Hauntology

I saw this film at its premiere at Dances with Films waaaay back in June (I'm just now joining this site.) I truly enjoyed it. If you didn't get it by the name, this film is a horror anthology. A lot of indie films go this route. I believe because it elevates a lot of the problems with production schedules. You can make a film piece by piece or have multiple directors come on and each tackle a section. This film appears to only have one director though throughout its smaller stories. This led to a lot of fun with the themes it tackles. If you're a member of the LGBT community, you'll find a lot to love here. And, that's a huge crossover in horror fandom. Like most horror, I feel like its best to go in blind to these, but I will say, the one about the art gallery was my favorite. When I think of this movie, that's the one that sticks with me. That and the ending wrap around that ties the whole experience together nicely.

At the end of the film Hauntology, I found myself grappling with mixed feelings. On one hand, the premise of the film intrigued me, but on the other, I was left feeling that it could have been a far more engaging experience. As the credits rolled, I couldn't help but reflect on the numerous moments throughout the film that made me cringe, primarily due to the subpar acting and effects. These elements, while perhaps intended to create a unique atmosphere, often detracted from the overall narrative and emotional impact of the story.

The film seems to cater to a very niche audience, one that appreciates the deeper, perhaps more esoteric themes of hauntology itself. This concept, which deals with the presence of ghosts from the past within the current reality, offers fertile ground for storytelling. However, as someone who doesn't necessarily resonate with this specific audience, I felt somewhat alienated. Despite its intellectual ambitions, Hauntology struggled to communicate its ideas effectively, leaving me and perhaps other viewers outside its intended demographic feeling somewhat disconnected.

One of the most notable shortcomings was the acting. The performances came across as wooden and unconvincing at times, which made it challenging to become emotionally invested in the characters. For a film that seeks to explore themes of memory, loss, and the haunting presence of the past, it is vital for the actors to evoke genuine emotions. Unfortunately, the lack of depth in their portrayals made it difficult to connect with their struggles. Instead of feeling empathy or tension, I found myself distracted by the performances, which undermined the film's potential to resonate on a deeper level.

Additionally, the special effects left much to be desired. In a genre where visual storytelling can significantly enhance the atmosphere and narrative, the substandard effects often pulled me out of the moment. Rather than instilling a sense of dread or intrigue, they felt clunky and unrefined. This was particularly evident in the film's attempt to convey its ghostly themes, as the effects did not succeed in creating a haunting or eerie ambiance. Instead of being captivated by the visuals, I was left feeling more amused than scared, which is not the reaction a horror film typically aims to elicit.

"Hauntology" is a wickedly clever LGBTQ+ horror anthology that'll haunt you long after the credits roll. Director Parker Brennon weaves four interconnected tales set in "one of the most haunted places in the country," serving up a supernatural smorgasbord that's equal parts chilling and thought-provoking.

Let's peek into our ghostly grab bag:

"Witchcraft Becomes Her": Julian Cashel's magical transition journey gives new meaning to "body horror." With a witchy assist from Annalisa Drouais, Julian exorcises toxic masculinity - literally!

"The Day Mabel Came Out of the Grave": Great-great-great grandma Mabel Bishop rises from the dead for a second chance at sapphic love. Who says you can't teach an old ghost new tricks?

"Paint and Black Lace": A giallo-inspired masterpiece where the deceased artist May Felner turns art thieves into, well, art. It is, if you will, a killer aesthetic.

"The Old Dark Cashel House": Journalist Madeline Ishii faces off against the ghost of racist patriarch William Cashel. It's "Casper the Friendly Ghost" meets "Get Out."

Brennon's secret sauce is a dash of social commentary, a sprinkle of regional lore, and a heaping helping of family ties. The result is a cohesive supernatural feast that's more satisfying than your average anthology appetizer.

"Hauntology" proves that the only thing scarier than ghosts is outdated prejudice. It's the perfect treat to kick off your spooky season, showcasing solidarity and sisterhood that transcend both generations and planes of existence. Trust me, this director is one to watch... if you dare!

When I stumbled upon the 2024 movie "Hauntology" by random chance here in 2025, I figured it was a horror anthology, given the title of the movie. Normally I am not keen on horror anthologies, as they tend to be a questionable affair in general. But given my life-long love and fascination with the horror genre, of course I had to check out what writer and director Parker Brennon had to offer.

And yes, "Hauntology" is indeed a horror anthology.

Well, as a horror anthology, let's break down the individual segments.

The first segment is titled "Witchcraft Becomes Her" was an adequate tale in the sense that it had an interesting story, but it was hardly a scary story. In fact, this was actually the best of all the boring segments that made up "Hauntology".

Segment number two is titled "The Day Mabel Came out of the Grave". A nice and interesting title, if nothing else. But again, there was nothing scary about this tale either.

Moving on to the third segment, which is titled "Paint & Black Lace". I never understood the strangulation by a plastic bag thing, as you just simply use two fingers to tear a hole at your mouth, voila, and you can breathe. And once again, another segment that proved not to be scary.

And the fourth segment is titled "The Old Dark Cashel House", oh and guess what, not scary either.

The narrative that tied the four different segments was actually better than most of the segments.

The only performers on the cast list that I was familiar with was Naomi Grossman and Nancy Kyes. The acting performances throughout the segments were fair, despite of them having very meager material to work with.

"Hauntology" was a brutally dull anthology. Notice how I left out the 'horror' part there? Yeah, there was nothing horror about this dumpster fire of a movie.

My rating of writer and director Parker Brennon dumpster fire of a "horror" anthology lands on a generous two out of ten stars, not because there is any entertainment to be had in the segments, but because of the production value of the ordeal and the acting performances.

I like anthologies...

I like the horror genre...

I don't expect too much from a movie, just entertain me. I don't mind if it's a little cringe, or campy, seeing the string or bad acting here or there can be fine.

This movie has the feel of a "really talented" highschool production team.

Terrible characters Terrible writing Terrible acting

The only thing this movie did incredibly well, was being predictable in every way.

There is not a single thing redeemable about this movie, it feels like a "b-side" from a low cost production TV show, like goosebumps or are you afraid of the dark.

Sorry.