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A Haunted House (2013) movie poster

Characters & Themes

A Haunted House (2013) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 86 min · English
JustWatch #29,277 2
Directed by
Michael Tiddes
Starring
Essence Atkins, Marlon Wayans
Budget
$2.5M

This riotous spoof of found footage horror follows a young couple whose dream home quickly becomes a nightmare when Kisha is possessed by a malevolent demon. Desperate to find a solution, Malcolm seeks help from an eccentric group, including priests and paranormal investigators. He struggles to save his relationship and his sex life as he battles demonic forces threatening to tear everything apart.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (2)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like A Haunted House
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch A Haunted House (2013)

Where can you watch A Haunted House? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and Netflix: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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2 main characters · contains spoilers

A Haunted House Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of A Haunted House (2013), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Malcolm (Marlon Wayans)

    Malcolm is a young man striving to make his relationship work while grappling with his fears and concerns about their new home. His comedic nature drives the film, as he attempts to debunk the haunting while managing his emotions amidst the chaos. As the supernatural events escalate, Malcolm's anxiety reveals deeper layers of his character.

    • 😂 Comedy
    • 🏠 Anxiety
  • Kisha (Essence Atkins)

    Kisha is depicted as a multi-layered character whose humorous facade hides deeper fears and insecurities, especially after the traumatic event with her dog. Her unexplained transformation throughout the film creates a stark contrast to her initial personality, leading to chaos and tension. As the haunting intensifies, Kisha becomes a vessel of horror, embodying the themes of fear and relationship turmoil.

    • 😨 Horror
    • 💃 Transformation

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:49

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Setting

Where and When Does A Haunted House Take Place?

The setting of A Haunted House (2013): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Contemporary

The events of the movie unfold in a contemporary setting, reflecting modern societal norms and relationships. The characters grapple with contemporary issues such as housing market fears, the influence of social media through surveillance cameras, and the trivialized nature of their interactions with supernatural elements.

Location

Newly-acquired home

The movie primarily takes place in a new home recently purchased by the young couple, Malcolm and Kisha. This setting becomes increasingly significant as it transforms into a source of paranormal disturbances, affecting their relationship. Known for its oppressive heat in August, the house's atmosphere shifts from inviting to foreboding, reflecting the couple's escalating fears.

  • 🏡 Home
  • 👻 Haunted

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:49

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3 major themes

A Haunted House Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is A Haunted House (2013) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Supernatural Fear

    The film explores themes of fear stemming from the unknown, as Malcolm and Kisha confront bizarre and frightening supernatural occurrences. This fear escalates when their initial skepticism is challenged, leading to chaos in their lives. The narrative tests the boundaries of belief and the impact of fear on relationships.

  • Relationship Strain

    The stress caused by the haunting exacerbates the existing issues in Malcolm and Kisha's relationship. Emotional scars from past incidents, like the death of their dog and Kisha's disturbances, further complicate their bond. The film illustrates how external pressures can threaten personal relationships and challenge love and loyalty.

  • Identity and Transformation

    Kisha's transformation, influenced by supernatural forces, raises questions about identity and self-perception. As her character becomes increasingly erratic and affected by the haunting, it delves into how experiences can alter our true nature and the manifestations of hidden fears.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:49

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Character & theme questions

A Haunted House Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about A Haunted House (2013): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

A Haunted House takes place in a newly-acquired suburban home purchased by Malcolm and Kisha. The house starts as an inviting space for the young couple but transforms into a foreboding environment as paranormal activity escalates, with the oppressive August heat adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

  • setting
  • house
  • home
  • location
  • suburban
Q2

What time period is the film set in?

A Haunted House is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern society and its concerns. The story incorporates current-day issues like housing market anxieties, the prevalence of surveillance cameras through social media, and how people interact with supernatural events in a modern context.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern
  • era
Q3

What are the main themes of the film?

A Haunted House explores three primary themes: supernatural fear as characters confront the unknown and challenge their initial skepticism; relationship strain showing how external paranormal pressures test Malcolm and Kisha's bond; and identity transformation, particularly through Kisha's possession which raises questions about self-perception and how experiences alter one's true nature.

  • themes
  • supernatural fear
  • relationship
  • identity
  • transformation
Q4

Who is Malcolm in the story?

Malcolm is the protagonist of A Haunted House, a young man determined to make his relationship work while dealing with fears about their new home. His comedic personality drives the film as he attempts to rationally explain and debunk the haunting. As events escalate, his anxiety reveals deeper character layers while he struggles to save both his relationship and his sex life from demonic interference.

