Rating: 
Summary: Dandy Little Thriller
Review: "The Frighteners" is one of those little known films that is really quite good and well-made. Michael Fox plays a ghostbuster who actually is a con man, using his three ghosts to whip up business. Add the storyline of an executed serial killer and his quest to amass the biggest body count in history, and you have one whale of a story.The special effects are very good, and the suspense is buffered with some black comic moments. Jeffrey Combs goes delightfully over the top as the FBI agent hell-bent on getting rid of Fox; Trini Alvaredo takes everything so seriously, she's very effective; R. Lee Ermey reprises his "Full Metal Jacket" sergeant as a deadly ghost; John Astin of "Addams Family" is barely recognized as the jaw-dropping judge; Jeff Dobson is perfectly awful as the hedonistic husband of Alvaredo; Jake Busey is a perfect demented killer; and the delightful Dee Wallace Stone is perfect as the rather twisted suspected conspirator of the aforementioned Busey; and one can't forget Julianna McCarthy (Snapper's mom on "Young and the Restless") as Stone's seemingly crazed mother. The movie is a lot of fun, but the opening sequence still baffles me. Dee Wallace Stone runs in terror from a ghost, which is all well and good to start the movie off ferociously, but by the end of the movie, you have to wonder what in the world was going on there? Oh, well, sit back and have a little bit of fun with a very different kind of thriller.
Rating: 
Summary: A wicked sense of humor
Review: As a huge fan of the horror genre, it's my duty to loathe the injustice given to The Frighteners. It's astounding to see how little known and/or undervalued this awesome film is. I think what killed the movie was its timing. Michael J. Fox's career hadn't yet been revived by Spin City and insufficient marketing ( not to mention the fact that Robert Zemeckis plastered his name all over it!) resulted in the films poor box office performance and attack by critics. Perhaps it will attain some much-deserved popularity when Peter Jackson, he of Dead Alive fame, becomes king when Lord of the Rings (which I am 99.9% sure will rock) is finally released. The movie starts with "psychic investigator'' Frank Bannister (a scuzzier-than-usual Michael J. Fox) selling his services as ghost exterminator. It's a scam, though: Frank is in league with the ghosts (John Astin, Jim Fyfe and Chi McBride), whom he can see because of a past trauma -- a car accident five years earlier that killed his wife. When substantial numbers of people start dropping dead in town, only Frank sees that the culprit is a Grim Reaper-like spirit. The cops -- along with a bug-eyed FBI agent (Jeffrey Combs) -- think Frank's the killer. Frank's only ally is psychologist Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado), whose husband (Peter Dobson) is among the recently deceased. Lucy uncovers a link between the current killings and a long-dead serial killer (Jake Busey), whose psycho girlfriend (Dee Wallace Stone) is still alive and rattling around in a spooky mansion. It has to be said that Jeffrey Combs steals the show as Agent Dammers, the paranormal specialist who is himself far from normal. Sporting a Hitler hairstyle, Dammers provides comic relief/villainy and is laughably pathetic. The thing that stands out in the film is its evil sense of humor. After all, serial killing has never been so funny. Indeed, kudos to Jackson for the masterful handling of twisted horror and black comedy. The film also makes extensive use of computer graphics. Since the ghosts are some of the film's main characters, they became a focal point in the film's production, resulting in over 400 computer enhanced shots. Special makeup veteran Rick Baker was responsible for the interesting look of some of the complaining ghosts, ghosts who are slowly falling apart. Peter Jackson had set up his very own special effects company a few years ago, in order to be able to work completely detached from Hollywood in New Zealand. After upgrading the company substantially for this project, his effects unit was eventually able to handle all of the 570 effects shot of the film without having to use ILM -- Yeah! Universal released The Frighteners in its original theatrical 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio. The disc's anamorphic transfer is stunning and beautifully rendered. It creates a sharp image with a huge amount of detail. The film comes fully dubbed in English and French. It is also closed captioned and contains Spanish subtitles. So in the end, The Frighteners is easily one of those cases where any self-respecting horror fan has to say "screw the critics".
