The Haunting (1999)

The Haunting (1999)

"...I studied purgatory. I was there once for eleven years." - Nell ("The Haunting" - 1999)

Nell (Lili Taylor), Theo (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Luke (Owen Wilson) arrive at Hill House for Dr. Marrow’s (Liam Neeson) study of sleep disorders or so they think. When it’s revealed that the experiment is actually a study of fear, will anyone believe Nell when she says the house is haunted? While you’re watching 1999’s “The Haunting” watch out for ghosts and these movie goofs!

The Reflection Tells A Different Story!

When Theo arrives at Hill House, Nell is talking to her in the bedroom. We see Theo turn to look at Nell while she’s putting on her black leather jacket. The next shot shows a close-up of Nell but Theo’s reflection can be seen in the mirror. The reflection shows Theo’s back to Nell and she begins to put her jacket on again. We then see another shot

of Theo in the original spot she was in.

Since We’re Talking About Reflections…

Late in the movie, after Nell has seen a reflection in the mirror that wasn’t hers, she runs into the mirrored room. Nell sees a pregnant reflection of herself. Keep a quick eye during this scene. When the reflection says “Welcome home Eleanor”, Nell’s actual reflection can be seen in the glass and her hand is covering her mouth. It then cuts to a close-up of Nell who is now bringing her hand up to her face.

Well, It Is A Haunted House!

Before Luke arrives, Nell and Theo are looking around the house when they happen upon the musical room with mirrors. Watch closely! We see the back shot of their legs as they step on the moving floor. But in the next overhead shot of the pair, we see them step on the floor again.

How Did The Wine Get There?

When everyone is having dinner the first night they are in the house, Theo is pouring wine into their glasses. As Theo sits down, we see a close-up of Nell and her glass is only about a quarter full. A few moments later she’s answering Dr. Marrow’s question and the glass is almost completely full.

Did The House Ghosts Move It?

Nell, Theo, Luke and Dr. Marrow are trying to escape the house. Since the front gate is locked, Luke climbs into Nell’s car and decides to ram through it. The gate doesn’t budge and a circular piece of iron with spikes falls from the gate and lands on top of the car. Luke is pinned inside. Dr. Marrow and Theo can’t budge the piece that’s fallen on the car and Luke has to climb out through the back window. But at the very end of the movie, when the Dudleys (Bruce Dern and Marian Seldes) return to unlock the gate, the piece that fell on the car is no longer there. How did it get moved?

See Also: Underworld, Scream and Mask of Zorro.

This movie is also available for purchase at Amazon.com and Half.com!