... There are a number of other characters involved in the film, but apart from the doctor's dead husband, played by Peter Dobson, and the mass murderer, played by Jake Busey, no-one is on-screen for long enough to make an impact. Dobson gives an extremely slapstick performance which just about ... Read review
One movie-lover's nightmare is another's raucous joyride, and this special effects-laden ... more
horror comedy is bound to split both camps right down the middle. Michael J Fox plays a psychic investigator who can actually see ghosts, and lives with a trio of ...
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One movie-lover's nightmare is another's raucous joyride, and this special effects-laden ... more
horror comedy is bound to split both camps right down the middle. Michael J Fox plays a psychic investigator who can actually see ghosts, and lives with a trio of ...
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In the sleepy little town of Fairwater a monstrous evil has awakened..an evil so powerful ... more
its reach extends beyond the grave. Director Peter Jackson and executive Producer Robert Zemeckis unleash a riveting thriller with the most spectacular special ...
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In the sleepy little town of Fairwater, a monstrous evil has awakened ... an evil so ... more
powerful, its reach extends beyond the grave! From Oscar nominated Director Peter Jackson (The Lord Of The Rings) and Executive Producer Robert Zemeckis (Back to the F...
Production Year: 1980 - Horror - Director: Paul Lynch - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Leslie Nielsen, Casey Stevens, Anne-Marie Martin, Antoinette Bower
Production Year: 1981 - Horror - Director: Rick Rosenthal - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Lance Guest, Charles Cyphers, Jeffrey Kramer, Dana Carvey
Advantages: Comical, Michael J Fox Disadvantages: Overly silly at times
In the small town of Fairwater, strange things are afoot - healthy people are dropping dead like flies. Frank Bannister is thrilled by all this - he is a paranormal investigator and hopes to make a good living out of other people's misery. He works in conjunction with two ghosts, who visit his clients beforehand and pretend to be poltergeists, However, Frank is in over his head for once, because there is a more powerful force in Fairwater, and unless ... ...who recognises that Frank is the only person with the power to help. Will he take on the challenge? Or will it be too much for him?
Produced by Robert Zemeckis and directed by Peter Jackson, I was quite surprised that I hadn't heard of this 1996 film before, particularly as it stars Michael J Fox. It was really good to see Fox again - he reminds me so much of my teen years, and although he is perhaps not the best actor in the world, ... more
In the small town of Fairwater, strange things are afoot - healthy people are dropping dead like flies. Frank Bannister is thrilled by all this - he is a paranormal investigator and hopes to make a good living out of other people's misery. He works in conjunction with two ghosts, who visit his clients beforehand and pretend to be poltergeists, However, Frank is in over his head for once, because there is a more powerful force in Fairwater, and unless he manages to solve the problem, innocent people are going to continue to die. A further impetus for Frank is a beautiful widowed doctor, who recognises that Frank is the only person with the power to help. Will he take on the challenge? Or will it be too much for him?
Produced by Robert Zemeckis and directed by Peter Jackson, I was quite surprised that I hadn't heard of this 1996 film before, particularly as it stars Michael J Fox. It was really good to see Fox again - he reminds me so much of my teen years, and although he is perhaps not the best actor in the world, he is certainly entertaining. I do think that without him, the film would have been instantly forgettable; as it is, he makes it slightly more memorable, although even he can't save it from being little more than mildly entertaining. As often seems to happen with Fox, the love interest spices up his role quite a bit - there is something endearing about him that will appeal to most females at least.
Unfortunately, the love interest, the beautiful doctor played by Trini Alvarado, doesn't work quite as well. Alvarado is initially incredibly wooden. She is clearly supposed to be the straight partner to Fox's more comic role, but her attempts to pull it off don't really work - she provides a pretty face, but very little more. I've not heard of the actress before, probably for a very good reason - she just isn't anything special. There are a number of other characters involved in the film, but apart from the doctor's dead husband, played by Peter Dobson, and the mass murderer, played by Jake Busey, no-one is on-screen for long enough to make an impact. Dobson gives an extremely slapstick performance which just about works, but is a bit over the top; Jake Busey looks exactly as a mass murderer ought to, but the role really is based on looks rather than his acting skills.