Rating:
Summary: The last movie Peter Jackson made before "LOTR"
Review: When his growing legions of fans work their way back through the early films of Peter Jackson to determine how the man who started off directing comic gorefests like "Bad Taste" and "Dead Alive" ended up being entrusted with "The Lord of the Rings," this 1996 film will be the last link in the chain because it was after "The Frighteners" that Jackson devoted himself to bringing Tolkien to the big screen. Like every film he has ever made, "The Frighteners" shows a relentless creativity, although ultimately the story is not up to the impressive special effects. Consequently, while enjoyable, the film is also somewhat disappointing because we really expected something better in a film where Jackson finally had money to play with. "The Frighteners" is a horror-comedy that falls a bit short of both halves of the equation although it starts off strong enough. Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) is a paranormal investigator who shows up in the small town of Fairweather, California. Bannister is a most unusual con artist, because not only can he really see ghosts, he has three of them working for him: Stuart (Jim Fyfe), Cyrus (Chi McBride), and the Judge (John Astin). The ghostly trio put the fear of the undead into someone and then Bannister shows up and drives them away: for a small fee (with a money back guarantee). But then the husband of Lucy Lynsky (Trini Alvardo) drops dead and so do a lot of other people in town, all from heart attacks, and usually after seeing Bannister. He knows that the killer is the Soul Catcher, because he can not only see it attack, he can see the numbers that appear on the foreheads of his intended victims. Then things get complicated. By the time we find out what the opening scene of the film, where unseen spirits are terrifying loony old Patricia Ann Bradley (Dee Wallace-Stone), the contrivances are too mind-numbing to really care. Apparently there is a point to all this having to do with the competitiveness of Americans even in the realm of serial killing. Bannister's attempts to play the hero are consistently thwarted by Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs), an F.B.I. agent who is equal parts hardcase and nutcase. Every time he did something weird I found myself saying, "Well, okay then." His antics usually engendered a laugh, but it was just never quite the right type of laugh, having too much of a skeptical edge to it. If there is one think you do not want you audience to be when you are doing a horror movie with ghosts, it would be skeptical. Despite the problems with the convoluted narrative and the uneven tone of the comedy, this is still a film worth watching just to see what Jackson pulls out of his special effects bag of tricks next. Clearly the best of the pre-LOTR movies from Jackson is definitely "Heavaenly Creatures," which speaks to the director's strengths in terms of not just special effects but also with adaptations, whether from a literary classic or from infamous historical events. This means that his announced next project, a remake of "King Kong," plays to these strengths as well.
Rating:
Summary: A horror-comedy that delivers on both counts.
Review: New Zealand film wunderkind Peter Jackson's first American film, "The Frighteners," died a quick and ugly death in theaters shortly after its release, only to return and haunt the film libraries of a small and loyal group of fans. Jackson, who made his name with a series of spectacularly gory low-budget horror flicks, surprised the world with his Oscar-nominated true-crime drama "Heavenly Creatures" (a must see) and went on to make this more mainstream film with producer Robert Zemeckis. Michael J. Fox, in a surprisingly good performance, is phony ghostbuster Frank Bannister; a car accident left him able to talk with the dead, and now he consorts with three amusing losers from the spirit world to con the unsuspecting residents of the town of Fairwater. But soon Frank has a problem on his hands: the spectral source of the town's recent rash of mystery heart attacks has reared its ugly head. It's cloaked and skeletal. It's got a switchblade scythe. And Frank is the only one who can stop it. The ghostly killer is somehow related to a decades-old murder spree and a frightened woman in a creepy old house-- and to Frank's own dark past as well. Jackson's filmmaking has a giddy, eerie funhouse energy to it, and the film veers from disturbing thrills to surreal sight gags and one-liners with whiplash speed. Surprisingly, it all works, thanks to a smart script, dazzling visuals and special effects, and several fine performances. Most notable is Jeffrey Coombs' Special Agent Dammers, a high-strung FBI agent who comes across as Jim Carrey playing Hitler. If you're looking for something conventional, you may leave this film scratching your head. But if you enjoy slightly off-kilter entertainment, you'll be glad you dug this one up. Poignant, creepy and very funny, "The Frighteners" is a bundle of ghoulish fun.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: The picture and sound quality of this DVD is not to be missed!
Heck,the movie is not to be missed!
This 1996 film was entertaining as only a Michael J. Fox movie can be. It was a little bit of horror mixed with quite a bit of comedy. It certainly wasn't a thriller, but it was outside the box with ghostly fun.
I found this movie to be highly entertaining! Many elements came together to create not just entertainment for the duration, but a smart presentation. Beginning with Michael J Fox's boyish charm, to the beautiful leading lady. The ghost hauntings were just halarious! Not so serious as to not be enjoyable, not so silly as not to rank as a good horror flick. Maybe to smart for the average viewer who needs his violence spelled out in blood and gore.
