Psychic Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox, Back to the Future) runs an exorcism scam on the people of Fairwater. He can actually communicate with the dead, enlisting spirits from the cemetery to stage home hauntings before charging the owners to bust the ghosts. Things get really scary when Frank sees a burning number on the forehead of a homeowner during a grift. Is this number tied to the mysterious and sudden deaths around town? FBI agent Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs, Re-Animator) suspects that Frank is responsible for more than supernatural fraud. Among the actors haunting the film are Trini Alvarado (Little Women), Dee Wallace Stone (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), Jake Busey (Starship Troopers), Chi McBride (Gone in 60 Seconds), John Astin (The Addams Family), and R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket).
What We Thought:
Despite starring Michael J. Fox, horror icons Dee Wallace and Jeffrey Combs and coming from director Peter Jackson, The Frighteners wasn’t a box office hit and it hasn’t become a beloved horror title. It has a cult following and Peter Jackson fans think it’s one of his underrated films, but it’s not a “Spooky Season Must Watch” nor does it make too many “Best Of” supernatural lists. I hadn’t seen it in years so I watched the Director’s Cut which I don’t think I have ever seen.
If you aren’t familiar with the film, Fox plays a man who can see and communicate with ghosts and uses them to scam people into paying for his services. Years back he was in an accident and the trauma left him with this supernatural ability. The town has a shady history with countless deaths and now more people are dropping like flies especially young and healthy people. The authorities seem suspicious of Fox as he’s always around people right before they die. An FBI agent (Combs) comes to town to try to figure out what’s happening as Fox and a widow try to put the pieces together as well.
Being a supernatural, small town story I always thought the movie had ties to Stephen King. It definitely has his vibe, but Jackson co-wrote it with his partner Fran Walsh. The film was originally released in 1996 and feels like it. The special effects are very 90s and the computer screens you see in it are also very 90s. I don’t think Michael J. Fox had disclosed his Parkinson’s disease at this point, but you can clearly see signs of it.
The Frighteners looks great and sounds great on 4K. Danny Elfman did the music and Jackson’s effects team knocked it out of the park for the 1990s. I never loved Combs’ performance, but I know others who do. Is it a movie I’ll watch every year for Halloween? No, but fans will eat up this new release. The director’s cut has audio commentary by Peter Jackson plus there’s new interviews with Dee Wallace, Jake Busey and others plus a previously released documentary. If you are a fan, this is a loaded collection like most Peter Jackson releases. The man loves his cinema and gives his fans their money’s worth for sure.
Special features include a 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of both cuts; original lossless theatrical mix in DTS-HD MA 5.1 (theatrical cut only) and original lossless 2.0 stereo audio (both cuts), plus DTS-HD MA 5.1 home video mix (both cuts), and optional Dolby Atmos remix (director’s cut only); optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing; a collectors’ booklet; an audio commentary by Peter Jackson (director’s cut only); Peter Jackson’s introduction to the film; the theatrical trailer; open matte versions of both cuts on Blu-ray; a feature-length documentary with new interviews with actors Dee Wallace Stone, Jake Busey, and more; an archival 225-minute documentary; and image gallery.