The special effects are fairly basic, but in its day probably would have been quite impressive. Most of the scary 'monsters' are seen bulging through wallpaper, others are 'ghosts' that glow in the dark and sometimes have bones showing. Occasionally we see Bannister's ghostly partners walk through walls and other inanimate objects. They do the job, but aren't going to make much of an impact on today's viewers. However, that really doesn't matter all that much because the film doesn't even try to take itself seriously; it is simply a bit of fun from start to finish with the odd scare thrown in every now and again.
There is a rating of 15 on the film, which is perhaps a little harsh compared to recent films like The Dark Knight. However, some form of parental control is probably needed for children under 15, particularly if they are easily scared. The story does revolve around a mass murderer and we do see dead bodies lying on the floor, plus there are a number of creepy moments when the atmosphere and the music really build up and could give younger children a few nightmares. On the whole though, the film is fairly light-hearted and would make an ideal Halloween watch with a few beers or a bottle of wine. The humour isn't laugh out loud, it is much more subtle than that, but it is enough to make the film entertaining.
There isn't really all that much to criticise - obviously, if you don't like comedy horrors, then you aren't particularly going to like this, but on the whole, it is fairly harmless, slightly scary fun. Then again, it isn't going to be a film that particularly stands out either. Written by Peter Jackson, the story is fairly average really, and despite Michael J Fox's best efforts, the acting just isn't good enough to raise the overall quality of the film.
There are a couple of extras with the DVD that I have, but nothing worth watching - production notes, cast and film-makers notes and a theatrical trailer. However, if you want extras, there is a three disc version available with extras aplenty.
Overall, this is a film that is worth watching if it comes on television, or as a light-hearted film to watch at Halloween, but I really don't think that it is worth going out of anyone's way to purchase unless you are a big Michael J Fox fan. I have only just watched it, but I can't see the film sticking in my mind for very long. Just about recommended to watch, but probably not for purchasing.
Advantages: Great special effects, funny and thrilling all in one go! Disadvantages: My video player!!!
...my video player working, with the help of lots of tender loving care, a head cleaner cassette and a few choice slaps to the black casing! So, I was able to watch a video I brought several months ago.
I do like a good ghost story, and The Frighteners is definitely a good ghost story. You may not have heard of this film, it was directed by Peter Jackson, and had Robert Zemeckis of Forrest Gump and Back to the Future fame as Executive Producer. It ... ...a lot of publicity at the time, and the same lack of publicity happened when it was released on video, which is good for me as I managed to pick up a copy in the bargain bin for £3.99!!!
Anyway, about the film. Michael J. Fox of Back to the Future fame plays psychic investigator Frank Bannister, who drives a very cool, but very beat up old Volvo extremely badly. He has the unfortunate habit of driving over lawns, smashing a few white picket fences ...
paule23 02.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Frighteners (DVD)
Advantages: Good cast, good story, good effects. Disadvantages: Neither hilarious nor terrifying.
...scratches out a living exploiting the grief and superstition of others. The twist however, is that Frank is in fact the genuine article, and the ghosts are working for him!
Then Frank meets Lucy (Trini Alvarado), a pretty young doctor who has faith in hhis abilities. However a series of strange deaths is castiung a shadow over the town and only Frank can see the culprit : a dark apparition. But what is the connexion with a series of grisly murders ... ...past leads him to become the chief suspect for the killings?
Fox is excellent here as Frank, a man trying to forget his past, and who has pretty much given up on life and people in general. Fox has great comic timing, but also provides some genuinely moving moments.
This fiilm was written by Peter Jackson (Heavenly Creatures, Lord Of The Rings) and directed by him in his native New Zealand. Fans of NZ-based soap 'Shortland Street' can have fun ...
