When I heard they were making a movie about the Bell Witch of Tennessee, I was pretty excited. I had images in my mind of the Bell family home being tourmented by an unseen force, ultimately ending in the death of John Bell Sr. at the invisible hands of a supernatural entity. This case is historically documented and has been debated for almost two hundred years as the true story of the only known case of a spirit causing the death of a human being. The thoughts of this bring about a mental picture of post revolutionary America and a family which is on the verge of destruction from within.
Sorry but the build up I'm giving you is barely touched on in the movie "An American Haunting" which tries to explain away the supernatural aspects of this story as a psychological reaction to abuse. I've read a lot of books about this case personally, but I don't consider myself an expert whatsoever, but I will say that they missed the mark on many aspects of this case. Where was future president Andrew Jackson, who was involved briefly, but of high importance? Where was the suggestion that the local school master (who had an infatuation with young Betsy Bell) had a hand in the haunting? There was so much that could have been talked about but totally ignored. The movie doesn't so much end as it falls apart at the end.
If you're interested in the Bell Witch story, I'd suggest you read "Historic Haunted America"'s article "Family Troubles" which summarizes just about all the aspects of this story that make it a tale that has lasted almost 200 years. The movie? Let it wind up in the $5.50 bin at WalMart...don't waste your time or money on it.

It almost sounds like you didn't like it, man! B) I was gonna see this one, but it was out of the theatre before I got the chance. Sounds like I didn't miss much.

My review of An American Haunting: Bwah hahhahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

poltergoost smacks girly around, family looks on cluelessly, repeat 5x, add ludicrous psych 101 freudian babble & amazingly hokey framing device. shake well. bake for 90 minutes & enjoy a wonderfully tacky shit sandwich.


I had free passes to an advanced screening of this crap & still wanted a refund (still better than RV tho). I pity anyone who wasted their money on this garvag. It did have endless moments to MST3K the hell out of tho...