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[Review] ‘A Haunting in Salem’ Is Atmospheric but Forgettable

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There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned haunted house flick to get you in the mood for autumn. While these staples of the horror genre usually fall victim to the same formulaic pitfalls due to there simply being so many of them, it’s still fun to see how different filmmakers tackle these age-old tropes. That brings us to Shane Van Dyke’s A Haunting in Salem, a remarkably traditional ghost movie.

The film stars Bill Oberst Jr. as Wayne Downs, the new town Sheriff of Salem, as he moves into a centuries-old house with his wife and two children. After a few bizarre and seemingly paranormal occurrences shake up their new lives, the family begins to suspect that dark forces are at work here, and Sheriff Downs becomes hell-bent on solving the dark mystery behind his new home, which seems to be connected to the Salem witch trials.

Although connecting the plot to Salem’s infamous history sounds like a novel idea, as the thought of undead witches seeking revenge for their cruel executions feels fresh, it’s really just set dressing on top of a run-of-the-mill ghost story. There isn’t much that sets A Haunting in Salem apart from most other supernatural thrillers, which results in a movie that’s not quite as interesting as it could have been.

On the other hand, the film is way more atmospheric than usual The Asylum productions, with some deliberate pacing and patient set-ups for paranormal scares. The wonderfully moody ambiance can mostly be attributed to the excellent location, as the film was shot inside an actual 200-year-old mansion, adding a bit of class to the production.

The movie is also surprisingly restrained with its scares, as most of them rely on slowly but consistently building up dread instead of pure shock value. Sadly, the payoff to these scares is usually disappointing, with some lackluster effects and unoriginal visuals. There is a refreshing lack of CGI spooks, but that doesn’t quite make up for the lack of inspired frights.

Nevertheless, the main family is likable enough, with caring parents and teenagers who are somehow not completely annoying. Sadly, there isn’t much depth to most of these characters, though it is implied that Sheriff Downs has a tragic past. Either way, some more character development could have greatly improved the impact of this seemingly tragic tale of a family torn apart by vengeful spirits.

Ultimately, A Haunting in Salem is stuck in a strange limbo, as it’s not quite schlocky enough to be a fun ride, but not serious or original enough to be a genuinely good movie. While the atmosphere is well-executed, the rest of the film is simply too formulaic to stand out. It’s not necessarily a bad movie, just not a memorable one.

A Haunting in Salem will be playing in select Cinemark theaters on October 26th as a part of Thursday Nights at The Asylum!

Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them.

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SCREAMBOX Investigates UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Several Documentaries Streaming Right Now!

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As someone who is obsessed with UFOS (or more recently known as UAPs) and the concept of extraterrestrials, I love a good documentary. Sightings have been on the rise since the 1940s, with the atomic bomb seemingly acting as a catalyst for new visitors. But what are these UFOs/UAPs? Is there an explanation or are they simply beyond our explanation? Why are they here? Who are they? How much do our governments know? The questions are endless and so are the documentaries that attempt to uncover the secrets behind decades of sightings and alleged confrontations.

Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or new to the rabbit hole, there’s always a handful of interesting documentaries to get your neurons firing and leave you with sleepless nights. SCREAMBOX is investigating with the addition of several docs, all streaming now on the Bloody Disgusting-powered service. Here’s the breakdown:

Aliens (2021): Beam into this unidentified streaming documentary for a glimpse into Extraterrestrial life. Aliens are hypothetical life forms that may occur outside Earth or that did not originate on Earth.

Aliens Uncovered: Origins (2021): Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook.

Aliens Uncovered: ET or Man-Made (2022): The crash of Roswell wasn’t meant for New Mexico. In 1947, a neighboring state had 3 major sightings that were swept under the rug.

Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record (2023): In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors.

Roswell (2021): This high-flying documentary examines the July 1947 crash of a United States Army Air Forces balloon at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Theories claim the crash was actually that of a flying saucer, but what is the truth?

Also check out:

The British UFO Files (2004): Since the 1940’s the British Government has been investigating the Flying Saucer phenomenon. High-ranking military and government personnel, speak out for the first time, offering unique eyewitness accounts and inside information.

Alien Abductions and Paranormal Sightings (2016): Amazing Footage and stories from real people as they reveal their personal encounters of being abducted by Aliens.

And do not miss Hellier (2019): A crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences lead them to a decades-old mystery.

These documentaries join SCREAMBOX’s growing library of unique horror content, including Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Here for Blood, Terrifier 2, RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, The Outwaters, Living with Chucky, Project Wolf Hunting, and Pennywise: The Story of IT.

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

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