An American Haunting

If you've ever had a hankering to see The Exorcist in period dress, An American Haunting is the film for you, although the only truly supernatural element here is the mystery of what could have possibly possessed Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek to sign on for the project. Based on an actual event that occurred in Tennessee circa 1817, writer-director Courtney Solomon's film finds the two veterans playing John and Lucy Bell, a prosperous couple whose nubile daughter is bedeviled by some malevolent invisible force after John is hexed by a neighbor he fleeced in a land deal. After an exorcism fails to dislodge the otherworldly intruder (and an attempt to remove the girl proves a disaster when the spirit takes the shape of a snarling wolf to prevent the escape), the bad thing eventually turns its attention from the youngster to John. An American Haunting offers no explanation for the spooky goings-on, but an addendum points out that poltergeist activity sometimes arises out of emotional stress, which might have been the case in this instance (indeed, there's a strong suggestion that child abuse was the root cause of the problem). No matter: despite all the thumps in the night, screams, and overwrought cinematography, An American Haunting isn't scary in the least; it's merely tedious. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include 10 alternate/deleted scenes (39 min.), an abbreviated video commentary by filmmaker Courtney Solomon (16 min.), a five-minute interview with costar Sissy Spacek by Solomon, and trailers and TV spots. Bottom line: a so-so extras package for a disappointing thriller.] (F. Swietek)