Rosario Dawson

Haunted Mansion (2023): A Mildly Amusing, Mildly Eerie, Mildly Decent Ride

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Haunted Mansion” is directed by Justin Simien (Bad Hair, Dear White People) and stars LaKeith Stanfield (Sorry to Bother You, Selma), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip, Night School), Owen Wilson (Cars, Loki), Danny DeVito (My Cousin Vinny, Jumanji: The Next Level), Rosario Dawson (Clerks II, The Mandalorian), Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek, Happiest Season), Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Halloween), and Jared Leto (Blade Runner 2049, The Little Things). Inspired by the Disney ride of the same name, this film centers around a group of people who band together in a large mansion. Together, they try to rid of evil spirits roaming around the house.

Before we begin, I must make something clear. I have not seen the other “Haunted Mansion” movie starring Eddie Murphy. I am specifically referring the one titled “The Haunted Mansion.” Therefore if you want to my thoughts about it and how it compares to this latest film, you will not be getting them. Although I do have some experience with Disney ride-based movies. While the franchise is not perfect, I think a number of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies are fun. “The Curse of the Black Pearl” and “At World’s End” particularly stand out. I also saw “Jungle Cruise” in the theater a couple years ago. I thought it was fine at best, but the charismatic cast, catchy score, and occasionally joyful imagery make the film worth seeing at least once. Speaking of “Haunted Mansion,” there was a Halloween special on Disney+ by the name of “The Muppets Haunted Mansion,” which blended the iconic puppets with a spin on the Disney attraction. Safe to say, that film was hot garbage, so I was hoping this “Haunted Mansion” movie would at least be slightly more tolerable than that.

Safe to say, this 2023 film is a step up from the 2021 “Muppets” Disney+ special. Although this should not be a surprise considering how this is not made for television. That said, it is far from being a must see picture.

As an adult, I cannot see myself watching “Haunted Mansion” again. But maybe I would if I was a kid. I am not saying that this is movie that insults anyone’s intelligence, but I think that if I were a kid watching this film, this could serve as a gateway to other horror titles down the road. It probably would have gotten me into the genre. Now that I am an adult, I have an appreciation for horror, even though I do not always watch the titles of the genre. This is not as scary as many of the more mature titles I have seen, but if we are talking about occasional chills, this movie does its job. It does not make my eyes jump out of their sockets, but this film has the unique distinction of being what I would call pleasantly scary. It is a fine line between tame and scary that will not make me have nightmares. Now to be frank, if “Haunted Mansion” upped the scares a bit, there is a good chance I would revisit the film. But if I were watching this with kids, I would enjoy the moment with them. The film is cute, but not cuddly.

One of the more notable aspects of the film is the cast. The film is stacked with big names, and they are arguably the bigger attraction in this film than… Well, the attraction. Look at these names! You have Jamie Lee Curtis, the legendary scream queen who recently won an Academy Award! There is Roasrio Dawson! Her charisma knows no bounds and it continues to shine in this film! Let us not forget Owen Wilson. Of course, with a film like this one containing a blend of scares and fun, he is definitely here to deliver some of the latter. But the protagonist of the picture is played by LaKeith Stanfield, an actor who continues to get better with time. He plays an astrophysicist turned paranormal tour guide by the name of Ben Matthias. His investment in both dark matter photography and the supernatural, or more particularly, a love interest’s investment in the supernatural, drives his every move throughout the film. I thought Stanfield was a smart, charming center of the story. But it does not mean that I was not able to latch onto anyone else. Gabbie’s (Roasrio Dawson) angle as a single mom was specifically compelling. She made a number of scenes stand out. Given the nature of this film, it is hard to complain, even though I will, about the fact that this star-studded ensemble gives average performances. Not bottom of the barrel performances, though they could have been better. But I must also say that if there is another complaint I have acting-wise, it is that even though they has some funny moments, actors like Owen Wilson and Danny DeVito for instance feel like they are playing a version of themselves to some degree. They never annoyed me throughout the film so I can forgive them somewhat, but as far as this picture goes, chameleons they are not.

