Retro Review: THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA (2013){0}
It seems that the producers’ goal in following up The Haunting in Connecticut with Ghosts of Georgia is to produce a series of creepy horror movies that are based on documented events of the supernatural. That’s all fine and good, but it doesn’t make a title like The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia a good idea. Yes, you need to wedge your “Part 1″ title into the “Part 2″ title somehow, but let’s be honest here. Georgia and Connecticut are pretty much opposites. But enough about the goofy title. The movie’s the thing, obviously.
Inspired by the decent success of their 2009 release, The Haunting in Connecticut, the producers have decided to set their sights on a decidedly different part of the country this time around — so if you’re expecting anything that’s actually connected to Part 1, you’re out of luck. Unfortunately, if you’re expecting a new occult thriller that’s particularly novel, exciting, or memorable, you’re out of luck again. That’s not to say there aren’t a few interesting ideas tucked way back in the third act, ideas you’ll definitely see coming long before the generally obtuse characters do, but as is often the case with lower-budgeted, in-name-only sequels, you’ll have to wander through a lot of dry and airy narrative wheel-spinning before the ostensibly scary bits show up.
While The Haunting in Connecticut is about a teenage boy who finds himself beleaguered by irate spirits from beyond the grave, Ghosts of Georgia is about a little girl who lives in a creepy old house that, we eventually find out, was a sanctuary for runaway slaves during the Civil War. Then we’re treated to about a dozen sequences of little Heidi (Emily Alyn Lind) and her gorgeous mom (Abigail Spencer) as they see false visions, slightly truer visions, dreary dream visions, and miscellaneous visions that will make a bit more sense once Act II lurches to a close and we finally get into some of the good stuff.
It’s tough to generate much enthusiasm for a generally forgettable link in a new franchise chain (yes, Part 3 is on the way), but once Ghosts of Georgia lays its cards down and underlines the fact that, yep, it’s actually about the ghosts of runaway slaves, those who appreciate safe (even simplistic) horror fare may get a few jolts out of the finale. It’s also worth noting that the legendary Cicely Tyson pops up for a moment, and that Katee Sackhoff is on hand to add a little spark to a generally uneventful ghost story, and also that the young Ms. Lind gives a surprisingly strong performance — but ultimately there’s simply not a whole lot of meat on these bones. Aside from a pair of pretty and talented actresses, a few effective jolts near the ending, and an admirably bizarre sequence involving an ethereal needle and thread, this is more a granny’s horror flick than anything else.
