Throughout the movie Betsy is confronting the ghost of a girl, who's hands and face turns black when they touch.

The girl is so victimized by her father that her spirit leaves her body. 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. Between the years 1818-1820, the Bell Family of Red River, Tennessee was visited by an unknown, unseen presence that terrorized the family. Not only does it become illogical almost immediately, but the camera movements are intolerable, the acting is lackluster at best, the number of historical and factual inaccuracies become too numerous too count, and the final ending is not only one of the worst endings to a horror film, but is almost impossible to decipher. I have seen all of these and they are all better than AH. I think, having read some other comments that this film will appeal more to women.

I cant think of one negative comment about this film, its one of my favorites and i urge anyone who might be reading this to go see it.

Onto the film. So, if your not interested in knowing what this movies about (if you weren't you probably wouldn't be here) then read no further. This film kicked my butt up down and sideways. In other words, I wasn't expecting some great factual account a haunting that supposedly took place way back when. There also is excellent 5.1surround sound in here.

Its one of a kind on all fronts. An American Haunting was reviewed at the AFI FEST 2005. So with all the information known on the case, Why would they slaughter a story so much? And incredibly the haunting stops. I repeat NOT a Ghost movie. What makes it even better is that it's based on a true story. There's loud, frightening music, several jump scenes, and spooky handheld camerawork through dark stairwells, hallways, and woods. If you are looking for blood and guts, then it will not be for you. 'ghost cam' for example, when we entered the spirits perspective, was utter rubbish. The twist is one of the least sensible of its kind in recent memory, as there is nothing in the film, up to that point, to warrant such a move. Don't have an account? One of those movies where you come out thinking I've just wasted 90 minutes of my life which I'll never get back.

My god it rocked me and I'm betting it will definitely rock a hell of a lot of people who dare go see it.

Mostly these confrontations happen in dreams.

This same case has inspired books (including the source for this script, a novel by Brent Monahan) and films. Despite being based on one of the most famous ghost stories in American history and including a solid cast, this 'horror' film is anything but scary, dramatic, or even interesting. Earlier dad is having some serious emotional issues and even attempts suicide. I hope you understand the movie better now. I don't want to give anything away, but there is a surprise ending which I was happy to see they obviously built the film around, instead of just added it at the end like a lot of films do these days. Despite being based on one of the most famous ghost stories in American history and including a solid cast, this 'horror' film is anything but scary, dramatic, or even interesting. The worst thing to happen to TRUE ghost stories since The Amityville Horror. I guess that I was expecting the storyline to be more in tune with the legend. So, if your not interested in knowing what this movies about (if you weren't you probably wouldn't be here) then read no further. Secondly, don't rip off the Evil Dead "shaky" camera that scrolls through the woods and fail miserably(Evil Dead fans will know what I mean). Ghostly things beginning happening to Betsy, the daughter. Betsy is assaulted repeatedly and viciously, a pattern that makes the movie painful to watch.

I'll tell you what this movie was about, since some people seem confused. Here begin the flashbacks about Lucy Bell (Sissy Spacek), whose family is cursed by neighbor Kate Batts (Gaye Brown) over a loan dispute. WOW! Both of these actors played their part well and if it weren't for such a terrible story and generic scare tactics, they may have been able to save the movie. Being from near the area where this true story supposedly happened, I somewhat know about this story, and have even visited the site in Adams, TN. It's a roller coaster ride all the way, so fasten your seat belts. The cinematography by master Adrian Biddle and the score by Caine Davidson are first rate, and help propel you into an unforgettable ghost story that will linger in your memory and haunt your dreams/nightmares for months after. The way in which it was shot just sort of gave it a kind of eerie feel, which really added to the suspense. So just to be clear, there's no actual ghost or demonic presence in this movie at all. That makes me wonder how times I would watch this, since I already own a lot of great visual movies.

A collection of cheap jump-scares and tacky clichd imagery that we've seen a million times before. Sorry guy's, maybe next time they tell a true life story they should stick to THE STORY!