The film reminds me of other lighthearted horror films to have come out in recent years. Particularly the 2015 “Goosebumps” movie and “The House with a Clock in Its Walls.” Only thing, I think enjoyed both those movies more. Maybe it is because I watched those in my teens whereas I watched “Haunted Mansion” in my twenties. But I remember thinking about “The House with a Clock in Its Walls” in particular, which is also family friendly, and seeing certain pieces of spooky imagery that continue to linger in my head today. Yes, the movie has colorful moments despite having a dark side, but it does not necessarily hold its dark side back. Maybe if I were six, I would be scared by “Haunted Mansion.” But those worries might go away by the time I am say, twelve, thirteen years old.

“Haunted Mansion,” which as of this writing came out just over three weeks ago, is not going to make a lot of money at the box office. In fact, it has practically fallen flat on its face already. The film, which cost $157 million to make, has recently surpassed the halfway mark to making its budget back. I am not talking domestic. I am talking worldwide. So for all the people who helped contribute to this film’s lack of box office, should I recommend you see “Haunted Mansion?” That requires a complicated answer. I would not recommend this movie over say “Oppenheimer,” but it may be worth watching if are going with family, or if you intend to watch the film alone like I did, maybe go for the matinee price. Or if you have a theater subscription like A-List or Unlimited, take advantage of it. The best things in life are (sort of) free.

The film, despite its forgettability, bland humor, and cast that sounds great, but could have been used more effectively, does look nice. Jeffrey Waldron’s cinematography looks really good. The CGI is unrealistic, but it fits the movie at hand. If it were in say an “Indiana Jones” flick, then we might be having a different conversation. The inside of the mansion also looks really cool. Although at the end of the day, if I have to be real, if I want the Haunted Mansion experience, I would not watch this movie again. I might just flock to Disney World if I had the money. The long line would be worth it. Again, I have not seen the Eddie Murphy film. Maybe that would be a better use of my time as well. Although judging by the 31% audience score and even less promising 13% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, maybe not.

In the end, there are things to like about “Haunted Mansion,” and the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. But the positives do not really stand out. Thankfully, the negatives are not anger-inducing. Not once did “Haunted Mansion” feel like an endurance test. It was a just a movie that I wish could have been better. It is not the scariest movie I have ever seen. It is not the funniest movie I have ever seen. It is just passable enough to the point where I can say I enjoyed a series of moments throughout. Some of the characters are neat, but the writing could be better. The look is nice, but the scares are off and on. There are better movies out there, but there also are worse movies out there. “Haunted Mansion” is somewhere in the middle. I am going to give “Haunted Mansion” a 6/10.

“Haunted Mansion” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next reviews are going to be for “The First Slam Dunk,” “Barbie,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” and “Talk to Me.” Stay tuned! If you want to see this and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Haunted Mansion?” What did you think about it? Or, if you saw the 2003 film “The Haunted Mansion,” how does this 2021 film compare to that? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Clerks III (2022): The Most Personal Clerks Installment Yet

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Clerks III” is directed by Kevin Smith (Mallrats, Dogma) who also appears in the movie once again as Silent Bob. Joining Smith on his latest “Clerks” outing are stars including Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, and Rosario Dawson. When Quick Stop employee Randall survives a heart attack, he decides he wants to do something with his life and make a movie. What’s the movie? Well, think of it as another version of “Clerks.” With the help of colleagues along with Jay and Silent Bob, they all come together to make a movie based on Randall’s life and experiences.

Hollywood has a tendency to celebrate itself from one movie to the next. This has been done through Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and the trend does not seem to be stopping anytime soon as we’re getting more movies of this sort like “Babylon.” That movie is, coincidentally, also directed by Damien Chazelle. Some of these movies have proven to be industry and award season darlings, which is why it is interesting to see that Kevin Smith is almost going for another approach with this. Kevin Smith has been part of “the industry” for years. As of a few years ago, he officially has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But compared to other individuals, he doesn’t feel like a part of the industry. He often wears a part of New Jersey on his sleeve, his ego is not over the top, and compared to say the recently mentioned Tarantino, his track record with critics is not the best.

In fact, when I did my list of the worst movies of the 2010s, “Copout,” which released early on in the decade, ended up making the list.

