After discussing The Frighteners on the Top Five Ghost Movie podcast, it was time for a rewatch. The movie still holds up to me including the special effects. There is enough comedy and ghosts to make this a solid horror comedy. I give The Frighteners the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating.
The Frighteners is a really good horror comedy!
Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) has been able to communicate with the dead since a tragic car accident where he lost his wife. He has used his power to con people as he can’t really pick who he communicates with. However, once a demonic spirit starts killing people he decides to use his power for good.
Michael J. Fox is one of my favorites. I’ve discussed my love of Back to the Future previously on the podcast and in the written form. He is great in this film like he was the decade earlier. His character is sympathetic, but still a bit of a jerk. Something he has played in many of his project. He often does things that aren’t really good, but often there is a decent person inside of him. Dr. Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado) seems to see that quality in him. She believes him when most other people think his powers are strictly a con.
I was surprised when I realized this was a Peter Jackson film. I honestly thought I’d only seen his Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. How the story unfolds is a real pleasure adding an element of mystery to the plot. Who is this demonic entity that Bannister is seeing? What are the glowing numbers on their head? The introduction of FBI agent Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs) adds to the oddity and comedy. He is messed up from his work as he frequently goes undercover in cults and matters of the occult. He helps delay the success of Bannister and Lynskey as he blames Bannister for the murders.
If you missed The Frighteners you should check this film out. It’s fun and surprisingly dark. There is enough humor, especially from some of the ghosts, in the film. Considering it’s been twenty years the film still looks great too. The ghost effects work really well and definitely add to the film as a whole.
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