5 things we want to see in Disney's Haunted Mansion remake

We are getting a Haunted Mansion remake, and we have a wish list for Disney — one that will hopefully make this next rendition of the story a success.

Over the last few years, we have been teased with the idea of a Haunted Mansion movie remake from Disney. Based on the iconic ride at the Disney theme parks, Haunted Mansion is creepy fun that we can’t wait to see brought to life on our screens again.

While the original movie, which featured Eddie Murphy as our leading man, was considered a flop with audiences, it has remained a staple of our Halloween movie marathons over the last 20 years or so.

However, since the news broke that a remake was back in the works, I have been putting together a wish list of things we want to see in this new take on the Haunted Mansion ride. And while it certainly sounds like things may lean toward the comedic side, if the details that CinemaBlend shared are anything to go by, it feels like that could be what messed up the original.

Here are five things we want to see in Disney’s Haunted Mansion remake.

1. More Horror/Chills/Thrills

For many people who are fans of the Haunted Mansion, the preference seems to be for more of a horror take on the story. And while that makes sense considering the name, we have to remember that we are still talking about a House of Mouse property here, so we aren’t going to get anything too crazy scary.

All that being said, it would be nice if we did get a bit more thrills, chills, horror, and scares out of this remake. Honestly, the ride itself makes you jump, just because of all the ghosts popping out of nowhere. So, that is kind of what we want to see more of. We want to jump! It doesn’t even have to be crazy scary, it just needs to have the right amount of thrills to remind us of the ride’s magic.

2. Take It More Seriously

Considering the Haunted Mansion is not the first or last Disney ride to be transformed into a movie, we need to look at what made each movie work or fail. And one way to make the Haunted Mansion more of a success would be to actually take the content seriously. If they look to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise for inspiration, they might see that, while they took elements of the ride in order to build the movie, they didn’t throw everything on the table and then just build off of that.

If we want a Haunted Mansion movie that actually works, they need to pull aspects of the ride that we can take seriously and build from there. For example, the mansion itself needs to feature actual components of the ride to work. From paintings to hidden doorways, make us feel like we have stepped foot on the ride.

3. More Supernatural Elements

It’s a Haunted Mansion. That means we need supernatural elements. We need more ghosts… after all, how can it be a haunted mansion if there isn’t enough haunting happening?

Maybe it’s just me, but if the Pirates of the Caribbean can have a walking, talking skeleton (remember that scene in the moonlight?!), why can’t a movie that is all about a haunting? Whether it is an all-out skeleton or even just a skeletal hand scurrying across the screen, there need to be more supernatural moments that help deliver those thrills and chills we seek.

4. More Scary Fun, Less Comedy

Don’t get me wrong, I like Eddie Murphy, but when I think of the Haunted Mansion, I don’t think comedy. And having a comedian as our leading man didn’t work the first time.

Instead of leaning on a comedian to create laughs for this remake, Disney should try to find a way to make the movie more in line with the idea of scary fun. It should be more of a reality-based concept, with fun moments interspersed with what one might consider a bit more of a scare.

5. We Still Want a Family Movie, But With an Edge

The thing about the Haunted Mansion is that it is a family-friendly ride. It doesn’t have the drops of a roller coaster or the water of the Pirates of the Caribbean. But what it does have is a story and a fun jaunt through a mansion filled with ghosts.

If the filmmakers can take that energy and bring it to life the way they have before in The Curse of the Black Pearl, then maybe we will have a film that actually hits all of the right notes it missed the first time around.

While this is not the first time that Disney has talked about a remake of the Haunted Mansion, it does seem like the first time they have seriously gotten busy with a script. Hopefully, they don’t go with a comedy for this new take on the ride, and instead take a cue from their Pirates franchise, where the humor was in addition to the more serious moments.

Next. Netflix teases our new haunting obsession: Bly Manor. dark

What do you think of a Haunted Mansion remake? What would you like to see from it? Sound off in the comments below!

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5 things we want to see in Disney’s Haunted Mansion remake

By Kimberley Spinney | Sep 6, 2020