Story

Gabbie (Rosario Cawson) and her son Travis (Chase Dillon) move into their new home only to discover that it is haunted by ghosts. They run away but find that the ghosts follow them everywhere. Reluctantly, they return to the mansion and employ a priest, Father Kent (Owen Wilson), to exorcise their home. Father Kent isn’t really a priest and pays a spectral photographer, Ben (LaKeith Stanfield), to capture the ghost-like images on his camera. Having entered the mansion, Kent and Ben are now also haunted by ghosts wherever they go.

Kent and Ben return to the mansion to try to help Gabbie and Travis. Trapped inside the mansion, the foursome discovers the secrets of the dead ancestors who are still living in their home. They bring in a psychic, Harriet (Tiffany Haddish), and an historian, Bruce (Danny DeVito), to help them. They learn that a particularly evil and powerful spirit, formerly Alistair Crump (Jared Leto), has killed 999 souls within the mansion. They discover he needs one more soul to keep them all trapped in the mansion for eternity. The group have to outwit Crump before one more person dies.

Themes

Supernatural; death of a parent

Violence

Haunted Mansion has some violence. For example:

• A man threatens a priest with a bottle.
• Ben and Bruce fight, accidentally setting fire to a bench top.
• Harriet bashes into Bruce, knocking him into the path of an approaching truck. Bruce ends up in hospital.
• Two ghosts shoot each other in a duel. Ben feels the bullet go through him.
• An alligator chases Travis up a ladder, snapping at his feet.
• Bruce has a heart attack but doesn’t die.
• Trees start falling on a car, preventing the escape of its occupants.
• Crump prepares a fiery pit for his final victim but he himself goes into it, covered in purple flames.

Sexual references

Haunted Mansion has some sexual references. For example, there is talk of Crump having a mistress and his wife finding out about the affair.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

Haunted Mansion has some substance use. For example:

• Drinking in a bar and other venues.
• Ghosts are seen drinking.

Nudity and sexual activity

There’s no nudity and sexual activity in Haunted Mansion.

Product placement

Haunted Mansion has some product placement. For example, PayPal, Amazon, Yankee Candles and Burger King.

Coarse language

Haunted Mansion has some coarse language. For example, ‘damn’, ‘oh my God’ and ‘pissed off’.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Haunted Mansion is a comedic, ghost story that has enough laughs and light moments to balance the dark side of this Disney movie. It is still, however, quite scary in parts, which makes it unsuitable for children under 10 years. Parental guidance is recommended for children aged 10-12 due to the supernatural themes.

The main messages from Haunted Mansion are to have confidence in your own abilities, and that when working together as a team you are much stronger than on your own. Values in Haunted Mansion that you could reinforce with your children are courage, overcoming one’s fears, compassion’ and ‘empathy.

Haunted Mansion could also give you the chance to talk with your children about how people deal with grief and loss. And the benefits of communication and openness.