But it does not change the way I feel about Kevin Smith as a personality. I met him at a comic con, and I can genuinely say he is the nicest guy I have talked to in this industry. Smith is an avid pop culture geek, extremely humble, and even though critics say he cannot make a movie, he has shown to be appreciative of the art. When it comes to the first two “Clerks” movies, I enjoyed both of them. Both are relatable and funny. I still think about the “Lord of the Rings” storyline joke in the second movie on a regular basis. As an aspiring filmmaker, I look up to to people like Christopher Nolan for his auteur-like traits. But in the back of my mind, I want to maintain the same sense of humility and spirit that Kevin Smith has possessed all these years. I did not know what to expect going into “Clerks III,” but I paid $20 for a Fathom Events ticket because I wanted to support the movie.

Having seen this film, it is probably my favorite “Clerks” installment, partially because of its shift from the other two.

While this film serves a proper sequel to both “Clerks” and “Clerks II,” “Clerks III” shows how much the franchise has evolved with each outing. From the first to the second movie we go from shooting in black and white to shooting in color. What’s the big shift in the third movie? Things get comparatively serious.

Kevin Smith based “Clerks” on his time in New Jersey and working behind counters. That stays true in “Clerks III,” but Kevin Smith has grown up since making his first feature back in the 1990s, therefore it feels natural that the franchise grows up too. This story would have never happened if in addition to the two “Clerks” movies, Kevin Smith never had a serious heart attack in 2017. The attack nearly killed him, but he has since made adjustments to his life, and now he is using his life experience to make “Clerks III” happen. This is a surprisingly sentimental and personal story that tugs at the heartstrings as much as it busts the gut. When it comes to emotional, mature storytelling, I do not often put that thought alongside Kevin Smith. Sure, the movie still has its series of silly shenanigans like a goofy line out of Jay or an occasional joke about drugs or private parts. Although in between that, it is ultimately a story about friendship. It is about people who stick by each other even in the toughest of times.

“Clerks III” feels like a love letter to filmmaking in the same way that “The Disaster Artist” was. Because that movie chronicled a film that would have been doomed to fail if it were not for its insane cult following. While “The Disaster Artist” based its story on the making of a movie that actually happened, “Clerks III” pays tribute to what the franchise has already provided while offering an unfamiliar, but most certainly welcome, sentimentality.

“Clerks III” feels like this year’s “Bill & Ted Face the Music.” It is a sequel to two movies that despite their charm, are not exactly Oscar-worthy, but come loaded with entertainment value. Both of the franchise’s third installments keep that same entertainment value, but also come off as a slightly, and I do mean slightly, more mature variant of what came before.

If you are a fan of Kevin Smith’s work over the years, there are particular scenes that could resonate with you. My favorite part of the film is when Randall’s movie is in pre-production and they are trying to find the right people for the right roles. This brings out a great number of Kevin Smith’s colleagues, friends, and a few other celebrities who I am quite surprised managed to take time to be in a movie like this. I will not say any names, as I did not know any of these going in, but the audition montage alone was worth the $20 I paid to see this movie. If you are looking for cameos, Smith’s got em. And they are all here!

Although there is one big name in this movie that I would like to reveal, and that is Amy Sedaris (At Home with Amy Sedaris, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt). Amy Sedaris not only plays a cardiothorasic surgeon, she kills the part in every way. Every line out of Amy Sedaris is delivered with a sprinkle of flair and I cannot see anyone else playing this part except for her. Also, there is a particular exchange between her and Randall that caught my attention. For those of you who remember “The Martian,” there is a scene featuring Sean Bean of “Lord of the Rings” fame, and his character has to explain what Project Elrond is to a group of people. To those who do not know, Project Elrond is the secret meeting in “Lord of the Rings.” Attentive “Star Wars” fans, most notably those who are familiar with “The Mandalorian,” may be able to notice a reversal of this in “Clerks III.”

To spoil the ending of “Clerks III” would be like spoiling the ending to a lot of movies, it would ruin the grand effect of what’s to come. Although if I had to give my quick thoughts on the ending of “Clerks III,” I would say that it is one that I would not have predicted, but it is definitely earned. There is a particular moment between Randall and Dante that hit me. It feels weird to say because I am not that attached to these characters. From start to finish, I only saw both “Clerks” movies once. I liked both, but nevertheless. But these characters have a moment together that adds up and delivered the feels. There is more to the ending, and it nearly feels choppy, but it is a kind of choppiness that I was willing to appreciate.