Rating:
Summary: Wicked fun
Review: Just before doing "Lord of the Rings," acclaimed director Peter Jackson (who can be seen in a cameo as "Man with Piercings") made an off-kilter horror/comedy movie called "Frighteners." Though "Frighteners" was barely in theaters, it's funny, creepy, well-acted and wonderfully directed. Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) has seen spirits and apparitions ever since the traumatic car crash that killed his wife. Now he operates an amateur "ghostbusting" operation that is supposed to exorcise ghosts from people's houses -- the underbelly of his business is that the ghosts who haunt those houses are in league with him (Chi McBride as the extremely opinioated afro-ed Cyrus, Jim Fyfe as the nerdy Stuart, and most of John Astin as what is left of The Judge). Frank's business certainly isn't hurt by the fact that for years after a serial killer's murderous spree, people have died mysteriously of heart attacks. Then Frank starts seeing fiery numbers emblazoned on the foreheads of people who later die, including the husband of doctor Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado, who has an eerie resemblance to Andie MacDowell). As if trying to stop a specter of death weren't hard enough, crazed FBI agent Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs) believes that Frank is the one murdering people. And the evil specter is still killing -- and Lucy is the next victim. Peter Jackson once said that he has a "moronic" sense of humor, and it shows up in all its glory here -- from bug spray dissolving a ghost's face to a piece of talking oily sludge to a drill sargeant ghost with submachine guns, this is weird and absolutely hilarious. But he's also good during the more serious moments, such as Bannister's flashbacks to his wife's death, or a psychopath stroking her ghostly lover's face. One of the most effective shots is of a pair of murderous lovers giggling, kissing, dancing and holding a shotgun; it's stuff like that that got Jackson "Lord of the Rings." The opening shot is pure Jackson, with the camera swooping through a window, past fluttering curtains, and though a hole in the attic floor to a screaming woman below. Jackson also takes the opportunity to poke a bit of fun at more conventional ghost movies, with the big Gothic house, the ghost in '70s clothes, and Fox's hilarious turn as a ghostbuster. (One scene in particular seems to be spoofing "Ghostbusters") Big problem? Probably that would be that the opening scene doesn't seem to make much sense later on in the movie. But aside from that, there aren't many, especially since the conclusion makes a lot more logical sense than the average horror flick. Michael J. Fox does an excellent job as Frank, giving the right combination of cockiness and pathos to a guy who isn't perfect, but is good at heart. Trini Alvarado is excellent as a smart, kind woman who is a bit on the gullible side, but definitely not a damsel-in-distress. (Nor is she eye-candy) McBride, Fyfe and Astin are great as the big annoyed guy, the nerd, and the dirty old cowboy. Jake Busey's freaky eyes and toothy grin are perfect for serial-killer Johnny Bartlett, and Dee Wallace-Stone embodies both cowering fear and freaky girlishness as his old girlfriend. And Jeffrey Combs is great as the twitchy, crazed FBI agent who will do anything to hunt down Frank. "Frighteners" is a fantastic horror flick, with good acting and great direction. Don't walk, run to go pick this up and watch it. (And you will never see a bathroom mirror the same way again)
Rating:
Summary: Dandy Little Thriller
Review: "The Frighteners" is one of those little known films that is really quite good and well-made. Michael Fox plays a ghostbuster who actually is a con man, using his three ghosts to whip up business. Add the storyline of an executed serial killer and his quest to amass the biggest body count in history, and you have one whale of a story. The special effects are very good, and the suspense is buffered with some black comic moments. Jeffrey Combs goes delightfully over the top as the FBI agent hell-bent on getting rid of Fox; Trini Alvaredo takes everything so seriously, she's very effective; R. Lee Ermey reprises his "Full Metal Jacket" sergeant as a deadly ghost; John Astin of "Addams Family" is barely recognized as the jaw-dropping judge; Jeff Dobson is perfectly awful as the hedonistic husband of Alvaredo; Jake Busey is a perfect demented killer; and the delightful Dee Wallace Stone is perfect as the rather twisted suspected conspirator of the aforementioned Busey; and one can't forget Julianna McCarthy (Snapper's mom on "Young and the Restless") as Stone's seemingly crazed mother. The movie is a lot of fun, but the opening sequence still baffles me. Dee Wallace Stone runs in terror from a ghost, which is all well and good to start the movie off ferociously, but by the end of the movie, you have to wonder what in the world was going on there? Oh, well, sit back and have a little bit of fun with a very different kind of thriller.
