The Frighteners - A Movie Review

Do you think I should call the ghost exterminator?

The Frighteners appeared in theaters in 1996. A man has the ability to communicate with ghosts. Learning of a demonic entity killing the living, Frank must put an end to it before it gets out of hand.

Right from the start, I knew I didn’t have to take The Frighteners seriously. These are the kind of Halloween films that we need more of. In the end, the film becomes too filly and chaotic. It doesn’t have a coherent story, failing to use important story information and characters.

Michael J. Fox is what drew me into watching this film. Who knew that you’d ever see him in a horror film? Easily the highlight as the strange and eccentric Frank Bannister, Fox was humorous in all of his gimmicks and lines.

Except, we hardly get to know his character. Based on his performance, even Fox wasn’t sure how to occupy this role. There’s hardly any mention of his late wife. His supernatural abilities should have been explained better.

The entire cast knew that The Frighteners was a silly film so their performances acquaint with it. Though, they didn’t spend enough time working out their character backstories or their relationships with one another.

Including the talents of Trini Alverado, Peter Dobson, John Astin, Dee Wallace, and several other noteworthy ensemble members, Storylines and characters weren’t used to their fullest potential. The best character award goes to Jeffrey Combs as the bizarre FBI agent, Milton Dammers.

One big example is Frank’s three ghost friends. John Astin, Chi McBride, and Jim Fyfe were my favorite performances. I wanted these characters to have a more prominent role, but they’re hardly ever seen in the middle half.

The script changes every second. Frank sees all these ghosts but they’re never used for story purposes. They’re just floating around doing their thing. R. Lee Ermey has a memorable appearance as a ghost sheriff hollering out orders in the graveyard. The ghosts are what The Frighteners is all about.

One word to describe this film is disorderly. The plot is wonky. None of the characters are cohesive. And its story changes without ever finding where it started. First, it’s a story about Frank ripping people off until evolving into this story about a demonic ghost.

The Frighteners would have been more entertaining if it decided to take the route with Frank scamming people. Then, once a real ghost haunts the town, Frank learns to put his abilities to the test.

Its jumbled storyline aside, we need more films like this. Peter Jackson distributed a film sporting a mix of comedy and a thriller. The Frighteners is cartoonish but in a good way. I had fun watching this film in the first half hour. I was laughing. The jokes and story ran dry.

The special effects are interesting while at the same time don’t look finished. I saw a behind-the-scenes clip of how this film was made. Actors who played ghosts stood in front of a blue screen. They were then digitally added into scenes later.

Surprisingly, it is pretty dark. As silly as it is, I wouldn’t show it to a child. Certain images may scare younger viewers. It is an entertaining film for young adult audiences.

The Frighteners is a film that you should see, especially if you need a laugh. We need more horror and comedy blends. I’m surprised that I’ve never heard of it until now. Go find this film and watch it during the Halloween season.