Alright, buckle up, folks! I recently stumbled upon a cinematic gem from 2013 that had me in stitches – “A Haunted House!” Forget the jump scares; this is like the “Scary Movie” crew decided to host a stand-up comedy show in a haunted house. With a modest $2.5 million budget, it raked in a whopping $60.5 million at the box office. Now, it’s experiencing a resurgence online, with even the director of “M3GAN 2.0” citing it as an inspiration!
A Mockumentary Masterpiece Gone Hilariously Wrong
While “Paranormal Activity” was busy trying to scare us stiff, “A Haunted House” turned the horror genre into a full-blown comedic spectacle. Our protagonist, Malcolm (Marlon Wayans), discovers his girlfriend is possessed and, naturally, starts live-streaming the exorcism! From quirky priests to a “scientific ghost-busting team,” a parade of oddballs tries to help. We’re talking vacuuming up spirits, using iPhones to measure paranormal activity, and even turning the iconic head-spinning scene from “The Exorcist” into a viral TikTok trend.
The film’s meta-commentary is pure genius. When Malcolm asks the ghost, “Why are you possessing my girlfriend?” the camera cuts to the ghost scrolling on a phone: “Because you humans make too many found-footage movies, and I want to go viral!” This fourth-wall-breaking humor is comedy gold.
The Most Unorthodox Exorcism Crew Ever Assembled
Malcolm’s exorcism team is a comedic dream team:
- The Bean-esque Priest: Cedric the Entertainer as the priest who munches on popcorn while reciting scripture and whips out coupons during the exorcism: “Get 20% off our exorcism package!”
- The Mad Scientist: A lab coat-wearing expert uses a microwave to detect paranormal activity, only to end up roasting the ghost: “Too hot! Too hot!”
- The Ghostly Ex-Girlfriend: A vengeful spirit of an ex-girlfriend killed in a car accident is hilariously distracted by Malcolm’s selfie stick: “That angle makes me look terrible!”
Even Annabelle from “The Conjuring” makes a cameo. When Malcolm tries to smash the doll, she cries out, “Don’t break me! I haven’t made my TikTok yet!” The absurdity is off the charts.
A 9% Rotten Tomatoes Score? Audiences Can’t Get Enough!
Critics panned it (9% on Rotten Tomatoes), but audiences gave it a B- CinemaScore, and it has a higher Douban score (5.9) than “Final Destination 5” from the same era! Why?
- Subverting Expectations: While other horror movies rely on jump scares, this one has the ghost break out into “Gangnam Style,” turning a terrifying scene into a dance party.
- Black Humor at its Finest: Malcolm complains about his girlfriend: “You look scarier possessed than my mom does when she sees my report card!” The relatable humor is a gut-buster.
- Easter Egg Overload: As the credits roll, a ghost recruitment ad pops up: “Seeking evil spirits, benefits included, weekends off. Contact us…” The unexpected twist is pure comedic genius.
Watching it a Decade Later: The Details are Hilariously Ironic!
- The Prophetic Director: The movie features ads for “A Haunted House 2” in 2025, and guess what? There is a “A Haunted House 2” coming out in 2025! While it’s unrelated to the original, the connection is mind-blowing.
- Actor Easter Egg: Marlon Wayans, who plays Malcolm, is rebooting the “Scary Movie” franchise in 2025! The comedic techniques from “A Haunted House” might just get an upgrade.
- A Time Capsule: The frequent appearances of the iPhone 4 and the old YouTube interface are like an internet archaeology dig from 2013. It’s retro and hilarious.
Who Should Watch This?
- Horror Movie Buffs: You’ll appreciate the references and parodies of classics like “The Exorcist” and “The Conjuring.”
- Stressed-Out Individuals: 90 minutes of non-stop laughs are more therapeutic than a stand-up show. Pair it with popcorn and screams.
- Marlon Wayans Fans: He delivers a masterclass in “Black humor.” Even The Hollywood Reporter admitted, “His performance saves the movie.”
This underrated gem is now sparking a wave of fan-made content on platforms like Bilibili and TikTok. People are turning exorcism scenes into remixes, using AI to dub the ghosts, and even “Genshin Impact” players are debating what would happen if Paimon got possessed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this “haunted house stand-up show” is your ticket to laughter!
