What Is The Song In The Haunted Mansion Teaser Trailer?
By Emily Bell
The song used in the teaser trailer for "Haunted Mansion" is "House Without Windows" by Roy Orbison and was released in 1963 on his "In Dreams" album. The tune is sung in the performer's signature crooning style. But despite the his tranquil voice and delivery, the lyrics describe a yearning to avoid seeing a former lover walk by the home with a new partner — and tell of a house without windows that achieves this.
Its usage in the promo for the film takes on a more literal approach as it is being used to characterize a haunted home that is featured throughout the entire trailer. 'House Without Windows" starts playing after the 30-second mark as Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield) walks down a creepy hallway that matches what Orbison is singing about. The tune also takes on a more irreverent approach as the teaser showcases both the horror and comedy of the movie.
Hearing the singer's high and emotional voice as the action picks up adds to the overall intensity of the promo. This is not the first time a Roy Orbison number was used off-kilter in a film — his "In Dreams" took on a whole new meaning in David Lynch's 1986 "Blue Velvet" thanks to the director's unique music choices. The song both described the dreaminess of the feature and was paradoxically used in scenes of extreme depravity featuring both Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) and Ben (Dean Stockwell).
