The Haunting Hour Volume One: Don't Think About It
Encyclopedia
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It is a 2007 horror
fantasy
family film based on the children's book of the same name by R. L. Stine
. The film was released on DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
on September 4, 2007, and was the first family direct-to-video
film to be released on DVD in separate widescreen
and pan and scan
formats.
The film was directed by Alex Zamm
, written by Dan Angel and Billy Brown
, and stars Emily Osment
, Cody Linley
, Brittany Curran
, and Tobin Bell
.
) is a thirteen-year-old goth
girl who just moved to a new neighborhood and new school. She loves playing tricks on the popular kids at school and her younger brother Max (Alex Winzenread).
On the way to the library, Cassie finds a mysterious Halloween
store down an alley and goes inside. The store owner (Tobin Bell
) sells her a book called The Evil Thing, which contains a warning on the front page: "DO NOT READ ALOUD". That night, Cassie ignores the warning in the book and reads it to Max to get back at him for turning off her computer in the middle of her writing a report. Priscilla (Brittany Curran
), who stole The Evil Thing from Cassie's bag in school, films her jumping in fear, after using a CD player to play monster sounds outside in order to make the monster appear to have come to life.
Later that night, The Evil Thing is brought to life by Max's thoughts and captures him, Priscilla, and a Papa John's Pizza
delivery man. It is up to Cassie and Sean (Cody Linley
) to save them. At first, they try to defeat The Evil Thing on their own, but fail. Cassie then asks the owner of the shop, where she bought the book, for help. Cassie discovers that the store owner travels around the world each Halloween, searching for the person who loves to scare people the most. He leaves them with only a riddle for help before making his shop disappear. After he disappears, Sean makes remarks that solve the riddle. Together, they formulate that if they get blood from a roast that Cassie's mother made and throw it on The Evil Thing, it will be forced to suck up the blood. In doing so, it will devour itself. By using Sean's CD of monster sound effects, they are able to lure the monster to the CD player; however, when the monster nudges it, the music turns into hip hop
, thus ruining their plan. While fumbling, Sean and Cassie accidentally drop the blood on Max, who must conquer his fears and save the day. When Cassie encourages him, Max tosses the blood onto The Evil Thing, causing its heads to begin attacking each other. The monster eats itself, eventually exploding in a shower of yellow blood, taking its offspring with it.
With The Evil Thing destroyed, Max, Sean, and Cassie save Priscilla. She angrily accuses Cassie of being a witch and Sean rejects Priscilla in favor of Cassie. After Priscilla leaves, they save the pizza delivery guy, who offers them free pizza in return for his release. They burn the book and rid themselves of The Evil Thing. Sean leaves shortly after they burn the book. Cassie and Max's parents then come home and find the book in the fireplace. The father mockingly reads it out loud, reviving The Evil Thing. The movie ends with Cassie realizing that The Evil Thing is back to life and that it is not over yet.
as well as Cranberry Township
in October and November 2006.
and indie rock
musicians.
The use of pizza delivery in the film has been regarded by critics as "overly integrated product placement
". Heather Boerner criticized the film for its over the top use of Papa John's Pizza
. She wrote, "Not only is the pizza delivery guy included in more than half of the DVD, but the logo is present and the kids are shown munching ecstatically on the pizza at the end of the movie. They even say things like, "What great pizza!" and something along the lines of "That delivery guy sure was nice!" It's enough to make a commercial-conscious parent gag."
TV series premiered on October 29, 2010 on the TV station The Hub
. According to his Twitter, R.L. Stine says the show is similar to his previous TV series, Goosebumps
, and will have a different story every episode.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
family film based on the children's book of the same name by R. L. Stine
R. L. Stine
Robert Lawrence Stine , known as R. L. Stine, and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American writer. Stine, who is called the "Stephen King of children's literature," is the author of hundreds of horror fiction novels, including the books in the Fear Street, Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, and The...
. The film was released on DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is the home video division of Universal Pictures...
on September 4, 2007, and was the first family direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
film to be released on DVD in separate widescreen
Widescreen
Widescreen images are a variety of aspect ratios used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 Academy aspect ratio provided by 35mm film....
and pan and scan
Pan and scan
Pan and scan is a method of adjusting widescreen film images so that they can be shown within the proportions of a standard definition 4:3 aspect ratio television screen, often cropping off the sides of the original widescreen image to focus on the composition's most important aspects...
formats.
The film was directed by Alex Zamm
Alex Zamm
Alex Zamm is an American film director. He has directed numerous films from 1998 to now, starting with Chairman of the Board.-Filmography:- External links :...
, written by Dan Angel and Billy Brown
Billy Brown
- People :*Billy Brown , English professional footballer*Billy Brown , football player who played as a right half, right back, outside right for Luton Town, Huddersfied Town, Brentford and Leyton Orient in the Football League*Billy Brown , Scottish football player and coach*Billy Brown - People...
