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When their little girl is abducted by malevolent spirits, the Bowen family turns to paranormal investigators to help get her back. Remake of the 1982 Steven Spielberg production manages to follow its central storyline nearly to the end, but falls short of the original in almost every other way. Much of the movie is composed of variations on scenes and ideas from the earlier film, and while some of them work, others do not. Most noticeable is the absence not of the mother's fear but of her wonder and delight for the spirit world that made the other so unique. One original idea -- that of turning the little girl's frightened brother into a hero -- simply smacks of pandering. Relentlessly updated and modernized, with flat screen TVs, cell phones, and one of those remote controlled toy drones; regrettably, diminutive medium Zelda Rubinstein is given the same treatment, being replaced by the host (Jared Harris) of a supernatural-themed reality TV show. Some of the special effects, particularly in the early going, are very good, though. With, as the Bowen family, Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Saxon Sharbino, Kyle Catlett, and Kennedi Clements.
When their little girl is abducted by malevolent spirits, the Bowen family turns to paranormal investigators to help get her back. Remake of the 1982 Steven Spielberg production manages to follow its central storyline nearly to the end, but falls short of the original in almost every other way. Much of the movie is composed of variations on scenes and ideas from the earlier film, and while some of them work, others do not. Most noticeable is the absence not of the mother's fear but of her wonder and delight for the spirit world that made the other so unique. One original idea -- that of turning the little girl's frightened brother into a hero -- simply smacks of pandering. Relentlessly updated and modernized, with flat screen TVs, cell phones, and one of those remote controlled toy drones; regrettably, diminutive medium Zelda Rubinstein is given the same treatment, being replaced by the host (Jared Harris) of a supernatural-themed reality TV show. Some of the special effects, particularly in the early going, are very good, though. With, as the Bowen family, Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Saxon Sharbino, Kyle Catlett, and Kennedi Clements.
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