The Frighteners (1996)

Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners is a weird and comedic riff on traditional horror in film. Working from a script he and screenwriting partner Fran Walsh developed out of their own pitch for TV’s Tales from the Crypt (also produced by Robert Zemeckis), the film is at times unbalanced, though hits it’s stride with help from humour and the pageantry of the horror theme. With what are consistently interesting visual and practical effects, Jackson’s foray into the genre is one that works better if the audience worries less about plot and pacing and chooses instead to go along for the ride.

Michael J. Fox plays Frank, a psychic and exorcist who scratches a living in small town America with the help of three friends who happen to be ghosts. When the town falls under the malevolent influence of a supernatural entity, Frank must take responsibility and work against the bumblings of law enforcement in order to solve the mystery plaguing his home. With a plot point or two that draws on the history of serial killers, as well as the conventions of horror, Jackson’s film is a romp where the wheels always seem just shy of coming off. The director’s talent for consistency and a lack of self seriousness allows for The Frighteners to make it to the end without becoming a complete parody of itself.

The film is easier to appreciate the longer it goes along and as various narrative threads develop towards the climax. The pacing and plot mechanics don’t always work, but the performances of Fox and especially Jeffrey Combs keep things mostly above water. Jake Busey and Dee Wallace also give great character turns in their roles. The strength of the cast is reinforced by Jackson and his team’s understanding of visual effects. Though designed more as comic relief than with any real intention to scare, the work of Rick Baker in makeup and Weta Digital in CGI is to be commended.

It may not all flow together, but The Frighteners gets extra points for simply committing to the ridiculousness of it’s premise. Peter Jackson demonstrates a confident hand in keeping a great many balls in the air and underwrites the tension in the darker elements of the story with strong humour throughout. With some genuinely scary moments, his film is a thrilling exercise in the horror genre.

3/5