After a disappointing theatrical performance this summer, Disney's Haunted Mansion will hope to reach audiences from the comfort of their homes. Disney announced this week that the film will arrive on digital retail platforms -- Prime Video, Apple TV and Vudu/Fandango -- on October 4. Those with a subscription to Disney+ will also be able to stream it that day. It will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD shortly afterwards on October 17.
I, personally, felt it a bit weird that Disney would release a Haunted Mansion movie in the middle of summer, but at least we'll be able to enjoy it at home in time for the spooky season.
Based on the classic Disney theme park attraction, Haunted Mansion follows a family residing in a home that's haunted by ghosts. Looking to rid these ghoulish spirits, Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), a single mom, hires a group of so-called spiritual experts.
While the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney is a fan-favorite, the film failed to capture the same haunted magic. It sits at just 38% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics praising the cast but lamenting the lack of scares or humor.
"Haunted Mansion's talented cast makes the movie a pleasant enough destination, although it's neither scary nor funny enough to wholeheartedly recommend," the critics' consensus reads.
Haunted Mansion finished its box office run with just $106 million worldwide gross; however, it does seem that those who saw the movie enjoyed it. It has an impressive 84% audience score.
With such drastic differences in score, it may be worth watching the movie for yourself when it arrives for home release next month. You'll even be treated to a few extra bonus features and deleted scenes. Here's everything included with the home release version of Haunted Mansion:
Bonus Features*
FEATURETTES:
- Making Haunted Mansion (13:05) Hear from cast, crew and filmmakers about creating this grim grinning adventure based on the world-famous ride. See how the ghosts were "brought to life," what role new technology played, and how the wildly popular attraction inspired the film's design.
- 999 Happy Haunts (7:05) There are 999 Happy Haunts inside the Disney Parks' attraction...but always room for one more! See all the Easter eggs (well, maybe not all of them) where characters big, small, alive, departed, human and otherwise appear in both the movie and the ride.
DELETED SCENES:
Take a look at some moments that passed on before the final version of The Haunted Mansion was finished.
- Carol (0:45)
- 1 Star (0:44)
- Harriet’s House Of Intuition (3:11)
- They Say The Place Is Haunted (1:16)
- Between Realms (1:42)
- Crump Manor (1:07)
- Emergency Baptism (1:01)
- A Good Head For Business (0:32)
GAG REEL:
- Who knew making a scary movie could be so funny!
If you're looking to get into the spooky spirit this Halloween, but don't want to frighten the kids too much, Disney's Haunted Mansion might be a good option!