The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

Mickey Liddell

Writers (WGA):

John Travis (written by) and
Rebecca Sonnenshine (written by)

Release Date:

31 October 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

This Halloween her past is yet to come.

Plot:

Molly Hartley looks to put her troubled past behind her with a fresh start at a new school, where she sparks with one of the most popular students...

Plot Keywords:

Ancestry | Teenage Girl | Teen | Haunting | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Haley Bennett	...	Molly Hartley
Jake Weber	...	Robert Hartley
Chace Crawford	...	Joseph Young
Shannon Woodward	...	Leah
Shanna Collins	...	Alexis White
AnnaLynne McCord	...	Suzie
Marin Hinkle	...	Jane Hartley
Nina Siemaszko	...	Dr. Emerson
Josh Stewart	...	Mr. Draper
Jessica Lowndes	...	Laurel Miller
Randy Wayne	...	Michael
Jamie McShane	...	Father
Ron Canada	...	Mr. Bennett
Kevin Cooney	...	Dr. Donaldson
Ross Thomas	...	Jock

Also Known As:

She Lived (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for strong thematic material, violence and terror, brief strong language and some teen drinking.

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44711) | Singapore:PG | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Australia:M | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Liddell Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: At a party at his home, Joseph (Chace Crawford) goes to the bar to pour drinks for Molly (Haley Bennett) and himself. In one camera shot - the drinks (in clear glasses) are translucent white/clear. In the second shot - the drinks have turned pale amber. Back to the first camera angle, the drinks are again translucent white/clear.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Molly Hartley: [on the phone] Dad? Could you come pick me up?
Father: Are you safe?
Molly Hartley: Yeah. I'm safe.
Father: I'm on my way.
[hangs up and Molly is attacked instantly]

Movie Connections:

References Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972)

Soundtrack:

Mad Scientist

The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008)

Rating: 2 out of 4 (OK)

Genre: Horror / Thriller / Supernatural

Director: Mickey Liddell

Stars: Haley Bennett, Jake Weber, Chace Crawford, Shannon Marie Woodward, Shanna Collins, AnnaLynne McCord, Marin Hinkle, Nina Siemaszko, Josh Stewart, Jessica Lowndes

Synopsis: Molly's a 17-year-old starting a new school after moving to a new town since her mother tried killing her by stabbing her in the chest. All seems to be going well but hallucinations and nosebleeds lead her to believe that something will happen to her on her eighteenth birthday.

Thoughts: 'Molly Hartley' is a supernatural thriller that does its hardest to channel the spirit of films like 'Rosemary's Baby' with a healthy dose of '90210'-like teen angst drama. Since the scares are all of the jump variety and no sustainable atmosphere is anywhere to be found 'Molly' just spins around in the tired circles of the latest CW drama. I guess it should come as no surprise that the powers that be loaded this one with the beautiful faces that populate '90210' and 'Gossip Girl'. Heck looking at the IMDb filmography and you start to think that 'Molly Hartley' seems more at home on the Lifetime Movie Channel than on the big screen. The cast and crew do a decent enough job with a script that plays more like a 90 minute episode of a teen drama series with a slight supernatural twinge and a thoroughly nut-scratching finale.

In Conclusion: Taylor made for 'tweens and teens, 'The Haunting of Molly Hartley' is just a tepid thriller that builds ever-so-slowly to a crescendo of mediocrity.