Big-budget reworking of the 1963 original stars Liam Neeson as a doctor who gathers together a group of people (Lili Taylor, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Owen Wilson) to an imposing old mansion on the understanding it's for research about insomnia when really Neeson's researching fear. Well guess what; seems the house is very haunted and all sorts of strange goings-on start to happen with timid Taylor the main target of the spirits.

While you can see the makers of this had good intentions going in it's obvious their want of large-scale effects took over in the weak finale. The set design is good (the house is appropriately looming, gothic and dusty), the cast handles it fine, it's well directed and the effects are pretty damn awesome; it just seems to be missing the power of suggestion and mood of the original. At times even the script seems empty.

It's watchable, but it's nowhere near the 1963 film.

Directed By: Jan De Bont.
Written By: David Self.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Lili Taylor.