"Haunted" Scares up the Spooks

by Michelle Hausman

Eddie Murphy in The Haunted Mansion Buena Vista Pictures

And you thought you would never be able to see Eddie Murphy in action again without thinking of Donkey from Shrek.

The role Murphy plays Jim Evers in Disney's The Haunted Mansion, and the character perfectly fits his personality and well-known laugh. Evers loves his family, but also loves his job as a real estate agent which brings him on a diversion during a family vacation to Gracey Mansion. Lured to the mansion with the possibility of selling it, the Evers family soon become more than guests. Ghosts appear, some with sarcastic humor, others with more permanent plans. It is always a build-up of suspense ending with a series of laughter. There is also a Romeo and Juliet love story thrown into the mix.

Based on the ride at Disney's Magic Kingdom, The Haunted Mansion falls into the same, new genre as Pirates of the Caribbean. Both movies share unique scenes that are very closely modeled after their rides.

The production designer, John Myhre has worked on sets for the movies Chicago and X-Men. The costume designer, Mona May has worked on the clothes for Clueless, Romy and Michele's High School Renunion, and Stuart Little 2. The producer of the film was Don Hahn who worked on films such as The Lion King and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Other characters included in the cast were Terence Stamp, who plays the creepy butler, Ramsley. He always seems to pop out and make you choke on your popcorn just as you scarf down a handful. Jennifer Tilly plays Madame Leota, and all you see of her the entire movie is her head floating around in a glass ball. Nathaniel Parker plays the suspicious and psychotic master of the mansion, Edward Gracey, who hasn't appeared in a movie since playing opposite of Chris Farley in Beverly Hills Ninja.