The Haunting of Molly Hartley

Halloween is supposed to usher in scares and shivers. During this period the Saw franchise has cut quite a swathe among horror enthusiasts. Out to scare up some of that lucrative teen green is The Haunting of Molly Hartley, a rather tepid affair from Alliance Films
For a horror film to be successful and have an impact you’ve just got to have thrills. Few thrills and less chills result from this 86 minute ordeal which examines the plight of a teen age girl. Molly Hartley now lives with her protective dad after having to deal with a bad past. Apparently Molly’s mom is in the loony bin and dad has decided to relocate with his rather aloof daughter.
Like most teens Molly hates going to a new school but things were supposed to be different at Huntington Prep. Home of the rich and privileged this plain girl has trouble blending in. Apart from this, Molly suffers from images related to her past and believes her mom is trying to kill her. Pressure reaches the boiling point as in this new setting she collides with boys, other girls, and some religious types hoping to convert her to the way of the Lord.
Short on suspense and lacking any real raw emotion, The Haunting of Molly Hartley begins earnestly enough but never kicks into gear. Scares just don’t develop here and when they do the impact is rather restrained. Put simply, this is a weak story that never really grips you. Director Mickey Liddell seems to be going through the motions with a lackluster story that fails to deliver the chills. Haley Bennett (Music and Lyrics) appears sympathetic as the confused girl with bad dreams while handsome Chace Crawford does what he can to steal her heart. Even the fatherly role served up by Jake Weber (Dawn of the Dead) seems a bit strained and a touch unbelievable.
Better suited for a rental, The Haunting of Molly Hartley won’t give anyone nightmares and will likely prove disappointing to the blood and guts crowd.
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