In reviewing this disc, I couldn't help but compare this film to the 1964 version of this film directed by Robert Wise, as I consider it the scariest film I have ever seen. Psychologically, that film still scares the crap out of me! So why redo it? Why did they remake Psycho? I don't know. But since they did remake this one, lining up a magnificent cast and directed by the same man who did Speed and Twister, with state of the art special effects, what's not to like? This updated DVD from Dreamworks also has incredible DTS sound, adding another layer to the atmosphere of the film.

Liam Neeson is a professor studying the effects of fear on subjects and recruits four insomniacs as his test group. The good professor knows of the reputation of Hill House, which hasn't been occupied in about 100 years. The caretaker, played by Bruce Dern, is perfect for the part with his wide eyed looks and sarcastic remarks. One of the subjects, played by Lilli Taylor, has recently had her mother die and has been rejected by her surviving family members. She is the first one to arrive at the house, which totally attracts her for unknown reasons. Catherine Zeta-Jones plays a jet setting wonder woman, who is too busy to sleep. Owen Wilson plays the down to Earth insomniac who wanders the halls with a baseball glove and plays catch with himself. The house is also a central character, as it is the center of all the activity for most of the movie. It's enormous rooms , with sinister decorations and artwork (the gates of Hell are depicted on one enormous entrance) add to eerieness and of course, every door creaks and groans when open. Taylor begins experiencing strange events the first night there in the house. She is soon trying to find out everything she can about the history of the house and its former occupants. Trouble starts when a greeting is painted on the portraits in the main hallway welcoming her back home. She is offended by the act but no one will admit to doing it. The more she investigates and discovers about the house, the more events take place which can not be dismissed as old plumbing or a tricks of light and shadow. When other guests start being effected, the house takes over and the good professor's study in terror becomes real for everyone.

Picture-Anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ration of 2.35:1 will make widescreen owners very happy indeed. The picture is superb, as are most Dreamworks disc and every subtle detail is visible in the beautiful transfer. Technically, it's hard to top this disc. Color saturation and sharp focus make the disc even more like a film theater experience. Sound-Originally available in Dolby 5.1, this is a new DTS-ES edition of the film. Our recent poll of readers show that a majority of DVD buyers prefer DTS. The added channel (6.1) and boosted amplification from the DTS encoding make subtle sound more visible and the imaging through the speakers even more dynamic. Sound plays a big part in a film like this as it has an added effect on the viewer in their reaction to what they are seeing. The big drawback to DTS is the limitations it puts on the storage space of the DVD. You can't put both Dolby 5.1 encoding and DTS on the same disc. That's why there are different sound editions of the same movie-recent examples being Jaws and Men in Black. My receiver can decode both options and my preference is DTS, as long as I am not shorted on any other extras.

This DTS DVD does contain an additional Dolby soundtrack, but just four channel Dolby surround. You are given a choice at the menu at startup. It also includes a four page insert of production notes, a behind the scenes feature, 2 theatrical trailers, and cast and filmmaker bios. I believe this is identical to the features found on the Dolby 5.1 edition.

This film is scary-right on down to the end. It has amazing special effects, incredible sound, and a good delivery from an all-star cast. Lilli Taylor is exceptional in her role. The house itself is appealing and yet totally overwhelming. Technical quality of this disc is like most Dreamworks titles, superior in all respects. This is a great fright film for people who have had enough of the slasher types of movie. You get just as scared with out the grotesque violence that seems to plague Hollywood. This scares you in subtle ways with your own imagination. What could be scarier than that!