If I had to give my biggest problem with the film, it weirdly enough has to do with one of my positives. The drama. There is a fundamental shift between the characters in the film in terms of how they view each other and their current situations. While I appreciate the fact that for the most part, this film goes for drama, and succeeds, this is the one blunder. This shift feels seismic to the point where I could not buy it. Maybe if it were written differently, it would have been executed better. Maybe less dialogue, maybe different words. But there is a hot second in the movie that has a moment of tension that almost feels forced.

Even so, “Clerks III” is a funny yet heartwarming conclusion to a trilogy that started nearly thirty years ago. There is a saying in that you should write what you know. And that is what Kevin Smith did. He took what may have been the worst situation of his entire life, and now he is telling what could be his most emotional story yet.

In the end, “Clerks III” is a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy that mostly blends comedy and drama to an admirable degree. Kevin Smith movies always provide a likable vibe, even if it is not up to the caliber of say a Spielberg flick. The “Clerks” movies look cheap, but have occasional moments that feel like a million bucks. With “Clerks III,” Smith arguably hit the jackpot. When it comes to pure fun, there are few other movies this year that were able to deliver what this movie did for me. “Clerks III” is not my favorite movie of the year, but when it comes to genuine good times, there is are few rivals in terms of 2022’s cinematic calendar. I am going to give “Clerks III” a 7/10.

“Clerks III” is playing in theatres for a limited time and is going on tour across the United States and Canada! For those who live in certain areas, Kevin Smith will be bringing the movie to a city near you like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Montreal. For tickets and more info on “Clerks III: The Convenience Tour,” visit clerks3.movie/roadshow.

Thanks for reading this review! Guess what guys? My next post is going to be very special because I will be reaching 600 posts on Scene Before! Per usual, I will be doing a long-winded update on my Blu-ray collection. That video will also be available on my YouTube channel, but I will be sharing said video here as the 600th post for those who read my blog. If you want to see more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Clerks III?” What did you think about it? Or, did you see the other two “Clerks” films? Tell me your thoughts on those! Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019): A Presidential Zombie Flick

Posted on by Jack Drees

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“Zombieland: Double Tap” is directed by Ruben Fleischer, who also directed the original “Zombieland” back in 2009. The film stars Woody Harrelson (Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Edge of Seventeen), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, Scream Queens), Emma Stone (Easy A, The Amazing Spider-Man), Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Men In Black II), Zoey Deutch (The Year of Spectacular Men, Dirty Grandpa), and Luke Wilson (Concussion, Enlightened). This film takes place, appropriately, ten years after the original “Zombieland.” Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock are back and they have survived in an America that has basically become zombified. We see them in the White House, continuously living with their current reality as an imaginary dysfunctional family. Meanwhile, Little Rock flees away with a guy which prompts the remainder of the White Household, plus a new teammate, to go find her. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget, there’s zombies.

I first saw “Zombieland” back in 2016, which happens to be 7 years after it came out. While it was not the best comedy of its particular year, I found it to be rather funny. Granted, it also tries emphasize various horror elements, but the more I think about it, it almost feels like a pure comedy. That’s not to say that “Zombieland” is a bad horror movie, but it just feels like it was meant to be funny more than it is meant to be scary. This is why when I saw the marketing a couple times, I was a tad turned off, because it didn’t seem that funny.

Although at the same time, one thing I didn’t consider is a common complaint among various moviegoers. You know how there are a lot of comedies out there that show all the funny parts in the trailer? This movie, at least from my experience, saved a great portion of the funniest parts for the final product. By the way, if you have NOT seen the recent red band trailer for “Zombieland: Double Tap.” DON’T. There’s a moment that is not in the main film, but instead, during the credits. I didn’t watch this red band marketing piece until after watching the movie, but I saw something in there that I would have preferred the marketing team to leave out because I would rather have it be a surprise. Granted, it involves something I knew about going in, but it involves a specific moment that should have been unmentioned for a greater effect.

This is also a warning to all of you who are going to see “Zombieland: Double Tap,” stay for the entirety of the credits. You will not regret your decision.

