A Haunted House Story Analysis: Plot Summary & Character Arcs
Deep dive into the narrative structure and emotional journey of A Haunted House.
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2013, A Haunted House is a Comedy, Horror film directed by Michael Tiddes, written by Rick Alvarez. The narrative brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. As part of the A Haunted House Collection, it provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Marlon Wayans as Malcolm.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. Malcolm and Kisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm - determined to keep his sex life on track - turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help in this spoof of all the "found-footage/documentary style" films released in recent years. The production finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: A Haunted House's opening establishes the comedic tone through Marlon Wayans as Malcolm's interactions, introducing the central conflict with humor and character quirks that Michael Tiddes layers throughout.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together the recurring threads, with Marlon Wayans's storyline wrapping up predictably but entertainingly.