I’m struggling to put into words what bothers me about it, but it just feels... off. It’s like they couldn’t settle on an art direction and tried to combine multiple. It’s too realistic to be cartoony, yet still feels like a cartoon. None of the other figures in the ride really blur this line—they’re either completely realistic, like Leota and the Singing Busts, or garishly cartoonish like the rest of the ghosts (for the most part). While this figure is a vast improvement over 2006 Constance, it doesn’t really mesh with the rest of the attraction. For me, at least.
One thing about many of these classic "gag oriented" attractions, especially ones with Marc Davis designs, are that they often used exaggerated features to convey more outrageous and over the top personalities or reactions. An evil person would have much more extreme contortions to the eyebrows, mouth etc, which may also be added on top of other natural exaggerated features. Same goes for other "big" personalities and emotional reactions.
On the opposite end, there were more serious or neutral type characters as well, and these were often given less ridiculous features and expressions. To the point where they looked much more like "normal" humans. And sometimes they would be juxtaposed next to the ridiculous looking characters to give them contrast. Like the redhead in POTC. Or Melanie from Phantom Manor.
I agree with your assessment that the new bride looks like she's not quite realistic but also not quite cartoony either. My reasoning for why I personally think it works is because I think it called for something that wouldn't be appropriately conveyed with either a hyper realistic nor a super cartoony one. I think the slender gaunt features they gave her works with making her look like someone in extreme mourning. And it also makes her look somewhat otherworldly and not quite "normal" as well. Too exaggerated, and the features would look overly comical and disrupt the mood of the scene, but more realistic features could also have its own sort of awkward issues. As much as I love Phantom Manor, I will admit that Melanie doesn't convey sadness in her neutral facial expressions particularly well.
That said, I understand your reasoning and where you're coming from. This IMO is all the more reason why I think the one where we couldn't see her face was the best. It seemed to scare the crap out of nearly everyone even without any implications of violence, and you never had to worry about disagreements over whether it looked "off".
Lol I believe you were the first person to toss out words like “ridiculous” and “crazy.” To be fair you know what you’re getting into when you come for me. That’s why you didn’t reply to any of my posts even though you know your original post below was directed towards me.
If I was singling you out, I can assure you I would quote you and tell you directly as I am now. My comment was directed at several different people pointing out her exaggerated features. You were definitely neither the only one, nor the primary one. Hope that helps you feel a bit better, have a nice day.
I like Kim Irvine. But this is the Haunted Mansion. I’m surprised by her comments here.
I'm admittedly fine with the attic scene not having the explicitly spelled out murder backstory. It wasn't needed in the original, so I can do without it (but I'd prefer they return to something more visually scary).
However, you are absolutely correct in your reaction over the comment. Whether the new scene works or not, the reasons for why they did it are stupid and concerning. It opens up a lot of troubling implications for future projects involving the Mansion, but also any attraction that involves themes of killing in general. The hangman is on borrowed time, i'm sure he won't last. But will they remove other bits of dialog from the host implying that guests should die and become the 1000th spirit. Are we going to see the swords removed from the bodies of the beach skeletons in POTC next? No longer dunk Carlos in the well (and shoot at his wife) because torture is bad? Remove the various Jungle Cruise gags of people being attacked by animals or the gorillas playing with rifles?
