Click to read the article
An American Haunting (2006)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:67
Fresh:8
Rotten:59
Average Rating:3.6/10
Consensus: Well, it looks good. But wasn't it supposed to be scary?
Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
US Box Office: $16,235,040
Synopsis: Based on true events that took place in Tennessee during the 1800s, An American Haunting tells the story of the only documented case in U.S. history (validated by the State of Tennessee) in which a... Based on true events that took place in Tennessee during the 1800s, An American Haunting tells the story of the only documented case in U.S. history (validated by the State of Tennessee) in which a spirit caused a person's death. With over 20 books written on the subject, and a town that still lives in fear of the spirit's return, the story of "An American Haunting" is terrifying. Between the years 1818-1820, the Bell Family of Red River, Tennessee was visited by an unknown presence that haunted the family and eventually caused the death of one of its members. What started as small sounds around the farm and the sighting of a black, yellow-eyed wolf escalated into physical brutality against certain family members and general psychological and physical torment. The attacks grew in strength, with the spirit slapping, pulling, dragging, and even beating the Bells' youngest daughter. Though no being could be seen, its effects were evident. It began to communicate with the family aurally, eventually through multiple voices that sounded like the wind. One message it communicated was a promise that one day it would kill one of the family members. The Bells searched for rational explanations and ways to rid their house of the evil chimera, but its presence persisted. Fearing that the haunting was caused by a local woman who had been branded a witch, the Bells tried desperately to find ways of undoing what they thought to be the woman's curse, presumably placed upon the family in retaliation for a land dispute. Despite their efforts the attacks escalated. It was not until a manuscript of the local schoolteacher, who lived on the property during the disturbance, was found in 1998 that the horrifying and shocking answer to what caused this haunting would finally be unveiled. [More]
Starring: Rachel Hurd-Wood, Sissy Spacek, Donald Sutherland, Matthew Marsh
Starring: Rachel Hurd-Wood, Sissy Spacek, Donald Sutherland, Matthew Marsh, Howard Rosenstein, Lila Bata-Walsh, Miguel Brown, Shauna Shim, Thom Fell, Sam Alexander, Gaye Brown
Director: Courtney Solomon
Director: Courtney Solomon
Screenwriter: Courtney Solomon
Producer: Christopher Milburn, Courtney Solomon
Composer: Caine Davidson
Studio: Freestyle Releasing
Reviews for An American Haunting
The frights are few and the moment of horrific revelation is a big letdown in writer/director Courtney Solomon's cinematic treatment of Brent Monahan's novel "The Bell Witch: An American Haunting."
it becomes haunted by the unwelcome presence of heavy-handedness, making it seem more like a busy domestic melodrama (with a ghost) than a truly unnerving chiller.
Takes the most documented ghost story in history and doesn't create one truly scary moment.
This is proof that it doesn't take lots of bloody gore, big special effects or jump-at-you moments to scare jaded audiences.
Although [director Solomon] has some great ideas, they are limited, and we are therefore treated to repeats of the same basic scenario over and over again until the effect becomes tedious.
Director Courtney Solomon’s script is a catalogue of the standard Exorcist-style special effects, hammered home by Caine Davidson’s musical score, one of the most irritating and nerve-wracking assemblies of noise in movie history.
It really is fun to watch yet another oddball turn by Sutherland, and a marginally restrained one from Spacek. It's just not that fun.
Unoriginal and unrelenting, this gothic ghost story invests too much time in banging doors and billowing drapes and not enough in its characters.
Disappointing horror film which fails to generate any suspense or horror and is occasionally downright laughable.
This allegedly true tale of demonic possession is weighed down by period detail and ponderous storytelling, which soon get the better of its Exorcist-inspired levitations, flying crucifixes and noisy poltergeist activity.
An American Haunting utterly stultifies the thrilling Bell Witch legend on which the film is based; the most disturbing ghost here is the wraith of opportunity lost.
Labeled by some as 'America’s Greatest Ghost Story,' the legendary Bell Witch gets herself another movie and the result is far from America’s Greatest Ghost Movie.
Latest News for An American Haunting
May 10, 2007:
Box Office Guru Preview: "28 Weeks Later" and "Georgia Rule" To Battle For #2 Spot
In what must be a first at the box office, an aerobics queen takes on killer zombies in a vicious battle for the silver medal during what no doubt will be another mammoth... More...
August 23, 2006:
Without gore and cheap scare tactics, An American Haunting is a well-told tale based on the much-documented legend of the Bell Witch in Tennesse ![]()
More...
August 23, 2006:
Without gore and cheap scare tactics, An American Haunting is a well-told tale based on the much-documented legend of the Bell Witch in Tennesse ![]()
More...
August 23, 2006:
Without gore and cheap scare tactics, An American Haunting is a well-told tale based on the much-documented legend of the Bell Witch in Tennesse ![]()
More...
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 70% 70% | Where the Wild Things Are | 03/12 |
| 83% 83% | Paranormal Activity | 03/12 |
| 89% 89% | Zombieland | 03/12 |
| 76% 76% | The Informant! | 03/12 |
| | The Strength of Water | 03/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- An American Haunting at Rotten Tomatoes
- An American Haunting at IGN
- An American Haunting at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection



Top Critic

