An American Haunting (2005) on Netflix
PG-1320051h 23mHorrorMysteryThriller
In 1817 Tennessee, a church court convicts John Bell of stealing a woman's land. Kathe Batts, the wronged party, is rumored to practice witchcraft, and strange events soon plague his home.
- Netflix1.6/5
- IMDb5.0/1028,044 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes14%
Trailer
Plot summary
In 1817 Tennessee, a church court finds John Bell guilty of taking a woman's land. The court decides that the dishonor he has suffered is punishment enough and releases him. The woman he wronged, Kathe Batts, has a reputation in the village for witchcraft. Unsettling things begin in the Bell household, and John becomes convinced that she has cursed him. His daughter Betsy grows ill, and the disturbances around her intensify. Betsy's teacher, Richard Powell, notices how much her behavior has altered, and the family tells him they believe something paranormal is at work. Powell argues that spirits do not exist and sets out to disprove it, staying in the Bell home to watch over Betsy.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about An American Haunting (2005)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Two cuts of An American Haunting exist: the UK version ran longer than the North American release, had a different ending and featured voice-over narration by James D'Arcy that was excised from the US theatrical cut.
SPOILER
The film draws on the alleged Bell Witch haunting of the Bell family in rural 1810s Tennessee; like Brent Monahan's novel, the screenplay suggests Betsy Bell unconsciously generated the poltergeist activity because her father was sexually abusing her.- Hurd-Wood performed some of her own stunts, including a sequence in which she is dragged up a staircase; she recalled it was painful, took all day and was tiring, and that she also had to cry and scream.