GrimArc 15.05.2004 (16.05.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Frighteners (DVD)
The Frighteners, released in 1996, is the creation of director Peter Jackson and executive producer Robert Zemeckis and is as far as I am concerned one of the best dark comedies ever made. Staring Michael J Fox (Back to the Future), Trini Alverado, Jeffery Combs, John Astin, Jake Busey (Starship Troopers) and many more this is a very entertaining film. The film also boats some very good special effects and some cleaver cinematography. ~~Content~~ ... ...and sometimes bloody violence. Occasionally the language is quite strong and in places there is moderate nudity. The theme to this film is a comedy horror with ghosts. ~~My Thoughts~~ This is a very good film with a strong cast, which put there all into this film. Michael J Fox is great in this film; you can see some of the qualities, which made him a success in the Back to the Future films. Jake Busey also puts in a very good performance and seems ...
ia_young 17.04.2001 (09.04.2001)
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Quick review of The Frighteners (DVD)
With a touch of humor and suspense mixed wtih supernatural, it blends well to create a complete story that isn't obvious as to how it will end. it seems to keep evolving to the point, that you begin to think, what will happen next.
Michael J. fox plays his role well as the tormented widower trying to cope with his life and odd, unlikely friends.
The special effects are excellent, and inovative for that time. I still enjoy watching it today. ...
firemech3 11.03.2008
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Frighteners (DVD)
...movie, and it’s great.
The story is about a small town boy that can talk to dead people, but amongst the spirits of the afterlife there is a serial killer that has come back to haunt the town in the name of ‘Death’.
Michael J. Fox has to find a way to stop Death from killing the whole town and send him back to the other side where he belongs, he has to because he’s the only one that can do it!
While watching this movie, ...
michellej 30.08.2000 (06.03.2001)
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Advantages: The unearthing of a lost classic Disadvantages: None
or forthcoming Shameless DVD features. Also included is the wonderfully hip trailer for The Frightened Movie, a stylish offering that looks like something Andy Warhole could have produced, but actually good.
I keep asking you to support Shameless in their movies, because I feel a company like this needs support; offerings like the ones they release are seldom found on UK shores, thus making them almost like national treasures. The difference this time however is that The Frightened Woman needs no support its a stunning masterpiece, with a cover designed to lure in unsuspecting viewers. This time Shameless have struck pure gold, this is a real beauty of a movie.
The Frightened Woman is available from play.com for £7.99, you need to enter the adult option of the DVD section in order to search for it, but I assure you there is little adult content ...
Advantages: Funny and Scary in equal measures Disadvantages: mushy ending, some dodgy CGI effects in places
with the authorities.
Frank falls for the wife of one of his ex clients (who conveniently died from the mystery heart condition minutes after being in Bannisters prescence). When the ghostly number shows itself on her forehead Frank enters a race against time to clear his name with the police and save the woman he loves from the grim reaper.
I will stop there at the risk of giving away any juicy plot twists.
Although it sounds pretty downbeat this film is actually a riot, full of Jacksons trademark wit and love of all thing gory The Frighteners is a great Friday night movie.
As Frank Bannister Fox is great, however praise must also go to Chi Mcbride and Jim Fyfe as Franks main ghostly cohorts in his scam they provide the majority of the laughs and for my money would merit a film all of their own.
There are also someone great cameo ...
A ghostbuster persuades some of his 'friends' to haunt houses in order to keep him in gainful employment. But when an executed serial killer shows up a series of demonic battles begin...
Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish
Technical information
Special Features
Theatrical trailer, Production notes, Cast and Filmmakers' notes
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital Surround
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English French Italian Spanish Dolby Digital Stereo Czech Polish Dolby Digital Surround German
Professional reviews
Review
"...Everything-goes....Consistently witty and often lewd and rude..." -- Rating: B+ (Entertainment Weekly, p.84, 20/12/1996)
"...Flashes of twisted inspiration..." (Rolling Stone, p.105, 22/08/1996)
DVD Description
When his hometown is struck by a series of mysterious deaths that appears to be the work of a malicious supernatural killer, a psychic private investigator (Michael J. Fox) who is able to communicate with the dead attempts to get to the bottom of things and put a stop to the murders. But even with the help of three ghostly friends, he soon discovers that defeating the deadly fiend is a task much easier said than done. With its mix of humor and suspense, THE FRIGHTENERS is spooky good fun from New Zealand cult director Peter Jackson, making his Hollywood debut years before the hugely successful LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy.
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