THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA (2013)

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Tom Elkins
Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Chad Michael Murray, Abigail Spencer, Emily Alyn Lind, Cicely Tyson, Andrea Frankle, Brad James
RunTime: 1 hr 41 mins
Rating: PG13 (Disturbing Scenes)
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Official Website:

Opening Day: 14 March 2013

Synopsis: The Wyrick family moves into a historic home in Georgia, only to learn that they are not the house's only inhabitants. Soon they find themselves in the presence of a secret rising from underground and threatening to bring down anyone in its path.

Movie Review:

What does the haunting in Connecticut have to do with the ghosts of Georgia? Strictly speaking, absolutely nothing at all, other than the fact that the producers of that modest hit have decided to make an in-name only sequel to the 2009 original. Most such movies often reek of cash-grab attempts based on audience familiarity (and certainly the release pattern of this movie, both in Singapore and the United States, would seem to attest to it), which was why it is surprising that ‘The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia’ proves to be a surprisingly effective low-budget horror.

Like its predecessor, this one begins with its principal characters moving into a house with a history. Whereas the first movie was that of a mortuary, this one is a historic country home that was once used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. More than that, it was also a sanctuary for runaway slaves during the Civil War, who were kindly offered food and lodging by the humble Station Master. But as you no doubt know, there is a much darker history behind the house, one which will only become clearer over the course of the movie.

Instead, for pretty much the first two acts of the movie, we are led to believe that the spirits which the young Heidi (Emily Alyn Lind) are seeing are that of the slaves who died somewhere around the compound and now desire to have their bodies found and returned to their descendants. Heidi’s ability to see ghosts isn’t coincidental; apparently, it is a gift inherited from her mother, Lisa’s (Abigail Spencer), side of the family – though the latter has painstakingly tried to suppress her extrasensory perception referred to as a “veil”.

In fact, Lisa is so bent on denying the presence of spirits that she refuses to believe what Heidi says she is seeing, even when her husband Andy (Chad Michael Murray) starts to realise that there could be no other possible explanation and her very own sister Joyce (Katee Sackhoff) corroborates Heidi’s claims. First-time feature screenwriter David Coggeshall takes a character-driven approach to the story, setting up the various characters in relation to the supernatural sightings – so unlike the run-of-the-mill horror flicks that go for the jugular right from the start, this one bides its time to set up its premise, which may frustrate more impatient viewers.

And editor-turned-first time director Tom Elkins in turn responds with a steady and engaging buildup that pays equal attention to both the unfolding mystery as well as the characters caught up in it. He rewards his audience’s patience in the film’s third act, which begins with a plot twist that reveals a much more sinister facet of the house’s past and quickly spirals into a potent mix of old-school scares and new-fangled gore. It is gripping stuff to say the least, and one that proves surprisingly coherent because of its links to real-life historical events.

Any character-driven narrative works as best as its actors’ investment in their roles, and thankfully, all the lead players here more than step up to the game. In particular, the one standout is Lind, who gives a riveting performance as young Heidi forced to confront matters way beyond her age and imagination. Despite being perfectly competent in their parts, the adult leads unfortunately can’t quite match up to Lind’s compelling act – though there is a nice cameo by the great Cicely Tyson as an elderly woman with a personal connection to the house’s past.

To be honest, we weren’t expecting much from this low-budget sequel - but even though it won’t become a horror classic anytime, ‘The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia’ still packs both thrill, suspense and shock value to satisfy genre fans. Ignore its awkward title, the fact that it boasts nothing more than a B-list cast, and its defeatist direct-to-VOD aspirations in the United States, this ‘Haunting’ is, we dare say, even better than its predecessor, and a solid bet if you’re in need of a horror fix. 

Movie Rating:

(More than just a shameless sequel to the original, this low-key horror offers its fair share of thrills, suspense and shock value to satisfy genre fans looking for a horror fix)

Review by Gabriel Chong