, and stars Emily Osment
Emily Osment
Emily Jordan Osment is an American teen actress, singer-songwriter and voice actress born in Los Angeles, California. After working in several television films in her childhood, she gained fame for co-starring as Gerti Giggles in Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over...
, Cody Linley
Cody Linley
Cody Martin Linley is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his recurring role as Jake Ryan in the television series Hannah Montana and for being a contestant on the seventh season of Dancing With The Stars, in which he was partnered with Julianne Hough.-Career:Linley made his acting...
, Brittany Curran
Brittany Curran
Brittany Elizabeth Curran is an American actress and singer. She is known for her role as Pamela in Go Figure and as Chelsea Brimmer on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.-Career:...
, and Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell is an American film and television character actor. After years of work doing stand-ins and background work on films, he got his first major acting job in Mississippi Burning and went on to star in made-for-television films and guest star in television shows throughout the 1990s.Bell...
.
Plot
Cassie (Emily OsmentEmily Osment
Emily Jordan Osment is an American teen actress, singer-songwriter and voice actress born in Los Angeles, California. After working in several television films in her childhood, she gained fame for co-starring as Gerti Giggles in Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over...
) is a thirteen-year-old goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
girl who just moved to a new neighborhood and new school. She loves playing tricks on the popular kids at school and her younger brother Max (Alex Winzenread).
On the way to the library, Cassie finds a mysterious Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
store down an alley and goes inside. The store owner (Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell is an American film and television character actor. After years of work doing stand-ins and background work on films, he got his first major acting job in Mississippi Burning and went on to star in made-for-television films and guest star in television shows throughout the 1990s.Bell...
) sells her a book called The Evil Thing, which contains a warning on the front page: "DO NOT READ ALOUD". That night, Cassie ignores the warning in the book and reads it to Max to get back at him for turning off her computer in the middle of her writing a report. Priscilla (Brittany Curran
Brittany Curran
Brittany Elizabeth Curran is an American actress and singer. She is known for her role as Pamela in Go Figure and as Chelsea Brimmer on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.-Career:...
), who stole The Evil Thing from Cassie's bag in school, films her jumping in fear, after using a CD player to play monster sounds outside in order to make the monster appear to have come to life.
Later that night, The Evil Thing is brought to life by Max's thoughts and captures him, Priscilla, and a Papa John's Pizza
Papa John's Pizza
Papa John's Pizza is the third largest take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain in the United States, behind Pizza Hut and Domino's Pizza. It is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Papa John's slogan is "Better Ingredients. Better pizza. Papa John's"...
delivery man. It is up to Cassie and Sean (Cody Linley
Cody Linley
Cody Martin Linley is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his recurring role as Jake Ryan in the television series Hannah Montana and for being a contestant on the seventh season of Dancing With The Stars, in which he was partnered with Julianne Hough.-Career:Linley made his acting...
) to save them. At first, they try to defeat The Evil Thing on their own, but fail. Cassie then asks the owner of the shop, where she bought the book, for help. Cassie discovers that the store owner travels around the world each Halloween, searching for the person who loves to scare people the most. He leaves them with only a riddle for help before making his shop disappear. After he disappears, Sean makes remarks that solve the riddle. Together, they formulate that if they get blood from a roast that Cassie's mother made and throw it on The Evil Thing, it will be forced to suck up the blood. In doing so, it will devour itself. By using Sean's CD of monster sound effects, they are able to lure the monster to the CD player; however, when the monster nudges it, the music turns into hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, thus ruining their plan. While fumbling, Sean and Cassie accidentally drop the blood on Max, who must conquer his fears and save the day. When Cassie encourages him, Max tosses the blood onto The Evil Thing, causing its heads to begin attacking each other. The monster eats itself, eventually exploding in a shower of yellow blood, taking its offspring with it.
With The Evil Thing destroyed, Max, Sean, and Cassie save Priscilla. She angrily accuses Cassie of being a witch and Sean rejects Priscilla in favor of Cassie. After Priscilla leaves, they save the pizza delivery guy, who offers them free pizza in return for his release. They burn the book and rid themselves of The Evil Thing. Sean leaves shortly after they burn the book. Cassie and Max's parents then come home and find the book in the fireplace. The father mockingly reads it out loud, reviving The Evil Thing. The movie ends with Cassie realizing that The Evil Thing is back to life and that it is not over yet.