Rating:
Summary: A very funny look at spirits and the afterworld!
Review: I saw this movie in the theater years ago and I have always loved it! It is quite a thriller....fasten your seatbelt! I was laughing, crying, and screaming all at the same time. A must for any collection
Rating:
Summary: A well thought out horror/comedy
Review: This is one of those well done movies that balances several genres into a single story. On the one hand, you have Bannister's (Fox) tragic character who never fully got over the death of his wife. And his grief has made him pretty self destructive, so he's fallen from a successful and wealthy architect to a con-man living in his own, half-finished masterpiece. On the flipside of this are his partners in crime, the ghosts who scare Bannister's potential clients into hiring him in the first place. The humor gets pretty bizarre at times, but actually balances very well with the other story elements. Things go from grim, to funny, and back again just when they should. The third angle is the almost gothic and equally bizarre horror element to the story, where the ghost of a dead serial killer shows up as the bad guy. Bannister, the broken down wreck who can barely keep himself together is the only one who can see the killer. Yet even he's powerless to stop his enemy. Even worse, the wonderfully played FBI agent (Jeffrey Combs) has pegged Bannister as the "wacko" killer, though it's clear that the agent is the most deranged of all. Trini Alvarado does an excellent job as his potential love interest. She's a little naive, but strong willed. If you like well thought out, thinking man's horror (instead of just the slash'em up variety) and have a dark (or even twisted) sense of humor, you'll like this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Creepy Good Fun!
Review: Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) had pretty much given up on life since his wife died in a freak car accident. He was an up and coming architect before the wreak, but ever since he watched his wife die before his eyes, whispers have followed him around town that he murdered her in cold blood. Frank's erratic behavior since the car accident don't help matters any and its not like most people believe that he can really see ghosts, even though he can. Something about being so close to death opened his eyes and Frank found himself a new line of work as a kind of ghost buster. Frank supposedly gets rid of poltergeists and haunting ghosts, but he really sends his three friends, The Judge (John Astin), the afro sporting, disco wearing Cyrus (Chi McBride) and the nerdy Stuart (Jim Fyfe), all of whom happen to be dead, into homes to terrorize innocent people until they pay his outrageous fees. Frank made a pretty good living from it, too, except people have starting dying from freak heart attacks all over town - and Frank can see numbers engraved in their foreheads. Numbers that show Frank who will be taken next... As Frank struggles to save the people marked for death, he finds himself falling in love with Dr. Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado), a very recent widow whose husband was killed by whatever thing is stalking the town. But Lucy has her own problems to deal with as she tries to help the reclusive Patricia Ann Bradley (Dee Wallace-Stone), who lives in an old Gothic mansion on the edge of town with her crazy mother (Julianna McCarthy). Lucy is convinced that Patricia is being abused and wants to help her, but she doesn't quite know how. What Frank and Lucy don't know is that all of their problems stem from one event - serial killer Johnny Bartlett's (Jake Busey) killing spree at a local mental hospital. It was never proved that Patricia was involved in the deaths of so many people, but it was never disproved either. She was Johnny's girlfriend and has never been what you would call normal. Johnny was caught, condemned and executed shortly after his killing spree, but his spirit has come back to haunt everyone and he was determined to kill more people than any other serial killer in American history... The Frighteners was one of those rare movies that made you laugh as it scared the heck out of you. With great special effects and a wonderful score, you never know what may pop out at you and I found myself jumping often. The cast was marvelous with Michael J. Fox leading the way as a smarmy con-man who is out to make a quick buck. Amazingly, you find yourself really caring for him and rooting him on in his weird romance with Trini Alvardo (who could be Andie McDowell's twin, I swear), a sweet, but not shy woman who makes Michael's character work for her. The trio of ghosts were hilarious, as was FBI Agent Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs), who is convinced that Frank killed all of those people. Agent Dammers had some serious issues to work with, which made him relatively easy to manipulate, which was a joy to watch. Jake Busey and Dee Wallace-Stone were perfectly cast and really creeped me out. I could definitely believe that they were serial killers who were completely insane. Once again we see Peter Jackson's directing brilliance in this very entertaining film. As always, he has creative camera views, eye-popping effects and little surprises around every corner. Try it - you'll like it!
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