Watch The Haunting in Connecticut

The Haunting in Connecticut is a 2009 supernatural horror movie directed by Peter Cornwell and based on the alleged real-life haunting of the Snedeker family in souther Connecticut. The film features a talented ensemble cast including Virginia Madsen, Martin Donovan, Elias Koteas, Kyle Gallner and Amanda Crew. The story starts with the Campbells, a family of five, needing to move closer to the hospital that their teenage son Matt, played by Gallner, is being treated for cancer. They find an affordable house close by, which they soon realize that the house was previously a funeral home. As they begin to settle down and explore the house, strange paranormal occurrences start happening, including the appearance of ghosts and voices that nobody can explain.

As the hauntings intensify, the family contacts a local priest, Reverend Popescu, played by Koteas, to perform an exorcism. The priest tries to aid the family in understanding the supernatural occurrences by delving into the house's history, leading to revelations about its past owners and their connection to the supernatural.

Meanwhile, Sara Campbell, played by Madsen, starts to have paranormal visions and nightmares, and it becomes clear that the house holds dark secrets that might be related to her son Matt’s cancer. Determined to find out the truth behind the mystery, Sara takes a closer look at the house, digging deeper into its history in the hopes of uncovering hidden secrets.

The movie is excellently paced, with chilling and terrifying scenes that keep you at the edge of your seat throughout the entire movie. The storyline is creepy and unnerving, gradually unfolding as the audience gets to know each of the characters and becomes invested in their individual stories. The cinematography, sound editing, and visual effects all work together to make the audience feel like they are part of the haunting.

The lead performances, particularly those of Madsen, Gallner, and Koteas, are outstanding, and their chemistry makes the movie emotionally engaging. The mother-son dynamic between Madsen and Gallner is particularly well-done, as the two actors portray a deeply loving bond that aides in bringing the story together.

The script, written by Adam Simon and Tim Metcalfe, does a great job of portraying the psychological trauma the family faces as they confront the supernatural forces at work. The movie doesn't rely on cheap scares or jump scares, instead relying on the building of tension and atmosphere to achieve a truly terrifying experience.

Overall, The Haunting in Connecticut is a masterful horror movie, leveraging an excellent lead cast, a gripping storyline, and atmospheric direction to ratchet up suspense and deliver a compelling, intelligent exploration of the supernatural. For fans of horror movies, this is an absolute must-see.

The Haunting in Connecticut is a 2009 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 33.