Watch Haunt

In the horror-thriller film Haunt, a group of friends bereft of Halloween plans decide to go to an extreme haunted house. Their hope is to experience a thrill and an adrenaline rush or two, and they believe this extreme haunted house will provide just that. They are also hoping to find some relief from the pressures of life. Harper (Katie Stevens) is the central character of the movie. She is a nervous but tenacious survivor who appears to be living cautiously and avoiding any and all conflict. Her seemingly cautious and unassuming nature is put to the test when the group of friends begins to experience strange and terrifying events at the haunted house.

Their tour guide for the night cues the group that once they enter the haunted house, they will not be allowed to leave until they complete the entire walkthrough. In hindsight, this is a clue to the dangers that lay ahead. Tension and suspense begin to rise as each room in the house displays a terrifying, yet well-crafted depiction of the cruelest torture and torment scenes.

As the group moves through the house, they start to realize that it is much more than an ordinary haunted house. It’s more like a real house with walls lined with passages and hidden rooms behind false walls, and there are unnerving and often unseen inhabitants.

The scares are plentiful and will have viewers hiding behind their hands, but what makes Haunt a genuinely creepy movie is the sense of danger at every turn. As the group of friends continues to explore the house, they realize that they are not alone, and their lives are in grave danger.

Katie Stevens is impressive as Harper, the only character who is sober enough to notice all the red flags surrounding them. Harper finds herself struggling to ensure not only her own survival but also the survival of her friends. One of those friends, Nathan (Will Brittain), tries to get the group to leave the house at the first sign of danger, but their tour guide warns them that only bad things will happen if they try. It all leads to a tense and chaotic climax that will have viewers sitting on the edge of their seats.

Although Haunt isn’t perfect, it's refreshingly simple in its execution if not a little predictable at times. The pacing is smooth and builds a lot of tension while delivering enough twists and surprises to keep viewers engaged. The movie works best if you go in with an open mind and a willingness to be scared.

The setting of the extreme haunted house is creative and unique, and each room is gorgeously designed to provide various scares. The film does rely heavily on jump scares, but they are well-placed and utilized to perfection to increase the horror and jump the audience.

Haunt also explores painful themes, such as past traumas and PTSD, which inform the story of Harper, who is dealing with a recent breakup and other personal issues. Her ability to face the horror head-on and use her past experiences to help her face her fears is impressive and makes her a relatable and strong central character.

Overall, Haunt is an enjoyable and nerve-racking horror movie that more than delivers in its promise of scares. The characters are well-drawn, the setting is refreshingly original, and the scares are well-crafted. If you are into horror movies that will give you goosebumps and make you jump out of your skin, then Haunt is the perfect movie for you. It’s an effective and unforgettable journey into terror that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

Haunt is a 2019 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 69.