Frighteners (1996) kinda holds up maybe: the review
Directed and written by Peter Jackson with Fran Walsh as co-writer; starring Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, and Jeffrey Combs
As a child of the 80s, Michael J. Fox could do no wrong. Yet, I struggle to say I have watched all his movies. This killer ghost collaboration with Peter Jackson is Fox's last theatrical movie, a quirky gem with more charm than scares and quality acting than effects. Something is killing the people of Fairview and paranormal investigator Frank (Fox) and Dr. Lucy (Alvarado) tries to get to the bottom of it while being harassed by X-Files wannabe FBI agent Dammers (Combs). A curiosity more than a classic, The Frighteners holds together with the only cohesive thing in the movie: pure mania. It gets three rattling old cars from me so check it out.
Here be spoilers along with my notes:
Opening would be scary without effects
While it makes little sense in the context of the movie, the opening scene of Patricia (Holy shit that's Dee Thomas, the mom from ET) and her mother is pretty harrowing. Except for the ghost effects. While this is the same WETA company that would soon make history with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, they were kinda trying their best here. But those practical effects are just great fun to watch.
Voice Over article
Oh voice over exposition, you are so goofy. Here we get an editor reading a reporter's story about the mysterious deaths in town as well as the town's serial killer history. Why is an editor reading it to the reporter? He fucking wrote the thing; he knows what it says. And then she says to squash it and talk to a real person instead of giving a history report which is what any editor worth a letter to the editor would say. Sure, it was nicely written, but anyone reading the paper knows about the killings.
Crazy old lady
I fucking love a crazy old lady with a shotgun keeping her daughter under lock and key. Write that on my tombstone.
Ghost effects awesome
I know I crapped on the effects at the beginning, and I stand by that the "Freddy Kruger poking out of the walls'' is not very well done. However, I think the actual ghost effects of John Astin, Chi McBride, and Jim Fyfe's ghosts are well done indeed. No matter if they are squished or cut up or blown apart, I just kinda dug how they looked and felt in the world. They still feel a little "floaty" (yes, even for ghosts, haha you got me) and not in the world (yes, even for ghosts, haha you got me). It would have been a nightmare, but they should have left some of the ectoplasmic slime everywhere that Frank keeps talking about.
Anniversary castle wine
This fucking place. Do these places exist? Castle restaurants that don't have jousting? I know this is New Zealand masquerading as… America somewhere (I thought Pacific Northwest or Maine, but research says it was supposed to be Midwest? Okay…), but I've never seen this.
Why is she a witness, sheriff just found out
This is some nitpicking nitpickery, but there's a bunch of logic flaws. First was the opening ghost attack, but whatever it's fun. Here though… So a guy gets killed by a ghost reaper in the bathroom of the restaurant in front of Frank so he runs. Later at the police station, the sheriff finds out the guy was with Frank. Okay. Then right after in the same scene we get Lucy, who was eating with Frank, hauled into the station. Why? Did they think she killed the guy in the bathroom? If they suspected Frank, why did that guy have to tell the sheriff?
Museum sex and violence
Man, this museum scene is wacky. We got priceless treasures being used and abused, both physically and sexually. We got mayhem, dead people, and mummies. The hell kinda town is this?
Wild FBI Guy
I could describe this guy all day and not do him justice. He wears a lead vest sometimes. His chest is a criss cross of scars and symbols. He acts like Van Helsing coming off of mushrooms by using more cocaine. Add in he is the same guy that played Herbert West, and I just love whatever he's up to.
Squeeze her heart, dumbass
Not gonna lie, the ending was frustrating. The evil ghost has been killing people no problem all movie, then in the end can not. For no reason, he has to use physical means to take people out, be it knife or shotgun. Another logic hole, but still enjoyable.