WoW! The ending we saw last night was recently changed because the previous ending got such a horrible review. This had the effect that it was obvious what was behind it all, what needed to be done to solve the problem and identified who would get their comeuppance. Film Friday: This Week's Movie News and New Trailers. This should have been a Lifetime movie (or even an after-school special), since it felt exactly like that kind of overly sentimental dreck. It mostly resembled a bad soap opera.

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. 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.

The movie begins with the father (Sutherland) losing face for "usury" for trying to take another woman's land in a deal with high interest which she wouldn't be able to pay back, therefore losing her land to him. The End. But the real star of this film is director/writer Courtney Solomon. The only thing about the film that is consistent with the true Bell Witch story is the names of the characters and that it is set in early 1800's Tennessee. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy The curse shows itself as an evil force that brutally, and frequently, attacks young Betsy Bell (Rachel Hurd-Wood). No curse and no real haunting technically. It's a roller coaster ride all the way, so fasten your seat belts. A Great and Haunitng Film That Will Leave You Scared For Days! That is the best I can muster! No curse and no real haunting technically. You could actually feel the hair on the back of your neck standing up. This also immediately establishes dad as pretty much a scumbag, but a nice guy sort of scumbag. The film is based on the poltergeist story involving a family in rural Tennessee in the early 1800's. First, I have to say that Rachel Hurd Wood was fantastic as Betsy. This clichéd nonsense kept me awake all night, not because it was haunting but because i couldn't comprehend how such a misguided film ever got made. The actors, I thought, did a great job. To sum it all up I would only recommend this movie if you have already seen United 93, MI-III and RV.

'ghost cam' for example, when we entered the spirits perspective, was utter rubbish. In fact it ceases to be scary by the third time. not even Spacek or Sutherland come out of the film with any credit. Ran into this while looking for a horror movie to watch on a Saturday evening. Instead of retelling the actual event, this movie revolves around it, giving us an entirely different interpretation of the haunting. You will see why.

That makes me wonder how times I would watch this, since I already own a lot of great visual movies. At the end of the movie, its 2006 again. Incoherent and very grim curse/sex abuse story. Hollywood can take their movies and shove them. I did think that the score was a little large at times, and that the sound was a little loud, but really good and effective, just loud. Between the years 1818-1820, the Bell family of Red River, Tennesee was visited by an unknown presence that haunted the family and eventually ended up causing the d3@th of one of its members. A failed attempt at creating emotional resonance. I was wrong. It mostly resembled a bad soap opera. That was literally every scene. Where to start?

To date, it is the only recorded case in American history where a spirit of entity has caused the death of a human, An American Haunting is based on true events documented by the State of Tennessee. I would give this film a high 5 out of 10, but I rounded up in this instance to 6 out of 10. He was sneaking into her room and molesting/raping her. In fact, if I was a descendant of John Bell or Betsy Bell or any of the people referenced in this movie (and there are lots of them), I would be appalled at the way they portray John Bell as a child abusing rapist. No spirit kills dad, mom kills dad. AN AMERICAN HAUNTING is a horror flick about a spiteful entity's attacks on a pre-adolescent girl and her family. In my opinion they should have just stopped the movie 2 minutes short. That's why the girl was chewing her nails and so worried looking from inside the vehicle as her and her dad drove off together. Only I was a bit suspicious since this had flown under my radar. It's beside the point, as we enter one of the most striking spaces I've ever seen in a film.

It really stays with you, which I think is the sign of a good film. He was sneaking into her room and molesting/raping her. I'm not in the habit of dishing out the lowest possible score to movies I review on IMDb, but this tedious tale of malevolent spirits is an exceptionally bad film that truly deserves a roasting. Anyway, the film really delivers and it says something important at the same time. This is in defiance of church law. One note I intentionally left out was that in the beginning of the movie it opens in 2006. Every-one involved was stilted ,wooden and one-dimensional.

Then to pull the whole story together it basically tells you that the father was raping the daughter, thats why the mother poisons him and the whole spirit killed someone theory was blown to bits.