As you might know by now I’m a big fan of Michael J. Fox (Back to the Future is my favourite film of all time), and a totally underrated film of his is:
The Frighteners (1996)
This was one of the last movies he made before stepping back from the Hollywood spotlight due to having Parkinson’s disease. It’s such a great movie!
If you haven't seen it, it's a supernatual comedy/horror starring (as mentioned) Michael J Fox (Back to the Future), Trini Alvarado (Little Women), Jake Busey (Identity), Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator) and Dee Wallace (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) among others.
This is what it's about according to the internet:
"After a tragic car accident that kills his wife, a man discovers he can communicate with the dead, and he uses that gift to con people. However, when a demonic spirit appears, he may be the only one who can stop it from killing the living and the dead."
I love this movie! It’s funny, sad, scary at times but highly entertaining!
Michael J. Fox is great as the main character, Frank Bannister, but it’s Jeffrey Combs and Dee Wallace who really steal this movie. They’re brilliant!
It’s mad to think that the guy who co-wrote and directed it (Peter Jackson) went on to give us The Lord of the Rings trilogy - look out for his cameo appearance as the lip-pierced punk that Frank bumps into on his way out of the Fairwater Gazette building.
Interestingly, pretty much all of the movie was filmed in New Zealand (notably Wellington and Lyttelton).
As it turns out there are two versions of this film. I recently watched the Director’s Cut which has scenes in it that I’d never seen before. I have to say though, I prefer the original theatrical release, it flows so much better.
What do you think? Have you seen The Frighteners? Let me know in the comments.
Comments