Review of The Frighteners (1996) by Eric T — 13 Nov 2011

The Night is bleak heavy rain slams against the roof of an old Victorian styled home a young women is seen running, screaming for her life as an unseen assailant chases her. She runs down the stairs through the dining room chairs tables and a Grandfather clock is knocked over by an unseen force, the women runs into the kitchen. As the door slams behind her a figure appears on the door lunging at her, she runs around as objects and cabinet doors start slamming. Pots and pans start flying all over the place she dives under a table and the figure appears again trying to grab her. She runs from under the table and back up the stairs (The front door was by her on her way up, just to let you know) out of nowhere her scripture quoting schizophrenic mother comes out caring a shotgun. Her daughter runs up as the figure now revealed to be a ghost is using the carpet as a corporeal form the figure lungs at her right now the crazy mother blast it causing it to disappear. That is the horrifying beginning of Peter Jackson?s darkly comedic and utterly terrifying supernatural mystery "The Frighteners?. A film that plays better than it should and works wonders on the eyes and the mind.

What I like most about "The Frighteners" is how it swing almost flawlessly from dark comedy to full tilt horror, how it uses horror clichés to benefit the films story and atmosphere. It is funny but the jokes are limited as the film is more of a supernatural whodunit than your run of the mill ghost story. Peter Jackson knows what he wanted with this film and though I feel this film may have been slightly different than what he expected he none the less weaves an intricate tale of murder, intrigue, mystery and ghostly happenings. The script for this film is snappy, witty and full of great horror moments but the one grip I have is the fact that it did not have more comedy to it in the beginning. it busted loss all the jokes than it took a serious turn, but then again that was the point of the movie to weave in and out of dark comedy and full blown horror and Jackson does it with a masterful hand.

"The Frighteners is not a perfect film and it doesn't pretend to be, there are some moments in the film where satire is infused into the dark and macabre story it?s meant to try and lighten the mood and while it does in some places it just fails in others. Peter Jackson's "The Frighteners" live sup to it's title and to it's story even if it fails to generate scares at some points, but it is worth the rental or hell even if you want to buy it it's worth it. It is one of those films that even when it falls short you still view it as great entertainment and "The Frighteners" is just that.

I like Michael J. Fox I like his approach to acting, I like how he blends drama and comedy into each of his performance sometimes it works sometimes it does not. In the film it works wonderfully, Fox may not have been the perfect choice for this role but he certainly was a good one. Fox brings allot of darkness and subtle charm to the role of supernatural detective Frank Bannister he plays the character like he has done it a million times before and while he may fall flat at some moments. Fox delivers a worthy and very well rounded performance. The rest of the cast including John Astin, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, Dee Wallace, Chi McBride, Jake Busey and an eerie Jeffery Combs all deliver fin-supporting performances in this surprisingly scary and darkly funny horror thriller.

It doesn't completely do it's job but for the most part it is a very effective whodunit that plays better than it should, sounds better than it should, look better than it should and entertains better than it should. Peter Jackson never lets you down and with this film; he proved to everyone that he had the guts to be a real filmmaker. He has constructed a film that plays like a satire, like a neo noir and works like an 80?s supernatural thriller ?The Frighteners" hits all the right note and sometimes a few wrong ones but thanks to strong performances, a witty script and brilliant direction this film surpasses all expectations.