Overrated and overhyped

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The movie was wonderful. It was nice to see these things acted out in front of me as opposed to in my head when reading the stories. All of the actors did a fantastic job in the movie and made it totally believable. I think that Ric White (writer, director, actor-"James Johnston") did a fantastic job in front of the camera as well as Stephanie Love ("Lucy Bell"). The whole cast did a fantastic job as I said, but those two really took their parts and lived them out.Mr. White also did a great job writing it and directing it. Though the production picture and sound quality had it's moments of question, the writing, directing, and acting all came together so well that after an hour and a half of the movie was over I was shocked to know it had gone by so fast. I was drawn in to the story so much that the movie seemed almost to be over before I had realized 2 hours had gone by! The only thing I didn't get to see was the story of when Andrew Jackson visited the house, nor did they ever say the witch's name was "Kate", which for as much as I've read happens to be a major part in the history of this story.In any case, I'd suggest checking this out and make sure you are prepared to jump! I jumped a couple times in this, and all I can say is, it's been a long time since any movie has made me do that!

My husband picked up this copy by mistake. We had been hearing about the production Bell Witch: The Movie 2004 directed by Shane Marr starring Betsy Palmer who played Jason Voorhees mother in Friday the 13th and who has a good background in films. He came home and gave it to me. When I looked at it I knew it wasn't the right one because of the credits. Well, being a fan of the Bell Witch legend I watched it anyway. It was terrible. I wouldn't tell anyone to watch it. I looked on the listing Bell Witch: The Movie 2004 comments on Internet Movie Data Base Directed by Shane Marr to see if anyone had left any info on that film. When I got there I saw no comments. I seen several messages on the message board. To tell you how terrible this movie is. The people who are proclaiming it's greatness on this listing Bell Witch Haunting 2004 are promoting it on the other movie site the version directed by Shane Marr. And leaving phone numbers to sell it. Look at the message board and it's contents see for yourself. My opinion is this movie doesn't have a leg to stand on. I haven't been able to find the Shane Marr copy to see it. I hope it is better than this one.

If anyone tells you this picture is just terrific they probably have something to do with either making it or profiting from it. This film is a real loser and it copies situations from big budget horror movies and not to mention soundtracks to. I wouldn't recommend this one to my worst enemy. It is a low budget movie with amateur actors. It looks like it was filmed for a film contest. The acting is terrible and it wouldn't surprise me if the script was written by a Hee Haw script writer. My family laughed at it. A Grade ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ all the way. You won't be scared by this one. Here is one little taste of the terrible elements of this film. When the guy gets his toe stomped by Ric White's stupid portrayal of the Reverend James Johnston walking cane. The guys reactions are like if he had an amputation with no pain killer. Watch the DVD extras after you watch the movie. When you see Ric White and others talk so seriously about the movie you will laugh till your stomach hurts. How people will stretch the truth and what they will do to earn a dishonest buck. Don't get fooled like we did and buy this failure.

I saw the new movie "The Bell Witch Haunting," which I can best describe as being a carefully researched, enlightening, and entertaining rendition of the legend. Moreover, I came away with a greater understanding and appreciation of the legend. The only other production that left me feeling that way was "The Bell Witch Story," a play that was directed and produced by the team of Ric White and Linda Thornton, the same people who have now brought "The Bell Witch Haunting" to the "big screen." Was this a mere coincidence? I don't think so. They "grew up" on the Bell Witch and have researched the legend extensively. Now, add the fact that they are accomplished actors and directors. This is precisely the "history meets drama" concept that I have been writing about for years, where a good Bell Witch movie comes about when historians and movie people pool their abilities and work together - WHAT A CONCEPT!."The Bell Witch Haunting" relates many of the original Ingram stories, as well as a few first-time accounts that are most likely rooted in the writer's perception of what might have happened but was not related in early accounts – which is fine. The Ingram stories are portrayed as they were originally told, with dimension occasionally being added for color and depth, but not changed or embellished in any way. The stories added by the writer are seamlessly interwoven with the original story, which makes for an enhanced and more entertaining account. Writing in such a manner that the audience is presented with a cohesive, hybrid account of the legend, is a work of art – in my opinion.No actor stood out as being better – or worse – than the others. All did an excellent job, and I applaud them relentlessly. Scenes, such as the look on James Johnston's face when he first encountered the "Spirit," and the agony experienced by John Bell as he lay on his deathbed, give the legend a dimension that no printed work - bar none - can effectively convey. Sure, we can spend pages upon pages describing the fear and agony experienced by the characters, but a single portrayal by good actors paints a more vivid picture than written works that employ "a thousand words to paint a picture" of the agony.The scene where Betsy Bell tried to greet visitors while in a trance was downright frightening. The pale and downtrodden look on her face -- in many scenes, actually -- serves as a vivid reminder of the abuse she endured at the hands of "Kate." I was equally impressed by the way in which the "tree lady" was alluded to in multiple scenes. It is one of the most frightening parts of the legend, and deserves more than just one scene. Job well done.I was particularly impressed with the careful attention paid to the chronology of events, something that few published works have done. It was nice to be able to watch the events unfold in the right order; and, the carefully planned transitions made for a pleasant and sometimes comical experience.Historical accuracy was seamlessly embedded into the movie. A case in point is the scene depicting Betsy Bell's outdoor birthday party, where you can see breath vapor as people speak, if you look closely. How does this relate to historical accuracy? Betsy's real birthday is in January, the coldest month of the year. "But why would anyone be so crazy as to have an outdoor party in January?" you might ask. The answer is, "the original legend says they did." But why? Ask Ingram, not the movie director - he is only trying to keep the movie accurate per the original legend.Another example of historical accuracy is the characters themselves. In terms of age and physical appearance, they closely resemble the people being portrayed, as per historical descriptions. I was also impressed by the candlelit scenes, which help the viewer understand the household environment back in the day of John Bell.Interweaving historical accuracy in such a manner allows the ghost story to flow freely while giving the audience a history lesson in the process.I was pleasantly surprised by the set and camera work, and especially the director's choice not to go overboard with special effects. The movie was filmed in middle Tennessee, not too far from where the legend took place. The only downside, which lasted only a few seconds, was the lighting in one of the outdoor scenes. It was too bright, but did not materially detract from the movie. The choice of land gives the viewer what I feel is a good picture of what the actual Bell farm might have looked like. The house on the set is not made of logs, but resembles the real one, per historical descriptions, in every other regard.The music served its purpose well; however, if had been mixing it, I would have incorporated some spooky, wind-like sounds - or something along those lines - into the transitions between scenes. But notwithstanding, the transitions and music are fine like they are.Whether you are a Bell Witch expert, novice, or armchair historian, I think you will enjoy and learn from "The Bell Witch Haunting." I highly recommend that you go see it and get the DVD as well – you will probably want to watch it again and again.Thank you, Ric and Linda, for a wonderful movie! Pat Fitzhugh, Author / Historian The Bell Witch Web Site