Iffy for 14+
High school horror flick more dreary than spooky.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that teens may be drawn to this horror movie by co-star Chace Crawford, who's part of the cast of Gossip Girl. There's some violent, scary stuff, but it's also mostly bloodless (particularly when compared to movies like the Saw franchise) -- more blood is seen from the lead character's stress-induced nosebleeds than from any of the movie's stabbings, assaults, and murders. The film includes a lot of religious imagery and plot points -- characters read Paradise Lost and the Bible, the lead character is baptized in an effort to remove the diabolical influences she's experiencing, and more.
- Families can talk about some of the philosophical and belief-related points suggested by the film. What do you believe in? Do you have to believe the same things that movie and TV characters do in order to empathize with them? Why or why not? Families can also discuss the film's subplot, in which the lead character was pledged to Satan by her parents at birth in order to save her life. Do children have to pay for the mistakes their parents make?
The good stuff
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Messages: The lead character is unknowingly part of a Satanist plot to find a host body for the Devil. A supporting character speaks of her own relationship with Jesus Christ, and the lead character goes to her for salvation when the plans for her life become known to her. Some discussion of the nature of madness.
What to watch for
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Violence: A man drives dangerously as part of a suicide attempt (with another passenger in the car); scuffling and fights; a girl's arm is sprained in a fight; a woman falls over a railing to her death, landing on a knife she was brandishing. An attempted murder by drowning. Multiple stabbings, with some blood -- including some self-inflicted wounds. A scary, mutilated ghoul is on screen for a split-second. Some hospital/surgical imagery.
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Sex: Some kissing; cleavage is revealed; the lead character strips down to her bra while changing.
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Language: Some harsh language, including multiple uses of "s--t," "hell," "damn," and one non-sexual use of "f--king."
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Consumerism: Only one brand (Ford, on a car's hood) visible on screen.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: A character is seen extinguishing a cigarette, but not smoking it; teens drink what is presumably alcohol at a party, despite being underage.
Fan Reviews provided by
1
The Haunting of Molly Hartley... DISGRACEFUL!!!!! by ijustgo4thepopcorn
This is BY FAR the worst movie I have ever seen. Not only was the ending abrupt and made no sense, but any christian would find this movie absolutely appauling. It made fun of christianity and at the end it went from a scary movie to a happy ending where she became valadictorian and landed the cute guy all because of the demons.. what kind of a message is that? I felt morally obligated to tell everyone about this movie. It is a complete mochary of the christian religion! Not because of the fact that her soul is given to the demons, but because of the way they make fun of the christian girl who tries to save her and make her out to be a complete weirdo and freak. I have NEVER been so appauled by a movie before. My only last thought is to say... DON'T WATCH THIS, and all people involved in making it SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES!!!!!!
1
Waste!!!! by lroberson2000@yahoo.com
Badly put together. I would not recommend this movie to anyone.
5
Well acted and easy on the eyes by suziola
This is a great movie for date night. It starts out a little slow then jumps up a notch when you think you have it figured out. It is beautifully shot and the cast are all comfortable in their roles. Not all questions are answered which I like and you are left wondering who your friends are. The guidance counselor Nina Siemaszko is both warm and chilling, she was amazing.
1
SAD AND DISAPPOINTING by BUTTCHEESEDAWG
I WENT TO SEE A SCARY MOVIE ON HALLOWEEN AND ENDED UP WATCHING THE HAUNTING OF MOLLY HARTLEY, I SAW THE TRAILER AND IT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD, BUT I WILL SAY WHILE THE PREMISE HAD POTENTIAL THE STORY WAS WEAK, THE DIALOGUE MUDANE AND THE ACTING TERRIBLE
RANDY
1
Don't Waste Your Money On This Movie!!! by movie_critic10
I am mad at myself for paying to watch this crap! The trailer for the movie will make you think its scary, but when u see it u will be so disappointed. The acting was terrible and the parts of the movie that was suppose to make you jump in your seat were so predicatable, I didn't flinch. To me, the movie had no real plot and the ending was just horrible. This movie should have went straight to DVD or better yet, the Sci-Fi Channel. I would not recommend this movie to anyone who is expecting it to be scary. All-In-All, this movie SUCKED!
1
WHY??????? by JZMONEY
...........................TERRIBLE........................ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE......................This movie was so bad I was hoping it would be over soon or else I might loose my mind like Molly hartley seemed to do the whole FN movie................I beg of you people DONT SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!! It was an absolute waste of 1 hour and 45 minutes of my life.........on my way home I was trying to convince myself that Haliey Bennet taking off her shirt was awesome and that made the movie worth seeing but, it wasnt the movie couldnt be saved by the coast guard..............Id have to say this is the worst movie of the year 2008 and thats saying alot I mean this made Quarantine not suck so bad this movie is so terrible if it were a roll of toilet paper a bumb wouldnt even waste the time to wipe his butt with it........................I GIVE THIS MOVIE AN ....................I meaning only an Idiot would go see this worthless piece of garbage!!!!!
2
Didn't like it! by mickel1138
This movie was bad! It's very slow, the dialog is terrible, and it has a very meager storyline.
There are really not that many suspense points, and the plot line is fairly predictable.
The male-interest character is very annoying, and his interaction with his friends even more. Haley Bennet did a good job, but it's too early for her I think to do a 'serious' movie. Maybe after some more teen or comedy movies she'll get some more credability.
Don't watch this movie in theaters, wait for the DVD you'll be glad you did!
1
What The HELL? by sailormars307
Okay so this movie made NO SENSE at all.
the beginning starts off with a girl who gets killed by her father because shes like a devil too
and then with molly everythings all creeping and she hears some haunting thing calling her name
and then the ending is her all happy with a boyfriend and the creepy lady givin her a friendly smile
i would lovvvve if someone can tell me what the hellll happened at the end.
DO NOT waste time or money on this movie
i wouldnt even bother renting it.
2
don't go because the ending was horrid by jenn998
Ok overall this was a very interesting suspenseful and different and cool kind of thriller.
The storyline got interesting and there was so much it could have been...have been is the key
word there-- the script writers must have lost it when they plotted the mid end to end because
the unraveling of the 'truth' was jsut ridiculous-- teh storyline, plot, ending....was basically
just all ruined with the horrible ending-- no reasoning for anything....who was she?
what did she become...why was her father placed there in the end...who are all those
people... what on earth what the dang movie even about....what were the script writers
thinking when they came up with that? everything just ended up being so ridiculous....
you wasted your money and time for absolutely nothing....the ending was like a cheesy
high school brady bunch type...to a 'horror thriller'? it was awful and terrible...with no
answers no resolution nothing....just don't waste your time or money...
1
It had an idea but then it forgot it had one. by treyraider
First off how many times have we seen this type of story? A child who's destiny is evil and those who believe it and those who don't. The only difference is that they replaced a little boy with a hot teenage chick and it was a PG-13 rating. So no gore for this wannabee horror/thriller. They never explained or illuminated anything about the cause of anything. Normally in a story like this there is an unveiling scene of some sort that actually brings to light the truth and why the truth is the way it is and it's goal. This movie does no such thing. It is banking on the hope that pretty girls dressed like Britney spear's first video, giving 90210 like dialogue will distract you from the lack of suspense or blood. The ending is straight from The Omen but no hint as to how we are supposed to feel about it. Instead of a creepy stare from a creepy little boy we get a hottie walking to a limo to upbeat Evo music. Is she evil or did I just watch a John Hughes movie?