The Frighteners (1996)

[Derf]

I just re-watched The Frighteners, starring Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado and Jake Busey. I don't know why this movie seems to be overlooked quite often; it is fun, (sort of) intelligent, and not your run-of-the-mill spook show. It even features Jeffery Combs as an FBI agent. It is a bit predictable, but it is nevertheless a fun ride.

Frank Bannister can see ghosts. He even runs a scam where two of his ghost colleagues haunt a house so that he can go in and save the day (for money, of course). Problems arise when people in the town start dropping dead from seeming heart attacks. Frank notices that the people who are the next to die display a ghostly number on their forehead. It seems that Johnny Charles Bartlett (Jake Busey), a murderous madman who went on a killing spree in a hospital years earlier (and was executed for his crimes), is killing people from beyond the grave. He died unrepentant, bragging about his "score" of 12. The identity of the ghostly killer may be supposed to be a surprise point in the movie, but if it is, it is so heavily telegraphed that no one would be too surprised. Bannister is suspected in the murders by Milton Dammers (Jeffery Combs), an FBI agent with years of experience penetrating cults and investigating psychic phenomena. Dammers is also bonkers. It also seems that Bannister's wife was killed after a car accident and the number 13 was carved into her forehead, so she was apparently the first of the post-execution murders. The killer almost seems to start targeting Bannister's friends, associates, love interests, enemies, etc., which is why Dammers suspects him. Plot twists and turns follow, and director/writer Peter Jackson (!) manages to keep a good pace through the big climax. If you've seen the movie, you know what happens. If you haven't, I won't spoil anything any further.

As much as anything, I'm just a bit surprised this flick doesn't get mentioned more often on this board, with the power of Peter Jackson behind the camera, Danny Elfman heading the music department, and featuring Jeffery Combs, Dee Wallace, R. Lee Ermy and John Astin in entertaining roles. Trini Alvarado is quite easy on the eyes as a bonus.

[HappyGilmore]

The movie was good.  I also liked the performance of Chi McBride as Cyrus. 

[Mr. DS]

I like this film a lot.  Its one of those films that you don't know whether to laugh with or be frightened off.  In other words, the mix of light and dark material is awesome. 

[dean]

I really enjoyed this film too!  Although it was pretty so-so in the laughs/scares department [they had an average amount of both that did ok.]

One thing I really enjoyed was the look of the Reaper.  A precursor to the Nazgul in style of sorts.

I liked the idea of the Grim Reaper being the bad guy, so it was a shame it panned out how it did.  But as it is, it was a fun trip.

[Neville]

The film is a mixed bag, and also something of a mess, that's why it's not that popular. also, when it came out, it was the first big movie Peter Jackson did, and many people thought he had sold himself.

I like the film a lot too myself, although some of the comedy in the beginning and the big FX at the ending feel somehow flat. Its certainly a very well made film, and works very well for the most part. It always surprises me that it packs quite a good deal of real scares. Maybe that's one of the reasons it tanked, people probably expected a straight comedy instead.

[WilliamWeird1313]

Jake Busey's great. A total wackjob whose entire lower face is teeth. Just like Gary!