The Frighteners: The Ghostly Gainsaying Amusement Ride
Peter Jackson’s 1996 film The Frighteners is very much a typical ghost train at an amusement park. There are plenty of twists and turns, enough of which to disorientate you. Whilst not frightening (and you’re not really expecting to be frightened as you queue up), it may still be enthralling for any fan of the macabre. It’s fun for sure, but does it make sense?
To be self-indulgent with my ghost train illustration, whilst the practical effects of the spectres, killers and creatures are decent enough, you are still jumping from one room which contains a whole scene depicting a werewolf tearing its unfortunate victims to pieces, to another where a deranged cop is pulling the lever to activate an electric chair – with the intent of an even more deranged looking convict’s demise.
Perhaps my illustration may mislead you a little – because watching The Frighteners is nothing like being in some nonsensical fever dream. However, the plot holes are as apparent in this film as going from one room to another in a ghost train.
To avoid spoilers, I will purposefully be vague, however: if Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) can see spirits and experience flashbacks, then why can he not communicate with those who would be most important to him way earlier on, and see those flashbacks at the very last possible moment?
How spirits ‘die a second death’ does not make much sense either… and let’s just say that there is little continuity throughout the film in what can or cannot harm or kill a spirit! In addition to this, a lot of peripheral character motivations do not add up, particularly the character played by Jeffery Combs (Milton).
The special effects in this film look well-executed and smooth. Whilst they perhaps look dated by today’s standards, the artistry and application of the CGI are of an excellent standard. These effects reminded me somewhat of those from Casper (1995) – however, it has been over ten years since I have seen it, so my comparison may be somewhat malnourished!
Despite the flaws listed above, The Frighteners is a hoot! It is action-packed, full of laugh-out-loud moments and an altogether thoroughly enjoyable film. I would even say it could potentially have been a family-friendly film… if it weren’t for the blatant necrophilia joke! Even with its tameness and the potential to appeal to all most ages, I do not feel this squares up to the level of excitement and laughs in Jackon’s previous horror flick Braindead (1992).
