DVD The sleepy town of Fairwater is suffering from a spate of mysterious deaths. Each of the victims appears to have died from having their hearts crushed from the inside. Only a cheating psychic can solve the mystery - but unfortunately he is also one of the prime suspects.
Details
Frank Bannister is a psychic who differs from most. Unlike the usual con artists, he can actually see ghosts - and even works with a few of them. His spectral friends haunt houses and cause disturbances, only for Frank to conveniently arrive and "remove" them for a fee. It is a tidy little scam that keeps the money flowing.
However, things begin to take a darker turn when Frank starts seeing strange numbers etched into people's foreheads. Soon afterwards he witnesses something even more disturbing - what appears to be Death itself stalking the living.
The mysterious figure turns out to be the spirit of mass murderer Johnny Bartlett, who was executed years earlier. Bartlett has returned from beyond the grave with a chilling ambition: to continue his killing spree and break the record for the most murders committed. One of his victims, Ray Lynskey, lingers as a ghost and asks Frank to help deliver a final message of love to his wife Lucy.
As Frank becomes drawn into Lucy's life he begins to fall for her, but events quickly spiral out of control. After witnessing another death, suspicion begins to fall on Frank himself. When the eccentric FBI agent Milton Dammers arrives in Fairwater determined to pin the murders on him, Frank finds himself under intense scrutiny. To make matters worse he now sees Lucy's number - meaning she may be next on Bartlett's list. With the help of his ghostly allies, Frank must confront the murderous spirit before it is too late.
Picture & Sound
The picture quality is excellent, perhaps even a little too revealing for some of the early CGI work. Much of the film takes place at night or in dimly lit locations, which helps hide some of the digital effects and allows the darker atmosphere to shine through. The transfer handles these scenes very well and the overall image is clean, detailed and impressively sharp.
The special effects clearly consumed a large portion of the budget and, at the time, they represented some of the more ambitious computer generated imagery being attempted in a horror film. A particularly memorable sequence involving a ghost moving through a carpet remains impressive, although a few effects now appear slightly dated. Thankfully the film relies just as much on humour and atmosphere as it does on visual effects, and Frank's bickering ghostly companions provide most of the laughs.
Menu & Extras
Extras are somewhat limited, consisting mainly of a Theatrical Trailer and some Production Notes in text form. Considering the scale of the visual effects work and the creativity involved in bringing the film to life, it is a shame that director Peter Jackson was not given the opportunity to record a commentary track. It would certainly have been fascinating to hear about the technical challenges faced during production.
Overall
How this film slipped under the radar at the cinema is something of a mystery. The Frighteners is a wonderfully entertaining blend of horror and comedy, with Michael J. Fox delivering a very likeable performance as the reluctant ghost hunter caught up in events far beyond his control.
Director Peter Jackson strikes a superb balance between dark supernatural thrills and genuinely funny moments, creating a film that feels both quirky and surprisingly sinister. The inventive special effects, imaginative premise and strong supporting cast all help to give the film a unique personality.
However, it is Jeffrey Combs who nearly steals the entire film. His unhinged performance as the obsessively paranoid FBI agent Milton Dammers is both hilarious and bizarre, and fans of cult cinema will instantly recognise his distinctive style. The character feels like a wonderfully warped cousin of Fox Mulder, and every scene he appears in becomes instantly memorable.
Over the years The Frighteners has quietly gained the cult following it always deserved. It remains a clever, inventive and highly entertaining horror-comedy that stands out from the crowd - and it is well worth rediscovering.
Special features
- Theatrical Trailer
- Production notes
- Cast and Filmmakers notes
