About me:Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Member since:11.07.2000
Reviews:624
Members who trust:55
Review rated by 23 Ciao members on average: helpful
Robert Zemeckis, Oscar winning director of big films such as Roger Rabbit, Back To The Future and Forrest Gump. Joel Silver, producer of great action films such as Lethal Weapon and The Matrix. Together they have a hand in Dark Castle Entertainment, a production company committed to making big horror movies. With a good track record the pair have so far produced dross such as House On Haunted Hill, 13 Ghosts and now Ghost Ship.
A salvage crew headed by seadog Captain Sean Murphy (Gabriel Byrne) is approached by pilot Jack Ferriman (Desmond Harrington). He has spotted an ocean liner abandoned at sea. The prospects of the rewards for salvaging the vessel are too great for Murphy and his crew. They embark on a high seas adventure to recover their possible fortune. However the ship they encounter gives them more than they bargained for. The ship is haunted, ghosts walk the rusted rooms and hallways and things that start well soon turn sour.
Ghost Ship follows the same principles as its production company’s previous movies. They are high on special effects but pretty low on story, taste and genuine scares. This should come as no surprise as Director Steve Beck is the same man behind 13 Ghosts. The film starts off well enough with some nasty gore and creepy atmosphere. But this is an idea that doesn’t realize it’s potential. For a start you’d expect a film that is called Ghost Ship to have it’s fair quote of ghosts. Well the film is pretty thin on the ground when it comes to things spooky. The ghosts themselves are pretty crap and not really scary. The opening of the film also hints at the origins of the ghosts and the reason why the ship went missing. Well I have to say the reveal of the ending is pretty weak and complete nonsense, it just makes the whole film un-worthwhile.
Acting wise the cast aren’t bad. Byrne is always good value although you feel this was more of a paycheque. Julianne Margulies does well in a big screen role and makes the transition from TV quite easily. The rest of the crew have very stereotypical roles and you’ve seen them countless times in countless other movies of this nature.
I’d like to say Ghost Ship was worth your time but it’s frankly a very confused film. It’s not really scary, hasn’t got many ghosts and isn’t really that entertaining over it’s 87-minutes. Dark Castle Entertainment really need to get their act together and start investing in decent stories and directors otherwise they’re just going to be left with dull special effects films that are easily forgotten.
![Ghost Ship [DVD] [2003]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78520998.jpg)
by (74%):
05.04.2004 22:20
I've read a few reviews of this all saying it is poor. I think I'll give to a miss. Thanks x
05.04.2004 21:50
You just got that VH. Will
05.04.2004 20:48
saw this and didnt think it was that bad. : ] x