  • malcolm
  • protagonist
  • main character
  • marlon wayans
Q5

Who is Kisha in the story?

Kisha is Malcolm's girlfriend in A Haunted House, portrayed as a multi-layered character whose humorous exterior conceals deeper fears and insecurities. Her backstory includes a traumatic incident with her dog that haunts her emotionally. As the film progresses, she becomes increasingly possessed by a demon, transforming from a comedic presence into a vessel of horror, which directly connects to the film's themes of identity and transformation.

  • kisha
  • girlfriend
  • essence atkins
  • possession
Q6

How does the home setting contribute to the story?

The newly-purchased home in A Haunted House is central to the narrative, functioning as more than just a backdrop. It shifts from an inviting symbol of the couple's new life together to a source of paranormal disturbances. The oppressive August heat intensifies the mounting dread, and the home's transformation mirrors the deterioration of Malcolm and Kisha's relationship under supernatural pressure.

  • house
  • home
  • setting
  • transformation
  • atmosphere
Q7

What does the film say about supernatural fear?

A Haunted House examines supernatural fear by showing how Malcolm and Kisha's initial skepticism is rapidly challenged by bizarre occurrences. The film tests the boundaries of belief and demonstrates how fear of the unknown can disrupt rational thinking and invade every aspect of daily life, from personal relationships to intimate moments.

  • fear
  • supernatural
  • belief
  • skepticism
  • horror
Q8

How does the movie portray relationship strain?

The film illustrates how external pressures from the haunting threaten personal relationships. Malcolm and Kisha's bond is already complicated by emotional scars from past trauma, including the death of their dog and Kisha's existing disturbances. As the demonic possession intensifies, it further tests their love and loyalty, showing how supernatural chaos can amplify existing relationship cracks.

  • relationship
  • couple
  • strain
  • love
  • loyalty
Q9

What does Kisha's transformation represent?

Kisha's transformation into a possessed entity represents how external supernatural forces can fundamentally alter a person's identity and self-perception. Her journey from a humorous, put-together girlfriend to an erratic vessel of demonic energy explores the film's theme of identity, showing how traumatic and supernatural experiences can change who we truly are.

  • kisha
  • transformation
  • identity
  • possession
  • self-perception
Q10

What is the tone of the movie?

A Haunted House maintains an overwhelmingly light, comedic tone despite its horror premise. The film functions as a parody, prioritizing jokes, absurdity, and satire over genuine fright. Even serious events like possession and exorcism are treated as punchlines, creating a spoof experience where the constant paranormal activity is undercut by humor.

  • tone
  • comedy
  • parody
  • spoof
  • humor
  • horror

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Haunted House, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Haunted House tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Raunchy horror spoofs like A Haunted House

Comedic films that mock horror tropes with slapstick and irreverent humor. If you liked the chaotic, joke-a-minute style of A Haunted House, this thread features movies that share a similar approach. Find other comedies that parody supernatural films and found footage horror with an irreverent, slapstick-heavy vibe.

  • ridiculous
  • slapstick
  • raunchy
  • irreverent
  • chaotic
  • parody
  • Tone: light, irreverent
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a simple horror plot—like a haunting or possession—but use it as a skeleton to hang a rapid-fire series of gags. Character arcs are secondary to comedic set pieces, and the 'threat' exists primarily to be made fun of, leading to chaotic, often unresolved endings.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their primary goal: to spoof the horror genre. They share a light tone, fast pacing, and a high-intensity comedic style that prioritizes jokes over narrative depth, creating a consistent vibe of ridiculous fun.

High-energy supernatural comedies like A Haunted House

Fast-paced comedies where supernatural chaos disrupts everyday life. For viewers seeking more movies like A Haunted House, this thread collects fast-paced comedies where demonic possession or ghostly antics are played for laughs. Discover similar films that blend supernatural plots with lighthearted, chaotic humor.

  • anxious
  • chaotic
  • supernatural
  • farcical
  • irreverent
  • absurd
  • Tone: light, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves an ordinary person or couple whose life is thrown into disarray by a sudden, ridiculous supernatural event. The plot is a straightforward series of escalating, comedic confrontations as the protagonist seeks increasingly unorthodox help, often leading to an ambiguous or joke-based conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by a unique blend: a supernatural plot framework executed with a comedic, high-energy approach. They share a light emotional weight, straightforward complexity, and a consistent vibe of turning the otherworldly into a source of slapstick humor.

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Movies Like A Haunted House

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Every angle

A Haunted House (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Haunted House in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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