Cast
- Emily OsmentEmily OsmentEmily Jordan Osment is an American teen actress, singer-songwriter and voice actress born in Los Angeles, California. After working in several television films in her childhood, she gained fame for co-starring as Gerti Giggles in Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over...
as Cassie Keller - Cody LinleyCody LinleyCody Martin Linley is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his recurring role as Jake Ryan in the television series Hannah Montana and for being a contestant on the seventh season of Dancing With The Stars, in which he was partnered with Julianne Hough.-Career:Linley made his acting...
as Sean Redford - Brittany CurranBrittany CurranBrittany Elizabeth Curran is an American actress and singer. She is known for her role as Pamela in Go Figure and as Chelsea Brimmer on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.-Career:...
as Priscilla Wright - Alex Winzenread as Max Keller
- Tobin BellTobin BellTobin Bell is an American film and television character actor. After years of work doing stand-ins and background work on films, he got his first major acting job in Mississippi Burning and went on to star in made-for-television films and guest star in television shows throughout the 1990s.Bell...
as The Stranger - John Hawkinson as Mr. Keller
- Michelle Duffy as Mrs. Keller
- Nigel Ash as Ralph
- Katelyn PippyKatelyn PippyKatelyn Pippy is an American actress, best known for her role as Emmalin Holden on the Lifetime television drama Army Wives....
as Erin - Michael Dickson II as The Pizza Guy
Production
The movie was filmed in the borough of Carnegie, PennsylvaniaCarnegie, Pennsylvania
Carnegie is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 7,972 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Carnegie is located at . It is approximately southwest of Pittsburgh...
as well as Cranberry Township
Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Cranberry Township is a township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is classified as a Second Class Township and follows the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code. The population was 28,098 as of the 2010 census....
in October and November 2006.
Music
The film's score was written by Chris Hajian. The film also included songs by pop rockPop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
and indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
musicians.
- "Still Alright" by Adam MerrinAdam MerrinAdam Merrin is the pianist/keyboardist for the Los Angeles based rock band, The 88.- Discography :In January 2007, Adam Merrin released his first solo EP entitled HAVE ONE, available on iTunes and other digital music sites...
of The 88The 88The 88 is a four-piece indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California. They have released five full length albums as of 2010, and are the backing band for the Ray Davies Fall 2011 US Tour.- Members :Members of the band are:... - "Tell Me" by Failed Flight
- "Evil Santa" by Chromosome Tea
- "Don't Take It" by Mark McGeary
- "October 31st" by Mark OlsonMark OlsonMark W. Olson was a member of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve from 2001 to 2006. Filling an unexpired term to end on January 31, 2010, he resigned on June 21, 2006 in order to run the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.-Biography:In 1943, Mark W. Olson was born on March...
- "I Don't Think About ItI Don't Think About ItI Don't Think About It is a song performed by Emily Osment for RL Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It. The song was #1 in the Radio Disney top 3. Osment also shot an accompanying music video for the song, released in the The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It DVD.-Music video:The music...
" by Emily OsmentEmily OsmentEmily Jordan Osment is an American teen actress, singer-songwriter and voice actress born in Los Angeles, California. After working in several television films in her childhood, she gained fame for co-starring as Gerti Giggles in Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over...
Reception
While Doug Bentin calls the main character Cassie as "the main attraction" of the film; William David Lee describes her as merely fitting into the standard role of an outsider.The use of pizza delivery in the film has been regarded by critics as "overly integrated product placement
Product placement
Product placement, or embedded marketing, is a form of advertisement, where branded goods or services are placed in a context usually devoid of ads, such as movies, music videos, the story line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the...
". Heather Boerner criticized the film for its over the top use of Papa John's Pizza
Papa John's Pizza
Papa John's Pizza is the third largest take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain in the United States, behind Pizza Hut and Domino's Pizza. It is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Papa John's slogan is "Better Ingredients. Better pizza. Papa John's"...
. She wrote, "Not only is the pizza delivery guy included in more than half of the DVD, but the logo is present and the kids are shown munching ecstatically on the pizza at the end of the movie. They even say things like, "What great pizza!" and something along the lines of "That delivery guy sure was nice!" It's enough to make a commercial-conscious parent gag."
TV Series
R.L. Stine's The Haunting HourR.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour is a Canadian/American original anthology horror-fantasy series, with episodes each half an hour long. The new show was produced by Front Street Pictures, The Hatchery, Incendo Films and Endemol, and premiered on The Hub, which overtook Discovery Kids on October 10,...
TV series premiered on October 29, 2010 on the TV station The Hub
The Hub (TV network)
The Hub is an American digital cable and satellite television channel that launched on October 10, 2010. The channel, which replaced Discovery Kids, is a joint venture of Discovery Communications, Inc. and Hasbro...
. According to his Twitter, R.L. Stine says the show is similar to his previous TV series, Goosebumps
Goosebumps (TV series)
Goosebumps is a Canadian children's horror anthology television series based on R. L. Stine's Goosebumps books.-Networks:...
, and will have a different story every episode.
External links
- The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It Official site
- The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- DVD Review for Parents