The Haunting of M.
The Haunting of M.
| 01 October 1979 (USA)
The Haunting of M. Trailers

This ghost story, set at the turn of the century, centers on the plight of elderly dowager Marianna, who is tormented by the alleged specter of a young man roaming the corridors of her mansion. After spotting a face in an old photograph that seems to match the old woman's description of the "visitor", Marianna's sister decides to check things out and see if any of this is for real.

Reviews
Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.
Senteur As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.
Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
bconnell-467-398539 I saw this wonderful film when I was almost twenty in a very unique and intimate theater in Eugene Oregon. The film was incredibly intense and remarkably scary. I lived out in the country at the time, and i must admit I was scared of the dark for many months after watching this what I call "classic" ghost story. The film grabbed and sucked you in to its web quickly and effectively. It is one of the best ghost stories I have ever seen on film. It is a tragedy that this film is not available on other mediums. I am shocked to find it still has not made its impact to current generations. Someone out there must have this film stored somewhere - I would love to see it again and experience the terror or a truly ghostly and haunting encounter. I encourage anyone who has ever seen this wonderful film to comment and encourage someone who may have this stored away to make it available to the general public. A timeless masterpiece. Barbie Connell, Manchester, Connecticut 2012
merri-1 I TOO saw this about 20 years ago.. I was a student at the time and went to all the art films that I could. This was (and still is) at the top of my all time favorites;I still think of it. I love that it wasn't violent as so many film of the "horror" genre tend to be. I remember the scenes that the other commentators have brilliantly mentioned and will add something that also appealed to me. When the haunted girl was about to "see" the ghost there'd be a, "thud", sort of noise; kind of like your heart thumping at seeing something frightening...and there'd he'd be, just looking at her. Yes the scene where she gets into a boat and is being rowed across the lake, then she looks and sees that it is him...wow...
mailerfool2 As with the Berkeley commentator, I too saw The Haunting of M in its theatrical release, likely after a favorable review by Siskel and Ebert. I remember a cold night, no drizzle. I remember a theater in San Francisco, somewhere in the Northpoint area. Three of us saw it, and we were all quite impressed. It had what is now considered an 'indy' feel. I don't think I ever connected the director with any film since, though I've seen a few of them (El Norte, Mi Familia -- both in the Pasadena area on the strength of friends there). I definitely remember the rocking chair, the bare visibility of its movement. I remember an old photo the characters commented on, where a blurred figure in the crowd photographed 'must have moved' to account for its indistinctness. This was very atmospheric, and really more aesthetically 'fit' than many. It's hard to get honestly scary; for me, haunted houses and hauntings generally do the trick, and this is one of the top half-dozen, whatever its budget
Dan Kirklin I was going to write a review, but I found that rrichr had already done it, better than I would have. The film is absolutely perfect, in my opinion, and it's a scandal that it's not available. Twenty-some years after seeing it, in a theater full of Christmas shoppers, I still remember that no one went out to get popcorn or drinks. I doubt that anyone left to go to the bathroom. Parents with children were in the audience, and there was no disturbance. The film eschews all the gore and guts and cheap effects (i.e. it's anti-DePalma) but delivers the goods: see it once, and you'll never forget it.To rrichr's selection of that haunting scene with the rocking chair, I want to add the scene where the women get in the rowboat, where a boatman is waiting. You know exactly what's coming next, but when it comes, and they look up to see you-know-who rowing their boat, you damn near lose it anyway. (Perhaps that explains why no one left to use the bathroom.)This is a jewel, and if anyone finds it and buys it on my recommendation, then decides it wasn't worth it, I'll buy it from them. But that ain't going to happen. If the film has a flaw, I'm damned if I can see it.