Haunting of the Queen Mary (2023)

Directors: Gary Shore, Rebecca Harris

Starring: Wil Coban, Alice Eve, Joel Frey

Haunting of the Queen Mary explores the mysterious and violent events surrounding one family’s voyage on Halloween night in 1938, and their interwoven destiny with another family onboard the infamous ocean liner present day.

The setting on the famous passenger liner was perfect for a creepy horror movie. Unfortunately the film was so confusing and weird with its unusual narration that I still don’t know what it was actually all about.

The film is set in different timelines. The 1938 story revolves around David and Gwen Ratch, who assumes the identity of Mr and Mrs Howe in order to get a table in the Grand Dining Room. Their daughter Jackie wants to be in the movies, and she approaches arrogant director Bittner, but he snubs her. With Bittner is Fred Astaire, who allows Jackie a chance by doing a dance number with him.

In present time, the Queen Mary is permanently moored in the port of Long Beach, California. Estranged couple Anne and Patrick Calder wants to do a 3D virtual project on the Queen Mary, and goes on one of the Ghost Walks aboard the ship where visitors are told about paranormal activity. Their disabled son Lukas joins them and takes photographs.

In the 1938 story David becomes possessed by an entity, causing him to butcher people. In the present time there wasn’t as much interesting happening and I found the 1938 events far more interesting. There are also a few very gory moments, so be warned.

In general, it wasn’t always very clear what was happening. The fact the film was also very dark didn’t help much. I can still understand the ship being dark in 1938, by why the heck was it so dark in present time? There literally were moments when I couldn’t tell what was happening. Also, the camera work was shoddy. So much so that I never really saw Patrick’s face until much later in the film.

If its a haunted or possession movie you’re after, rather give this one a skip and opt for one of the myriad of genre movies out there. I have to complement the film on its editing, though, which was very good.

Would I watch it again? No.