Haunt (2019) - Actually stayed in my mind for long enough to review

I watch so many B-movie horror flicks on streaming services that, sometimes, if I leave writing a review more than a few days after watching the film, I've completely forgotten everything about it!  'Haunt' may not be perfect, but it is solid enough to actually remain in my mind after a week or so in order to comment on it.

It's made by the writers/directors behind (the far superior!) 'A Quiet Place' and although it sure doesn't reinvent the wheel, it may just stay with you after the credits roll, thanks to a few atmosphere and brutal moments of tension and gore.  The story centers on a group of friends who visit an extreme haunted house on Halloween night, only to discover that the attraction is more sinister than they could have imagined. 

What follows is your typical 'slasher' movie as the friends are subjected to cruel traps and masked killers lurking in the shadows.  Where 'Haunt' does make its mark is in its pacing and its gnarly, practical effects and the masked killers—each with their own disturbing personas—are suitably creepy.  Plus the kills are satisfyingly gruesome for fans of blood-soaked horror.  

However, the film falls into the genre trope of its characters making frustratingly dumb decisions. It's hard not to roll your eyes at some of the choices made, as they often serve the plot more than common sense. This, in turn, makes it difficult to fully invest in their survival.  

And yet, despite these flaws, 'Haunt' was a film that I actually watched until the credits rolled as it offered enough thrills, chills and gory fun to make it worth a watch—just be prepared for some moments of head-shaking frustration along the way.

6/10