The Haunting of Molly Hartley – DVD Review

Distributor: Icon Home Entertainment

UK Release Date: 14th June 2010

Format: DVD

Certificate: 15

Running Time: 85 Minutes

RRP: £15.99

Director: Mickey Liddell

Starring: Shannon Woodward, Chase Crawford, AnnaLynne McCord, Shanna Collins

Special Features:

• Cast & Crew Interviews

The Plot:

After surviving a vicious stabbing at the hands of her psychotic mother (who eventually is committed to a mental institution), Molly and her father, move to a new city to make a fresh start.  When she is enrolled in a posh private high school, Molly meets ‘Leah’ (Shannon Woodward), a rebellious teen with an anger management problem; ‘Suzie’ (AnnaLynne McCord – the new “Beverly Hills 90210” TV series), who’s jealous and spiteful; and ‘Alexis’ (Shanna Collins); a born-again Christian.  Molly also meets Joseph Young (Gossip Girl’s heartthrobChace Crawford), who just happens to be Suzie’s ex as well as the one of the richest, most popular boys on campus.

Just when everything is starting to fall into place, Molly’s life is confronted with a series of relentless, horrifying consequences as she learns the shocking revelation leading up to her 18th birthday.  Ultimately, Molly discovers that her mother, and others who share her mother’s concerns, want her killed in order to save her from a preordained life as a servant of the Devil.

Helmed by first-time director, Mickey Liddell, this gripping and nail-biting thriller stands apart as a truly chilling tale that combines edge-of-your-seat suspense with a compelling mystery steeped in the supernatural.  If you’re a fan of horror films including Twilight and Carrie and watch popular television series like Supernatural and Gossip Girl, then The Haunting of Molly Hartley will be right up your street.

Chace Crawford - Has the look, that's about it!

Okay, what to say about The Haunting Of Molly Hartley.  My movie funk continues and although it’s not all bad as Mickey Liddell shows total confidence bringing the source material to life.  It’s just a shame that this films material would probably be more suited for a 42 minute tv show than an actual film.

I suppose The Haunting of Molly Hartley would entertain the tween TV fans. After all there are faces in this film that even the older generation of TV watchers will recognise as that fella from Medium plays Molly’s dad and lets face it, he’s basically playing Joe DuBois in this, in fact I don’t think Chace Crawford knows how to play anything differently to his character in Gossip Girl, he just seemed out of place in the whole sordid affair.

My main feeling is that his character was an after thought, the pretty boy with the pecs and yeah he certainly has that something about him but that’s about it.  I enjoyed his performance in Gossip Girl as the Socialite son but that’s all he seems to play.

A Love Interest? Meh... No real character development, so don't care!!

In fact, excluding Molly the character development was practically non existent, it’s as though the writer had the main thread of the story and just wanted to get to the climax of the piece without laying out the path to it properly.  Even the title is misleading as Molly isn’t exactly haunted… it’s more of a Faustian deal and once you get past all the confusion the film plays out like any other.

There’s nothing new for the older generation of horror fan but for those who like Gossip Girl and 90210 but have no real knowledge of what’s come before… then this is the film for you.

I’d wait until the RRP drops to sub £10 though.