Restoration

Watching The Haunted is like opening an antique music box: it creaks, but it still plays a haunting tune. This paranormal potboiler has its skeletons sorted-refreshingly realistic characters and a plot that manages to hold its ectoplasmic weight. However, the one thing I couldn't find was a character to care about. It's a bit like watching Poltergeist but forgetting who actually owns the house. You're intrigued, but you don't feel the urge to grab their hand and scream, "Run to the light!"

The director wields atmosphere like a steady-handed exorcist, knowing when to linger and when to slice. But the pacing? Well, let's just say it crawls slower than a ghost with bad knees. Sepia-tinged flashbacks add a vintage horror charm-until they jarringly burst into full colour, like The Wizard of Oz gone wrong.

Credit where it's due: the cast does solid work. The creepy neighbours, practically auditioning for Twin Peaks: The Paranormal Edition. Their offbeat performances nearly outshine the spectres, adding just the right amount of "What are these people hiding?"

Ultimately, it's a perfectly spooky rainy-night watch. The Haunted doesn't reinvent the haunted house, but it does redecorate with flair. Fans of occult flicks will appreciate the vibes, even if they check their watches between scares.