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13 Ghosts (2001) Warner Brothers 1 hr. 31 mins. Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Shannon Elizabeth and F. Murray Abraham. Directed by: Steven Beck 
13 Ghosts Rating:  
E-MAIL GIANCARLO DE LISI Visual effects supervisor Steven Beck trades hats as he directs his first feature in ‘Thir13een Ghosts’. This visually superb film contains some nifty effects but lacks in pure enjoyment of the antiquated notion of haunted houses. Tony Shalhoub plays a widower sent to claim his late uncle’s estate. To his dismay, the larger than life home harbors trapped spirits that are retained in the basement. As the film progresses, the audience is exposed to ancient spells, machines created by the devil, some extraordinary visual effects and tiresome thrills that seem new and exciting, yet do not deliver a wholesome product. The film is well made and has the budget to boast for it. ‘The Matrix’ Producer Joel Silver and Director Robert Zemeckis back this film in production values and it shows. Yet while I was watching the attempted thrills and lackluster enjoyment value I thought to myself, this film could have been a really fun horror film. Unfortunately, in my earnest opinion, it was not. The film takes off on William Castle’s 1960 Horror film in which when watching the film at the movies, Castle created a 3-d film where viewers had to don those glasses to get the desired effect. In this film, our characters promenade around the house only actually observing the ghosts when looking through the glasses. It could have been an inventive concept, and it was not far off. Yet this is where my diagnostic eye comes into play. Director Steve Beck makes a solid attempt at revitalizing a tired genre. He quickly cuts between shots of the scene with and without ghosts in an attempt to incorporate what it looks with the ghosts absent to the naked eye. The key close up scenes were quite intriguing considering the extensive make up the actors had to go through to get some shock value, but the movie tries so hard at being innovative that it really does not bring a new kind of scare. Bear in mind, the film is very dimensional and attempts a new precedent for horror. Too bad it forgot to scare us while thinking of new ways to look good. This flaw is not supported by a sponge script, some bad acting by Shannon Elizabeth and a miscast crew that does not fit the exact characters they are supposed to portray. For those who get creeped out easily, they shall have a swell time. Yet for the discerning viewer, it contains no earth shattering elements despite the visuals that make this film stand above the recycled horror trash there is out there. Click here to comment on this review or post your own thoughts. Giancarlo De Lisi © TheWorldJournal.com |
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