One of the best parts of the film is perhaps the characters. I say that because they all have lovable chemistry. I mean, it shouldn’t be too surprising. The main cast consists of great actors, all of whom were at least nominated for an Academy Award. Granted, “Zombieland: Double Tap” is not the type of movie that would be going for any acting awards, but it is hard to deny when it comes to being together as a team, the characters tend to shine. You’ve got Tallahassee who is the same quirky, gun-loving redneck we have seen from the first film. There’s Columbus who will stop at nothing to follow his own rules. Little Rock shows up and while she does not have as much screentime as the others, her story in the film is rather interesting. Wichita’s here too, and there’s a subplot in this film involving her and Columbus, it gets nuts. Also, I don’t know how anyone else feels, but to me it feels kind of weird to see Emma Stone in this movie. I say that because I thought based on her last few choices of work, it seems she has increasingly made a transition to Oscar bait material or smaller budget films. Guess she just wanted a change of pace, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Based on how much I enjoyed this film, I should rephrase myself… There’s ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with that.

Much like the first film, I must warn everyone, this is a horror comedy. Although I feel just like the first one, this is more funny than scary. I will also state, personally, this isn’t really a bad thing. Because of level of humor in “Zombieland: Double Tap” is freaking unbelievable. I was with a relatively active crowd, and there’s a good mix of chuckle-worthy, burst out laughing, and kneeslapping moments. There’s even a couple of moments where the crowd managed to applaud.

Sticking with the theme of things that worried me slightly when I was going into this film, let’s talk about Zoey Deutch’s character, Madison. We first see Madison in a surprise moment for Columbus. Specifically, he’s in an abandoned mall and he’s trying to defend himself. From this moment, I’ve gotten the impression that she is a talkative teenager in an adult’s body. I thought as soon as I saw her, she was going to be the reason for me wanting to slap someone in the face as a way of taking out anger towards this movie. I WAS DEAD WRONG. She’s also associated with the dumb blonde stereotype, which gave for PLENTY of laughs. Speaking of funny scenes with her, she is involved with perhaps the most hysterical sex scene I have witnessed in recent memory. I will not go into detail about it, but look forward to it.

The film is incredibly well paced, finely written, and while I’m not sure if this film will get many nominations for cinematography, there is one kick-ass action scene that is all done in one take. The set used for it is incredibly vibrant, which only adds to the overall sense of satisfaction I achieved from watching the particular clip. This movie happens to be shot by Chung-hoon Chung, who also shot 2017’s “IT.” To me, “IT” has good cinematography. After seeing “Zombieland: Double Tap,” there’s a good chance “IT” might as well eat its own heart out. Or in this case, its brains out.

If I had any flaws with “Zombieland: Double Tap,” there are a couple lines that don’t exactly land, and there is a line that happens to be a callback that feels kind of awkward as one particular character responds to said callback. Also, there are certain portions that do become slightly predictable. But even with that, it pretty much fails to detract from the overall fun to be had watching this movie. And again, this is mostly a comedy. I don’t consider it a “flaw” per se that this feels more comedic than horrifying, but if you are going in expecting pure scares or dark vibes, look elsewhere. Then again, I guess I couldn’t go wrong with a fun zombie movie every now and then. Nothing wrong with that in my book.

In the end, “Zombieland: Double Tap” is a sequel worthy of the “Zombieland” name. It may be as good as the original, if not better. It’s fun, crazy, and hilarious. Halloween is coming so there’s a lot of horror material right now in theaters, so if you want your horror fix while also slapping your knees, “Zombieland: Double Tap” is worth seeing. In fact, if you just saw “Joker” and need something light to watch, I would probably recommend this movie even more because you have a transition from something incredibly disturbing and depressing to something absolutely bonkers and energizing. It would probably be a pretty good double feature if you ask me. I’m not sure on my final rating yet, but I enjoyed “Zombieland: Double Tap” just about as much as its predecessor, so I’m going to give it a rather high 7/10. Thanks for reading this review! I just want to let everyone know that next Wednesday, I have an advance pass to the upcoming film “Countdown.” This film is about a nurse who downloads an app that predicts when people would die, only to find out she has three days left before she bites the dust. This sounds like a neat concept, so I am absolutely curious as to how it will be executed. Be sure to follow Scene Before either with an email if you want notifications about the blog in your inbox, or with a WordPress account to like, comment, and get notifications in your WordPress feed. Stay tuned for more great content, and check out my Facebook page! I want to know, as of this review, there have been a number of advance screenings that have taken place. So, did you see “Zombieland: Double Tap?” What did you think about it? Are you looking forward to it? How does it compare to the original for you? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!