I had never seen the prior versions (remakes) of a Haunted Mansion, so going into the movie I was free from biases. It was predictable but entertaining. Overall, I would wait for it to come to Disney+ or other streaming platform. Reminded me a lot like the 90's direct to VCR/DVD Disney movies.
The story follow's 4 to 5 characters but two primary leads Ben and Gabby. Ben, an astrophysicist, who had lost his wife in a car accident. Years before, in his grieving, Ben creates a "Spectral Photographer / Camera" so he can talk to his wife Alissa. In creating the camera he is laughed at by his peers and goes into a downward spiral of drinking.
Gabby, along with her son Travis, move from New York. Gabby a Doctor finds the haunted mansion online and dreams to open a bed and breakfast. After stepping foot into the mansion she is haunted by multiple ghosts. She recruits priest Father Kent to perform an exorcist. We find out later that Father Kent is a sham and not an ordained priest but first Father recruits Ben.
Anyone who visits the house is forced to return to the house. The story evolves to finding out who is haunting the house and why? Gabby, Ben and Father Kent start to recruit the "dream team". Tiffany Haddish joins as the psychic (medium) and we wish she had more screen time because she was funny. The "dream team" embark upon an adventure to understand what happened in the house.
There are some funny aspects of the story - I especially liked Father Kent trying to find the séance room; he ends up ripping off the candlelight light fixture and then Ben proceeds to open the hidden door.
The team fear leaving the common area because the ghosts roam after midnight. The story continues as they learn about who once owned the mansion. They learn that Gracey is the owner of the house who died grieving the loss of his wife. Gracey goes through the depths of conducting so many incantations that 900+ ghosts arrive at his mansion. Eventually, he conjures Alistair Crump, who we learn is the evil soul that needs 1000 souls (999 deaths so far in the house) to release him from being trapped.
Jared Leto plays Alistair Crump - a blood sacrifice evil magic ghost. He kills people and buries them under Crump Manor. We learn that the team must find a relic that belongs to Alistair Crump to conduct a final séance that will send Crump to hell. Travis, the 10 yr old kid, finds Crump's head and top hat in an underground labyrinth.
There's always a McGuffin and we think its at first Ben who is a willing grieving pawn but it turns out to be Travis who lost his father a year ago. Travis is depressed and misses his father. As expected Ben saves Travis from "going to visit his dead father."
In the end, they send Alistair to purgatory and free the 999 ghosts. The dream team celebrates Halloween at the mansion and as expected Ben starts to date Gabby.
"The Haunted Mansion" (2023) is not a must-watch for both fans of the original attraction and newcomers alike. You can miss seeing this in the theater. The set pieces and CGI were good. 
