The Haunting (1999) – WTF Happened to This Horror Movie?

It’s time for another episode of the WTF Happened to This Horror Movie? video series, and with this one we’re looking back at an unpopular remake of a horror classic: the 1999 version of The Haunting (watch it HERE). While the 1963 version of The Haunting (you can watch it at THIS LINK) is considered to be one of the best horror movies ever made, the ’99 take on the concept is generally brushed off as a turkey. So we’re digging into the making of this ill-fated remake in the video embedded above.

Based on the novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, The Haunting (1999) was directed by Jan de Bont from a screenplay by David Self. The film has the following synopsis: This horror tale focuses on visitors to the secluded mansion of Hill House who have been called to the isolated location by Dr. David Marrow as part of a study on insomnia. However, Marrow is really investigating fear, and he plans to scare the subjects, including the introverted Nell and the seductive Theo. Unfortunately for Marrow and everyone staying at Hill House, the manor is actually haunted by an evil spirit out to torment its guests.

Lili Taylor, Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Marian Seldes, Bruce Dern, Alix Koromzay, Todd Field, Virginia Madsen, Tom Irwin, and Charles Gunning star.

This is what the WTF Happened to This Horror Movie series is all about: Hollywood has had its fair share of historically troubled productions. Whether it was casting changes, actor deaths, fired directors, in-production rewrites, constant delays, budget cuts or studio edits, these films had every intention to be a blockbuster, but were beset with unforeseen disasters. Sometimes huge hits, sometimes box office bombs. Either way, we have to ask: WTF Happened To This Horror Movie?

The The Haunting (1999) episode of WTF Happened to This Horror Movie? was Written, Narrated, and Edited by Tyler Nichols, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

A couple of the previous episodes of the show can be seen below. To see more, head over to our JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel – and subscribe while you’re there!

What do you think of The Haunting (1999)? Let us know by leaving a comment!