Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Haunting of Whaley House’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Have you ever been pressured into doing something you did not want to do by your friends? Sure, we all have. Your friends are friends for a reason, they have earned your trust and you know that they would never do anything to hurt you. Even if you think that what you are doing is wrong, they are there to reassure to you that it is okay. Sometimes having fun outweighs the consequences that could come your way, and if your friends are there, they will help you with whatever you require.

Penny Abbot is working as a tour guide at the famous Whaley House. Known for being the most haunted house in the nation, people are always walking around and trying to get a glimpse of a ghost or see something out of the ordinary. Although Penny has not yet witnessed anything supernatural, she has to answer all of the questions about what supposedly happens when the lights go out at night. Only being able to tell people what she has heard from her co-worker; Penny answers the questions but still does not believe in ghosts.

Whaley House has the special ability to open up to specific people. On several tours of the haunted location, women get violently ill for no reason and require medical assistance. Bethany, the current head of the tours does not have a reason for why this happens, but knows that the days it does, it is best to shut down operations for the day. When talking to Penny about the random sicknesses, Bethany discloses three facts about the house that the new tour guide should take to heart. One, don’t call out the ghosts, it never turns out well for the people who have done that. Two, don’t cause any damage to the house or anything inside of it. The Whaley’s were proud owners and do what they need to, in order to protect their belongings. Three, don’t go into the house at night, which is the ghosts’ time to do whatever they need to do. 

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Although Penny heeds the warnings handed her way, her friends are looking for something fun to do on Friday night and persuade her to open up the house to a little ghost hunting adventure. Calling on one of their friends that is really into the supernatural, the group is introduced to a psychic that will be the first to investigate the house in many years. Not knowing what to expect, the group conducts a couple of tests to confirm that the house is indeed haunted by asking questions and getting responses from some unknown entity, but when the ghosts are able to get more physical, the night turns from fun to horrifying. 

The Haunting of Whaley House follows a group of young adults as they try to prove the existence of ghosts inhabiting the old house. When they are able to capture some compelling evidence, the house turns it up a notch. Without knowing who they are really talking to, the ghosts play little tricks and are able to get stronger when blood is spilt on the property. Having their alone time tampered with, the ghosts are not happy, and a demon is awakened and takes out its revenge on the living. With the house and ghosts only being focused on Penny, the group tries everything within their power to make peace with the spirits. But when the ghosts are called out by an individual along with some things being broken by mistake, the spirits are upset and will take revenge on their new guests.

A good old-time spooky ghost story is what The Haunting of Whaley House brings to the table. Filled with the quick scares that will have you looking around the corners to see what will come out next. Showing that the house and its inhabitants do not like to be messed around with is my favorite part of this film as a teenage kid breaks a window in the opening scene and is disposed of. It sets the mood early and hoping that at least one of the members of the ghost hunting group makes it out alive will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you are a fan of ghost movies, it is definitely a good one to check out. Stay Scared.  

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