Review of Lady in White (1988) by Erin C — 02 Feb 2013

Frankie is locked in the class coat closet on Halloween night by a pair of bullies, where he sees the apparition of a young girl reliving her murder from years before. Not moments later, her killer returns to recover a piece of evidence that had been left behind, when he discovers Frankie and knocks him unconscious. The boy escapes, but is followed home by the ghosts of Melissa and the mysterious Lady in White, who is said to haunt the rocky cliffs from which Melissa's body was thrown. Now, it will be up to him to oust the murderer and free their spirits forever! Director Frank Laloggia revisits the ghosts of his childhood in LADY IN WHITE, a stylish and atmospheric haunt with good old-fashioned sensibilities! Laloggia paints a dreamy landscape for his spirits to wander through using deep, saturated colors and wonderfully dressed sets found all throughout his native town of Rochester, where the legend was born. The process photography used to bring the ghosts to life is crude but effective, falling back on traditional techniques from early Horror. Despite its light mood, LADY IN WHITE deals with very dark subject matter, including the rape and murder of several children and extreme racial prejudice. It also produces intense moments of gripping suspense as Frankie draws closer to the truth. Frank Laloggia's mini-masterpiece is an enjoyable throwback to the classics, and a great little ghost tale.

-Carl Manes.

I Like Horror Movies.