A Haunted House

With as much energy as a boisterous puppy and a sense of humour comparable to a randy teen, comes A Haunted House, written by Rick Alvarez and Marlon Wayans, the duo who previously brought you White Chicks and Scary Movie 2. Starring producer Wayans as Malcolm and Essence Atkins as Kisha, the film is the parody-come-comedy of the infamous thriller franchise Paranormal Activity.

There is no real need to explain the story’s plot line – if you don’t know the format of any of the four Paranormals then the film’s title is a bit of a giveaway. Malcolm and Kisha are about to take the next step of their two-year relationship and move in together.

However, this doesn’t come without problems and it seems that Kisha is harbouring more than just a collection of shoes. One pair in particular – red-soled Louboutins – appear to have been acquired through a pact with none other than the devil himself! A sole for a soul…

The highlight of A Haunted House is the dialogue between Malcolm and Kisha, which is continuously funny throughout. Their housekeeper Rosa (Marlene Forte), Dan the Security Man (David Koechner), and Chip the Psychic (Nick Swardson), are all characters thrown into the mix for comic effect. In some ways necessary, the extra personalities add a slight dimension to the film, although a couple are over-the-top and rather superfluous.

For fans of the Scary Movie films, A Haunted House is a solid continuation of the slapstick sense of humour that, combined with sex, drugs and scares, has come to be very recognisable among other genres.

Wayans steals the show with his exaggerated behaviour and nurtured facial expressions. At no point does this film attempt to take itself seriously and consequently, Wayans is metaphorically let off his leash to enjoy his role to its full extent.

A Haunted House is pure guilty pleasure; it is funny but ridiculous, scary but enjoyable.  Filled to the brim with inappropriateness, the film will distinctly appeal only to one target audience, but if you fall into that category you will love it!

Jennifer Atkinson

A Haunted House is released nationwide on 21^st June 2013.

Watch the trailer for A Haunted House here: