Trailers
Description
Once an architect, Frank Bannister now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town where he lives. As he tries to piece together the supernatural mystery of these killings, he falls in love with the wife of one of the victims and deals with a crazy FBI agent.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
The Frighteners is a highly inventive, genre-defying blend of horror, comedy, and detective thriller that serves as a unique bridge in Peter Jackson's career. While many viewers praise its charm, high-energy performances, and ambitious creativity, others find the tonal shifts jarring and the narrative density somewhat overwhelming.
| Acting | Michael J. Fox delivers a charismatic and anchor-like lead performance that successfully grounds the film's eccentric supernatural premise. | |
| Score | Danny Elfman’s score effectively enhances the film's atmosphere and adds a layer of charm to the proceedings. | |
| Production | The CGI effects, while technically impressive for their time and foundational to Jackson's later work, show their age and can feel dated to modern audiences. | |
| Humor | The film occupies a polarizing middle ground where the frantic shifts between slapstick humor and grim horror leave some viewers feeling disoriented and others entertained by the stylistic audacity. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative structure is divisive; some appreciate the complex, puzzle-like plot, while others find the dense exposition and convoluted twists to be a distraction from the emotional core. | |
| Acting | The portrayal of the eccentric FBI agent Jeffrey Combs is polarizing, with some viewing his performance as a highlight and others finding it distractingly over-the-top or out of place. |