“The Frighteners”
#19 of the 31 days of horror challenge. (These reviews will be more raw due to the nature of the challenge.)
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Frank Bannister was an architect who lost his wife in a car accident. Now, he can see and communicate with ghosts. He uses that ability, along with some ghost friends, to cause fake hauntings so he can get paid to exorcise homes. After he notices creepy numbers carved onto the forehead of the man whose home Frank is exorcising, then that man suddenly dies, Frank has a run in with a demon resembling the grim reaper and it’s up to him to save the living and the dead from it.
One of writer/director Peter Jackson’s pre- Lord of the Rings projects. A original story with nods to various real life serial killers. The characters are engaging, the actors enthusiasm for the project lending credibility to their performances. The strong cast features Michael J. Fox as Frank Bannister, our tarnished hero; John Astin, Chi McBride and Jim Fyfe as Frank’s otherworldly partners; Trini Alvarado as the widowed doctor who actually believes in Frank; Jeffrey Combs as Dammers, the FBI agent with a few screws loose; Jake Busey as the death wanna-be; Dee Wallace as the aging yet still child-like serial killer’s girlfriend; even a bit part by R. Lee Emry doing what he does best.
One thing about this flick is that although the effects, both visual and sound, are a little hokey, they’re intended to be so because this is a horror comedy. The soundtrack is full of fun, though remade, popular music.
I have and will continue to recommend this flick to everyone. I gave this 4 rum & cokes.
