Why I took it off the list:

The fact that this horror anthology boasted an impressive supporting cast, including Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story: Asylum) and Samantha Robinson (The Love Witch).

So, let’s dig in!

Review of Hauntology (2024)

Hauntology is an anthology film that follows 2 sisters on a tour around spooky locations in their hometown in Ohio. After the younger sister, Venus (Jaidyn Triplett) attempts to run away from home, older sister Jaz (Samantha Russell) convinces her to hear out some spooky stories she has to tell.

They then embark on their tour, and with each location they hit, the older sister spins a tale, which we then see play out.

The first segment, “Witchcraft Becomes Her”, benefits from a genuinely creepy monster and a strong supporting turn from Grossman. The second segment, “The Day Mabel Came Out of the Grave” is brief and lacks much substance, but boasts a couple of memorably haunting visuals.

The third segment, “Paint and Black Lace”, is the most overtly comedic, and centers around a couple who seek to profit from counterfeit paintings, while a killer starts bumping off their associates one by one. The fourth segment, “The Old Dark Cashell House”, sees a journalist visit the eponymous house, a place where electronics are forbidden, and those who break the rules are liable to see the resident ghost.

Tells an Atmospheric, Cohesive Story

Unlike a lot of horror anthologies, Hauntology has a strong framing story that ties in nicely with all the different tales. The wraparound segments are helped along immensely by the strong chemistry between Triplett and Russell.

There are some fun recurring Easter Eggs throughout the film, such as work by the same artist, Felner, and the family name Cashell being featured throughout the different segments.

The film is unapologetically queer, with “Witchcraft Becomes Her” turning out to be an overtly trans story, while “The Day Mabel Came Out of the Grave” and “Paint and Black Lace” centering around a lesbian and gay couple, respectively.

And Hauntology is genuinely creepy at times, using the visual of the ‘Hat Man’ and several other phantasmal presences to great effect. Along similar lines, the editing is also excellent, greatly adding to the general sense of unease.

Final score: 7/10

Hauntology (2024): Worth Watching?

Yes, Hauntology is the rare horror anthology that is engaging throughout both its framing story and individual segments, making for a satisfyingly cohesive whole.