AFI Fest Report: An American Haunting Review

Checking in once again from AFI, here's Peter Martin with a look at the Donald Sutherland starring horror flick An American Haunting.

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Restrained and respectable, AN AMERICAN HAUNTING plays like a television docudrama version of the "Bell Witch" story.

Circa 1818, John Bell (Donald Sutherland) incurs the wrath of a neighboring woman over a property deal. The church elders in their rural Tenneessee village declare that Bell is guilty of usury and the loss of his good name. To add insult to injury, it's been whispered that the woman is in league with the devil, and she swears vengeance upon Bell and his family, especially his older daughter Betsy (Rachel Hurd-Wood).

Bell and Betsy begin seeing snarling wolves and a ghostly girl, respectively, until one night when Betsy is tormented by an unseen attacker. College-educated school teacher Richard (James D'Arcy), who is also the
object of Betsy's crush, initially reasons away the supernatural aspect of the attacks, but they become a nightly occurrence that no one can do anything to stop.

The poltergeist drags poor Betsy around her room - fingernails digging into the wood floors - up a staircase, and on and off her bed. All this activity is accompanied by slamming doors, breaking glass, shuddering moans, and the like; in other words, the finest sound design that man and Dolby can achieve.

Director Courtney Solomon adapted his script from a novel that is one of 22 books on the subject of the legendary "Bell Witch," according to what Solomon said in a post-screening Q & A. Solomon said that he is a "believer" - his description - and AN AMERICAN HAUNTING comes across like a believer trying to convince a skeptic.

Certainly the film avoids sensationalism, but that creates a dilemma for horror fans - or anyone who's familiar with ghost stories - because there's nothing new or shocking or terribly involving. Once the nightly attacks begin, they're presented in much the same fashion each time, so it's easy to anticipate what's going to happen. Without any blood or gruesome details on show, it becomes a matter of waiting for the twist ending, which is covered as part of a
modern-day wrap-around.

With Romania standing in for Tennessee, the photography is handsome. Period details are nicely depicted. Sutherland, Wood, and Sissy Spacek as the wife and mother are convincing in their roles. The star of the show remains the ever-present and somewhat spooky sound design.

The film had its World Premiere at AFI FEST and is scheduled for theatrical release in early 2006. The
trailer is available here.

Review by Peter Martin.