There's nothing like the feeling of unwrapping a DVD and getting a gem.
Today's Film is The Frighteners, Peter Jackson's first big Studio Film for America. It's a shame that he never made anymore, right?!?
Jokes aside, the Film is historically significant as his pals over at the WETA Workshop needed to up their game for this Film and its many, MANY VFX shots. They bought more computers and went to work- never once looking back.
The Plot itself involves a man who can see ghosts and then discovers a true danger. Too bad he's been a conman so long that nobody believes him!
Can he rise to the occasion or will he fail yet again to save a life?
To find out, read on...
We meet a young Social Worker who checks on a lady at her Mom's House.
The Mom is super paranoid and won't let her leave the House.
At home, she finds out that the woman is connected to a Spree Killing from the 1960s.
She was released to her Mother's care, while the boyfriend was executed.
This sure won't be important, so why am I bringing it up?
Michael J. Fox plays Frank Bannister.
He will show up and get rid of the poltergeists...for a price.
As it turns out, however, he can see ghosts- like John Astin here- and uses them to scare people into paying him for his services.
He also has a dark backstory involving a dead wife, because, of course he does.
He's also been at this for quite a while, which has angered certain ghosts.
R. Lee Ermey plays...well, himself as a ghost here.
He's more than just a fun Cameo, however, as he will be key to the Plot in Act 3.
A series of strange deaths have been occurring in the last several months.
Since Frank's Wife died mysteriously, he's a suspect.
As it turns out, the real culprit is more, well, of a Ring Wraith.
 |
| It's actually Death, but jokes. |
Of course, it is not that simple.
Frank learns that this is actually connected to that Spree Killing I mentioned at the beginning. How weird!
He can see the killer spirit, but can't interact with it...unless he temporarily makes himself a ghost first.
Everything builds up to a big showdown at the sight of said killing all of those years ago.
The 'poor' woman was actually his accomplice and the killer is now the aforementioned spirit that is trying to break the record of most killings by one man/duo.
Of course, Pedro Alonso Lopez (who is possibly back at large!!!) set it officially at 110, so he'd need like 3 more Films.
In any event, Frank obviously saves the day.
The End.
A really fun Film that showed where a Director was going to go.
It is fascinating to see Peter Jackson go from a guy who made fake Documentaries and low-budget Zombie Films to a guy who made the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (and definitely none after that!).
This is the key, middle step to it all.
The Film is quite fun, giving you interesting visuals, enjoyable Characters and a quirky Plot.
Some say that it is a bit overlong, and I can't really argue with that.
That said, it is also hard to complain when you get more of, well, this.
Most of the CGI has aged very well here. A few bits have that lack of texture/sheen that comes with adding a CGI Character/object into a shot.
Nobody is perfect.
Ultimately, The Frighteners is a great Film to enjoy if you're a fan of Jackson, ghosts or both.
Just don't accidentally get the TV Show of the same name by mistake...
Next up, I'll try to squeeze in one more regular Review before the Halloween one. If so, get ready to howl! Stay tuned...
