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Rating of
3.5/4
The Frighteners review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 02/15/2012
Frank Bannister loses his wife, Debra, in a car accident and has the ability to see ghosts. His three paranormal friends Cyrus, Stuart and the Judge help him in his business. Frank sees a Grim Reaper kill people and tries to solve the mystery of those deaths with numbers on their foreheads. Dr. Lucy Lynskey aids Frank helps Frank in the investigation of the murders. Milton Dammer suspects Frank of the killings. The soundtrack, make-up, acting and visual effects were effective. Trini Alvarado and Michael J. Fox provide an onscreen connection with genuine performances for their characters. Only qualm’s this critic had were the rushed storytelling and dialogue were a bit iffy. A few good quotes from the picture: Dammer – “But pain has its reward. The power of the mind is …
Rating of
2.5/4
"The Frighteners" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 01/30/2012
Paranormal investigator Michael J. Fox had an accident that enables him to communicate with the dead, a skill he had been using to fleece the recently bereaved until he crosses paths with a ghostly serial killer who frames him for murder. One of Peter Jackson's early forays into Hollywood, The Frighteners is a horror comedy that blends his sense of the macabre with slapstick sight gags and wish fulfillment and as a result feels like a rather uneven homage to Tim Burton, and Beetlejuice in particular. A lot of the content is actually rather grim but the cartoonish elements involving his ghostly sidekicks almost enters Roger Rabbit territory making the film seem very shizophrenic; its a bit too horrific in places for young children and too silly for adults making it fall a little too much …
Rating of
2/4
Not very frightening, cant believe this is Rated R
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/03/2008
In 1990, "Frank Bannister" (Michael J. Fox) and his wife (Angela Bloomfield) are in a horrific car accident which takes her life. "Frank" is found dazed miles away, and unable to recall what happened. He also couldn't account for a missing pocket knife that was inside the trunk, or why the number 13 was carved into his wife's forehead.
A few years later, "Frank" becomes a paranormal con artist, who gets help from three ghosts: the nerdy "Stuart" (Jim Fyfe), a 1970's African-American (Chi McBride) and an Old West lawman (John Astin). The three ghosts cause hauntings for "Frank" to investigate, when in reality, he is just trying to make a buck. And the funniest part, the ghosts leave "Frank's" business card for people to find to call him.
To anybody who is paying attention, it is …
Rating of
3.5/4
A hidden gem.
WestIsBest - wrote on 11/17/2007
I feel that this is a hugely under-rated film. Prior to Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson just wanted to have fun and that's what The Frighteners is...fun. The Director's Cut is definitely the version to watch taking it a little over two hours. There are occasional slow moments but, for the most part, it keeps a great pace.
Everyone turns in a great performance, it's nice to see Michael J. Fox in a slightly different role as he doesn't play it directly as a comedy but is still funny and likeable. Trini Alvarado is a good female lead and works well with Fox. Frank's ghostly chums are all played fairly over the top but are entertaining and don't wear out their welcome and Dee Wallace Stone is fantastic in a very different role than usual. It is Jeffrey Combs, however, playing the crazed …
