The Haunting of Sarah Hardy

I remember this as one of the first great mystery films that I saw as a child. My parents only let me watch it because Alan's office and Ms. Stepford's kitchen were both located in my family home in Oregon. We still tell the tale of Sela Ward volunteering to babysit my baby brother while Mom drove the three of us girls to elementary school.

Not until I saw The Others have I seen a movie that makes me second-guess myself so much. I love Sela's acting, even if the writing would not have impressed me as an adult.

It also reminds me of What Lies Beneath, the conspiracy of one character who may not believe in supernatural influences preying on the credulous for their own gains.

The movie starts with the funeral of Sarah's father. Sarah's mother is being cruel to the girl. Later, Sarah's mother goes from cruel to insane. Miss Stepford, who takes care of the house, provides the poor girl some comfort.

15 years later, Sarah is marrying Austin at a little church next to the cemetery where her mother's gravestone is. The mother's body was never found. Lucy, Sarah's best friend as a child, is a soap actress whose role is being discontinued. Allen, a shrink who was also a friend, is not happy.

Sarah moves back into the mansion known as The Pines, on the Oregon coast, where she has not lived since her mother ran into the ocean and never came back. She seems happy with her new life until she starts hearing her mother's voice again. Then the harpsichord her mother used to play ... only no one is there. Then things really start to get weird.

Sela Ward has a reputation as a quality actress, and I saw potential here, though I wouldn't have said she was that good just from seeing this movie. Morgan Fairchild was better than I expected, and Polly Bergen was fine as Miss Stepford.

This wasn't a horror movie in the classic sense, but more of a mystery with some interesting plot twists, including some that I didn't see coming. As the movie progressed, I liked it better than I thought I would.

I enjoyed this movie! I didn't know what to expect. Morgan Fairchild & Sela Ward are always excellent. Polly Bergen is just so very talented. Such wonderful acting! The actors were all well cast. Watching Michael Woods was definitely swoon inducing! He has been in many films with major leading ladies: Diane Lane, Sharon Stone, Jane Seymour, Jaclyn Smith... just to name a few! I believe he has starred in another movie with Morgan Fairchild before. I also remember seeing him on Oprah when he starred on Private Eye with Josh Brolin. A very handsome & talented actor, indeed. I think I should go refresh myself and watch a few more of his films.

Initially interesting movie with a plot that held promise. Sela Ward's performance was better than what audiences have come to expect in television movies. The build up of suspense started with increasing expectancy. I felt that the ending was anti-climatic and sputtered into confusion. I give 3 stars out of 10.

I like Morgan Fairchild and Selea Ward but this is a terrible film. The film brings nothing new to the table - it's your basic thing: Rich woman, her husband and his lover - the husband and lover wants to drive her to suicide and take "all that money" (as they say). Nothing new - YAWN!

1/10