Haunt (2019): A real scream

 

Haunt, 2019, directed by Scott Beck and Brian Woods, Prime Video, 3.5 stars.

A group of college friends leaving a Halloween party make their way to a haunted-house attraction in a remote area.

They're greeted at the entrance by a guy in a creepy clown outfit who has them sign liability waivers and lock up their cell phones before they can go in. Of course, we know that's a flashing red beacon of danger. But our heroes pay it no mind. They're just here for some chills and thrills to cap off their evening.

You know what's coming. Our heroes get a couple of jump scares early before they get lost in a maze, and the operators of the haunted house start messing with them. The fun and games that aren't so fun and playful get increasingly chilling and violent.

Haunt has the potential to be just another of a gazillion claustrophobic psycho-slasher movies out there. But it does stand well above the crowd with some truly tense, white-knuckle moments and enough surprises to keep us engaged.

Beck and Woods deliver the goods. The script is well-paced and the cinematography is expert. I was not familiar with anyone in the cast, but the acting was solid. The costuming, the makeup, the lighting all are effectively creepy. We get plenty of beautiful gore. Perhaps best of all, rare for a movie like this, the payoff is exciting and satisfying.

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