In 1997 a father kills his daughter because he doesn't want her to reach her 18th birthday next week, saying that he "can't let THEM have her". Then, the story goes to 2008 where Molly (Haley Bennett) is the new student at a prep school. She is still traumatized from when her mother tried stabbing her to death with a knife. The mother is now in a mental institution at the edge of town, diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. But Molly is hearing voices and seeing things and she's afraid she may be going crazy as well. She gets bloody noses and faints after which she's taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a small tumor in her sinuses that is probably the source of her hallucinations.
On the first day of school she's befriended by Alexis, a girl who makes it very clear she's a Christian. This girl continually says she wants to help Molly by saving her soul. Molly also gets the attention of the blonde rich boy in school, which makes the guy's bitchy girlfriend very angry. When she's invited to a party he's giving there's a confrontation between the two girls and Molly wins by breaking her arm. Molly's father (Jake Weber of MEDIUM) is truly concerned about her, especially when she starts seeing her mother around every corner. The mother does eventually show up there's a fatal confrontation...
I liked this movie. There are virtually no special effects and I don't think the words "the devil" or "satan" are used in the entire film, which is interesting. The movie also keeps you guessing as to what's really happening--is she going to be possessed or is she simply crazy? It kept me guessing until the end and the ending is unexpected. Overall, THE HAUNTING OF MOLLY HARTLEY is like an extended version of the TV series 90210 crossed with a 70's TV movie about the devil, like SATAN'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.
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Rating: 4.0 out of 10.0 - 1 vote cast total
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