PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I know that it’s been a little while since 2023’s The Haunted Mansion and even longer for the Eddie Murphy vehicle in 2003. It is worth noting that there is a 20-year gap between these two films and both took différent approaches toward emulating the Disney attraction that it was based upon.
First of all, the 2003 movie has a more interesting story where the inhabitants of the mansion get Jim Evers’ (Eddie Murphy) information from a card dropped by a paper boy. Evers is a successful realtor and comes to the “haunted mansion” with his family to look over the house in the hopes of making a deal. However, the storm traps them into the mansion and the family is forced to stay.
Meanwhile, Jim’s wife, Sara (Marsha Thomason) is believed to be the reincarnated Elizabeth Henshaw, wife of the Master of the house Edward Gracey (Nathaniel Parker). It is later revealed that the butler Ramsley (Terrence Stamp) killed Gracey’s wife as their union was unacceptable.
The 2023 movie is more of a mystery whodunit that abandons all the drama and character development that the first movie had. Moreover, the jokes aren’t as funny as it misses the presence of Eddie Murphy making a quip for inconvenience that the cast steps through in the course of the film.
It’s easy to see that the 2023 reboot lacked the emotional weight and urgency of the 2003 film as the characters in the reboot were not even confined to the mansion and could leave willingly and Gracey’s role being noticeably reduced.
Are you haunted by which version is better? Both are available to rent and own on digital platforms and streaming on Disney Plus. Decide for yourself!
