A Haunting in Salem

A Haunting in Salem is a horror movie from 2011 that takes place in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, famous for its witch trials. The movie follows the story of the Mayhew family, who move into a historic house in Salem that is rumored to be haunted. The family consists of Matt (played by Bill Oberst Jr.), a writer; Wendy (played by Courtney Abbiati), his wife; and their young daughter Sally (played by Jenna Stone).

From the moment they arrive, strange things start happening in the house. The Mayhews experience things like doors opening by themselves, strange noises, and a feeling of being watched. The family tries to cope with the situation in different ways. Matt tries to rationalize everything and doesn't believe in ghosts, while Wendy starts to investigate the history of the house and its previous owners. Sally, on the other hand, begins to have nightmares and is afraid of the strange things that are happening around her.

The family's neighbor, Reverend Hawthorne (played by Nicholas Harsin), tries to warn them about the dark history of the town and the possibility that the house is haunted by the ghosts of the witches who were executed during the Salem witch trials. Matt and Wendy dismiss his warnings at first, but as the hauntings become more intense and terrifying, they start to believe that maybe there is something supernatural going on.

As the days go by, the Mayhews begin to experience more and more freaky events. Pictures on the walls move, furniture gets thrown around, and they hear strange voices calling their names. They soon discover that the house has a dark past and that the witch trials may have more to do with the haunting than they initially thought.

As the haunting intensifies, the family tries to leave the house, but it seems like there is no way out. Every time they try to escape, they end up going in circles around the town, and they can't find their way back home. They soon realize that they are trapped in a nightmare from which they might never wake up.

The acting in A Haunting in Salem is decent, considering that this is a low-budget horror movie. Bill Oberst Jr. delivers a convincing performance as the skeptical writer who tries to make sense of the situation. Courtney Abbiati is also good as the worried wife who's trying to protect her family. Jenna Stone is impressive as the young girl who's caught in the middle of the chaos and horror.

Nicholas Harsin is excellent as the creepy Reverend Hawthorne, who knows more about the town's dark past than he's willing to share. His presence adds to the movie's eerie atmosphere and helps to build tension.

The cinematography is also impressive, with lots of atmospheric shots of the creepy old house and the hauntingly beautiful town of Salem. The use of shadows and lighting is well done, creating a sense of suspense and dread.

The biggest flaw of the movie is the script, which is quite weak in places. Some of the dialogue feels forced and unnatural, and some of the characters' decisions don't make a lot of sense. However, this is a common issue in low-budget horror movies, and it doesn't distract too much from the overall experience.

Overall, A Haunting in Salem is an enjoyable horror movie that provides some creepy scares and a tense atmosphere. It's not a groundbreaking movie, but it's worth watching if you're a fan of ghost stories and haunted house movies.