Haunt (2019) is an Underrated Thriller

I’d rather avoid a haunted house on Halloween night.

Haunt frightened audiences in 2019. A group of teens go to a haunted house on Halloween night. This haunted house is deadlier than the friends thought, occupying rooms with their worst fears. As they venture the twisted hallways to freedom, the group dwindles.

Haunt is a terrifying and fun film. We don’t have enough horror films like this. I haven’t seen enough people talk about this film. As I sat on the edge of my seat watching Haunt, this movie made me fear haunted houses.

The film’s premise revolves around a group of friends who want to have a fun time on Halloween night. Before you argue that these characters don’t have depth, take another look. Character motives and exposition don’t always need explanation.

At the very least, the protagonists are not written as annoying stereotypical teens, something I really detest. The characters are likable, have some depth, and have a genuine friendship.

Katie Stevens is a powerhouse as Harper. Viewers have mixed opinions on Harper’s backstory, but I believe it’s necessary. Her backstory makes the character feel real and helps viewers root for her. Credits also include Will Brittain, Lauryn Alisa McClain, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Shazi Raja, Schuyler Helford, and Philip Johnson Richardson.

As scared as they are, none of them back down. The friends fight for one another, so they’ll all make it out alive. One of them has an opportunity to run away but he doesn’t. The character’s support and will to fight back is a vital technique. I am so glad this film establishes that. Fight back in any situation.

The actors playing the evil owners of the haunted house were terrifying. I’d run away the instant I saw a terrifying mute clown. The actors were given strong motivations for their characters to make them subtle and mysterious.

The cast and crew went to several haunted houses to do research. The set design is the standout of Haunt. The set interiors were built inside a dairy factory. Each room of the haunted house is designed to prey on the victim's fears. First, it’s a fun setting copying your average haunted house until the rooms snare traps or real spiders crawl through the walls.

The haunted house is immersed in treacherous and deadly rooms, leading to confusing mazes. It puts viewers into this insane haunted house, fighting for safety along with the protagonists. From the moment the group enters the haunted house, the tension starts.

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods built anticipation through eerie technical work and expertly crafted suspense through eerie lighting and unsettling sounds. Any other movie would have made Haunt completely different. What sets Haunt apart is its ability to take a familiar concept and twist it into a nightmarish ordeal that leaves audiences fearing for the characters.

Haunt is all about the psychological horror, amplifying the terror. The scares aren’t solely reliant on jump scares. In all truth, some of them scared me. Haunt is realistic. After watching this movie, I am not sure if I want to go to another haunted house.

I felt like I was holding my breath as characters wandered the claustrophobic halls. As for the ending, the last five minutes felt stapled on. The ending should have been left ambiguous.

The crew had fun working on Haunt even dressing up for Halloween when they had to film on the holiday. Take a look at Haunt this Halloween season. It’s an underrated horror film for sure that deserves more hype.