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The Haunting In Connecticut

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Stars: Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Elias Koteas, Martin Donovan

Director: Peter Cornwell

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 92 minutes

Horror

Based on a true story, this supernatural chiller has a familiar plot - a family moves into a seemingly perfect house filled with spooky inhabitants.

And while there are some clichés, director Peter Cornwell - making his feature debut - packs in plenty of scares.

The acting is also impressive, with Sideways' Virginia Madsen on her usual fine form.

Teenager Matt Campbell is battling cancer and the four-hour drive to his specialist hospital is a struggle, so his mum Sara (Madsen) moves the family into a house nearby.

But the property is a former funeral home and was used for séances, with young medium Jonah famous for his ability to contact the dead.

Restless spirits still linger in the house and soon start plaguing Matt because he has one foot in the grave.

When they start targeting his family, he seeks help from a fellow cancer patient - a grim reverend with an expert knowledge of the afterlife.

You will have seen a lot of the scares before, with shadowy figures glimpsed in mirrors and creepy noises.

The film also unashamedly rips off iconic scenes from The Shining and The Birds.

But there is much to praise, particularly the special effects and bloody make-up.

The cinematography is also flawless, with the house wonderfully dark and claustrophobic.

The concept of Matt attracting ghosts because he is on the verge of being one isn't developed enough sadly, which would have helped this movie stand out.

But it's still a watchable supernatural thriller with enough scares to please horror fans.

Watch if you liked: The Amityville Horror.

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