The Frighteners (1996)

Today, writer/director Peter Jackson is best known for his epic film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”. However, prior to those movies, he was primarily known for his work in the horror genre. Films like 1987’s Bad Taste and 1992’s Dead Alive were known for their odd mix of splatter gore and comedy. Jackson was given the opportunity to work with producer Robert Zemeckis  (Back to the Future) on a big budget horror/comedy for Universal Studios. The Frighteners, released theatrically in the summer of 1996, never caught on with audiences and failed at the box office.

Michael J. Fox stars as Frank Bannister, a man who can see the spirits of deceased individuals who don’t cross over to the other side. He gained this ability following a car accident several years ago. Formerly an architect, he now uses his spiritual contact to hustle people as a paranormal exorcist. Three ghosts that he’s befriended, Cyrus (Chi McBride), Stuart (Jim Fyfe), and The Judge (John Astin,) will act as poltergeists in someone’s home. Frank will then offer his services to rid their house of the evil spirits for a hefty fee.

Frank lives in Fairwater, California, a small town beset by a rash of strange deaths. Seemingly healthy people will unexpectedly drop dead of a heart attack. The local authorities are baffled but Frank and Lucy (Trini Alvarado,) a recent client, stumble upon the truth: an evil spirit has dropped in on the town and is racking up a body count.

I had been curious about this movie for a while but the trailers always made it seem like a strange cross between Ghostbusters and a Scooby Doo episode. It looked too schizophrenic to be funny or scary and certainly couldn’t be both. I was wrong. Whoever edited the trailers concentrated on the wrong scenes. And, you’d think I’d be smarter than to trust a trailer. Lesson learned.

The Frighteners starts off with a nostalgic 1980s vibe. The Danny Elfman score loudly punctuates the comedic moments with a cartoonish style that I initially found very off-putting. I thought my concerns about the movie being too schizophrenic were about to be confirmed. But, as the film went on and the plot unspooled, the movie took on a more serious — but never completely serious — tone. The story took an expected turn (or three) and I was hooked. After the one hour mark, the setup is complete. Jackson and co-writer Fran Walsh then begin to execute their gameplan. While it’s not perfect, it’s a lot of fun.

The cast is incredible. At first, Michael J. Fox seemed out of place as Frank. However, he proves to be perfectly cast once his character develops a bit. Trini Alvarado, whom I’ve always had a fondness for over the course of her career, provides a solid co-lead. Buried under Rick Baker’s prosthetics and makeup, John Astin (The Addams Family) delivers a few solid laughs as The Judge. Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator) outdoes himself as Milton Dammers, a slightly off-kilter FBI agent. And Dee Wallace (Cujo) and Jake Busey threaten to steal the show in the final reel.

The real stars of the film, though, are the visual effects. The Frighteners was one of the first films to incorporate a hefty amount of computer-generated visuals. Although they look a bit dated now, their somewhat unrealistic look and weightless feel actually benefit the odd atmosphere of the movie. Perhaps it’s a result of the clash of old-school film stock with the digital imagery. In any event, the effects exude an otherworldly feel that works in the movie’s favor.

If you’re looking for a horror movie that’s not heavy on gore but contains a few scares and a top-notch story, The Frighteners should be on your radar. Give it the chance theater audiences didn’t back in 1996.