some of the themes were freaky in concept, but were done so pathetically that you couldn't help but roll your eyes. Maybe there's just not room for such an innocent horror movie in today's Saw/Hills Have Eyes horror market, because this movie felt so cute there were times when you thought you were watching a straight-to-DVD Disney flick. One more note on the innocent route, without spoiling too much: when a movie is so innocent that it's laughable, don't make the conclusion so blunt and insensitive that it's repulsive. It's a disgusting effect.… Expand
  3. JonC.
    Jul 20, 2006
    1
    Someone must have paid Felix Vasquez Jr., Sheri Linden and Jack Matthews to say nice things about this HORRIBLE movie. IF not, then they are as inept as film critics as the filmakers of this piece of crock. This is easily the worst film of the year so far.
  4. timc
    May 14, 2006
    3
    Yeah, this was pretty bad. However, it is watchable, with a good plot twist that shall not be divulged here. The movie would have made a 5 rating had they simply excised (exorcise?) completely the 2006 "modern day" footage from the plot. Useless and worse, it makes the movie feel like a TV special from the 80's. The ending (set in modern day) is possibly the weakest element in the movie... and that's saying a lot. One big logic complaint. Is everyone so retarded that they leave Betsy alone in her room at midnight night after night after night???… Expand
  5. DanH.
    May 19, 2006
    2
    Nothing about this movie was remotely good. There was no story to give the movie depth and the only way to be some what interested with the movie is if you read about the Bell Witch "Haunting" before you make the mistake of buying a ticket and watching this horrid movie.
  6. ChadS.
    May 7, 2006
    3
    [***SPOILERS***]"American Haunting" has one of the biggest plot holes in recent memory. When the idea finally hits them(about time!) that Betsy(Rachel Hurd Wood) should be moved from the house, the demonic spirit hunts them down and thwarts their horse-driven escape. But it's a dream, and apparently Betsy must've told the other Bells that it didn't work. Nonetheless, you would think that fleeing the house is preferable than being molested by a poltergeist. It's downright laughable how many times Betsy is allowed to sleep in her room. Maybe the real escape from the house ended up on the cutting room floor. "An American Haunting" doesn't have the accidental entertainment value that another not-screened-for-critics film, "A Sound of Thunder", had, even though the special effects are equally cheesy.… Expand
  7. CG
    Jan 3, 2007
    0
    Some one missed some research for this movie. I have lived in Tennessee all my life and now very close to Adams Tennessee and never in all the doumentation I have ever read anything close to how this movie ended. Nowhere near the truth. I guess hollywood had to make it up.
  8. Adam
    May 6, 2006
    1
    I think it needed a few more windows opening and closing... There was nothing original or creative about this movie whatsoever. Everything shot in this film has all been done a thousand times before and has been done much better. I've never come so close to walking out of a movie in my entire life.
  9. [Anonymous]
    Jul 20, 2006
    0
    Based on truth or not, this is one of the stupidest films I've ever seen. Ridiculously stupid.
  10. JoshS.
    Jul 5, 2006
    6
    First of all, I think all the people who have made comments should be paid to be film critics, why can't everyone just watch a movie and not pick out its defects? Sure, its not close to being one of the best films of its genre, but eh, watch it alone and in the dark late at night and it will have its effect, especially if you head into it not knowing anything about the actual documented case.… Expand
  11. Mase
    May 13, 2006
    1
    This movie is like watching a home video of yourself riding "the haunted mansion" over and over for 2 hours. Believe it this is God awful. It kinda reminded me of one of horrible japanese imports like say "the grudge part 8" transported to little house on the praire, without any of the japanese quirky weirdness. It should be a crime to waste Sissy Spacek like this. So predictable so boring almost unwatchable.… Expand
  12. jimmytancredi
    Aug 22, 2011
    3
    It was good to spend time and take a few scares, but the ending is too predictable... It seems they wanted to give a rational explanation of the events but were kind of on the fence, almost as if they hadn't explained right (not in order to leave doubt in the air, but in the explanation poorly performed). Perhaps it would have been better if they had chosen to leave between the haunt be really a curse, or let the phenomena being the reflection of the trauma of the girl explained naturally. The mixture of these two options, in my opinion, left the rather weak script.… Expand
  13. Alexander_Fred
    Dec 10, 2011
    1
    With a story line that promises thrills and an interesting opening sequence, An American Haunting falls flat on its face. Not only does it become illogical almost immediately, but the camera movements are intolerable, the acting is lackluster at best, the number of historical and factual inaccuracies become too numerous too count, and the final ending is not only one of the worst endings to a horror film, but is almost impossible to decipher. By the time this film ends, either boredom or anger will assuredly begin.… Expand
  14. mickelwick
    Sep 26, 2012
    9
    there is immense creepy fun to be had with this haunted house flick, it is incredibly enjoyable
  15. samarathenymph
    Oct 12, 2012
    9
    i sat down expecting another direct-to-dvd sh*tfest, instead, i was totally and absolutely blindsided, this is a solid effort that is far better than everyone else says it is - samarathenymph xoxo
  16. scottissoright
    Sep 26, 2012
    10
    well-acted, scary, and it looks lovely.
  17. billylenz
    Sep 26, 2012
    10
    cool and incredibly scary.
  18. emilypyre
    Sep 26, 2012
    10
    creepy as hell, i enjoyed this so much, it puts supposed 'horror' films like the grudge, the others, and insidious to shame, this does what all of them don't.
  19. onegreenematt
    Sep 26, 2012
    10
    unbearably scary
  20. stonecoldsam
    Sep 26, 2012
    10
    phenomenal

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
38 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 18 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 18
  3. Negative: 5 out of 18
  1. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Felix Vasques Jr.
    70
    Yet another light weight PG-13 film that poses rather well as an honest to goodness horror film.
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  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Sheri Linden
    70
    Solomon crafts a quality horror piece from strong performances and effects. The chief disappointment of An American Haunting is that it doesn't exploit more opportunities for the sublime subtlety of performances by Sissy Spacek and, especially, Donald Sutherland.
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  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: John Anderson
    60
    A well-made, good-looking movie it is, but between the non-stop tumult and the sense of deliberateness about its period authenticity, An American Haunting produces a lot of screaming, crying and cruelty, but not much drama.
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