‘Evil has a new vessel’
Haunting of the Queen Mary is a 2023 horror film about 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. Also known as Queen Mary
Directed by Gary Shore from a screenplay co-written with Tom Vaughan. Produced by Laurie Cook, Nicholas Ferrall, Jason Newmark, Thorsten Schumacher, Nigel Sinclair, Lars Sylvest, Brett Tomberlin and Tom Vaughan.
The American-British movie stars Alice Eve, Nell Hudson, Joel Fry, William Shockley, Tim Downie, Angus Wright, Jim Piddock, Lenny Rush, Alfredo Tavares, Mark Silverman, Dorian Lough, Joelle Koissi and Wil Coban.
Reviews:
“For all of the positives that make Haunting of the Queen Mary float it’s sadly weighed down by narrative anchors and confusing flashbacks that cause this movie to ultimately sink. A film with promise but sadly one that falls a little short of its potential.” 3 out of 5, Back to the Movies
“The film’s problematic running time doesn’t present too much of a good thing — it’s an imbalance between what’s eye-catching and what’s not so inviting. Luckily, that ratio skews positively toward an intriguing hybrid of brutal slasher deaths and seafaring terrorization that harps on inescapable curses.” 3 out of 5, Bloody Disgusting
“… some rather ‘didn’t-see-that-coming’ gore, a few black and white sequences, some animation and an increasingly annoying toggle between the two timelines and you get…well, a mess. But because it’s shot on the QM it’s a gorgeous-looking one, which manages to confuse and confound the longer the viewer is exposed to its two-hour running time.” Dark Eyes of London
“If you’re a fan of visual storytelling, rich aesthetics, and innovative scare tactics, then, by all means, step aboard. But be warned: you may find yourself drifting in a sea of confusion, longing for a plot that’s as cohesive as the stunning visuals. It’s a haunting cruise filled with beauty, but one that leaves you wondering if the ship’s compass wasn’t perhaps possessed by a mischievous spirit.” 73% Nightmare on Film Street
“With judicious editing and pruning of the script, Haunting of the Queen Mary could have been one of the summer’s better genre films. As it is, its technical chops outshine its muddled script, which wastes some good ideas and leaves a generally capable cast with little to work with. In the end, it becomes yet another film that’s watchable but should have been much better.” 2.5 out of 5, Voices from the Balcony
Trailer:
Featurette:
Release date:
Haunting of the Queen Mary was released on August 18, 2023.
Technical specs:
1 hour 54 minutes (!)
