An American Haunting
An American Haunting is a 2005 supernatural horror film written and directed by Courtney Solomon and starring Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, James D'Arcy, and Rachel Hurd-Wood. The film was previewed at the AFI Film Festival on November 5, 2005 and was released in the UK on April 14, 2006 with follow-up in US theaters on May 5. The film is an international co-production between the United Kingdom, Canada, Romania, and the United States.It opened #3 in the US, staying in the top ten films for 3 weeks. This success resulted in a long-term distribution and co-production arrangement with Lionsgate Films.
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| Screenplay by | Courtney Solomon
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story by
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| Based on | The Bell Witch: An American Haunting
by Brent Monahan |
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narrated by
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animation by
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layouts by
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backgrounds by
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| Running time | 83 minutes
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| Country | United Kingdom
Canada Romania United States |
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| Language | English
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| Budget | $14 million
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| Box office | $29,612,137
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John Bell: No. But I do believe that it can hear our conversations, that's how it knows our every move.
Richard Powell: But it is only present on this property!
(Richard raises his eyebrows, suggesting that if they leave without saying a thing, the entity probably wouldn't know, or follow)
- The movie is actually based on a purportedly true story. Andrew Jackson was quoted as saying, "I would rather take on the entire English Fleet than stay one night at the Bell House," however his presence at the house is disputed and there are no official records that confirm he was actually present or witnessed any supernatural activity. The haunting is documented in M. V. Ingram's 1894 book, An Authenticated History of The Famous Bell Witch. This movie was based on the book by Brent Monahan,The Bell Witch: An American Haunting the Famous Bell Witch. However, the Ingram book has been called into question by researchers, who have noted that it's based on secondhand accounts and that no firsthand accounts to the haunting survive, and records from the time have not supported the story of the haunting. The Ingram book calls on quotes from letters and diaries but those documents no longer exist (if they ever did) and it is impossible to verify if the haunting actually happened or if it was a hoax or an early urban legend. Some researchers have even raised the possibility that the Ingram book was actually a work of fiction now mistakenly believed to be a factual account.
- The movie is actually based on a true story. Andrew Jackson is quoted as saying, "I would rather take on the entire English Fleet than stay one night at the Bell House." He later formed a group of men to test the rumors of the Bell haunting. Their findings are documented in M. V. Ingram's 1894 book, An Authenticated History of The Famous Bell Witch. This movie was based on the book by Brent Monahan,The Bell Witch: An American Haunting the Famous Bell Witch.
- While the historical events are based in fact, the letter mentioned in the present-day plot line is purely fictional. There is no evidence that John Bell ever molested a member of his family, or that Mrs. John Bell killed her husband.
- The movie is actually based on a true story. Andrew Jackson is quoted as saying, "I would rather take on the entire English Fleet than stay one night at the Bell House." He later formed a group of men to test the rumors of the Bell haunting. Their findings are documented in M. V. Ingram's 1894 book, An Authenticated History of The Famous Bell Witch. This movie was based on the book by Brent Monahan,The Bell Witch: An American Haunting the Famous Bell Witch.
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