Thir13en Ghosts (UK)

7 / 10
3 votes cast
Rate this item

Terror has multiplied
Certificate: 18
Running Time: 0 mins
Retail Price: £19.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie

Synopsis:
Produced by Don Cracchiolio, (Matrix) 13 Ghosts stars the gorgeous Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie 2), F. Murray Abraham (Finding Forrester), Tony Shalhoub (Men In Black), Embeth Davidtz (Bridget Jones` Diary) and Matthew Lillard (Scooby Doo).
A family inherits a spectacular old house from an eccentric uncle. There`s just one problem: the house seems to have a dangerous agenda all its own.Trapped in their new home by strangely shifting walls, the father (Tony Shalhoub) and his children (Shannon Elizabeth & Alec Roberts) encounter powerful and vengeful entities that kill anyone in their path. Soon the family is joined by an offbeat ghost hunter who is determined to free the spirits imprisoned in the house. Caught in a frantic race to save themselves before it is too late, the human inhabitants realise the house is a machine built by the mad uncle to unleash the dark powers, and 13 Ghosts, from the underworld.

Special Features:
Director`sCommentary
12 Ghostly Featurettes - 1 for each `wicked spirit`
Making of 13 Ghosts
Theatrical Trailers
Cross Trailers

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English

Directed By:
Steve Beck

Written By:
Neal Stevens
Robb White

Starring:
Alec Roberts
F. Murray Abraham
Embeth Davidtz
Rah Digga
Shannon Elizabeth
Matthew Lillard
Tony Shalhoub

Casting By:
Christine Sheaks

Soundtrack By:
John Frizzell

Director of Photography:
Gale Tattersall

Editor:
Edward A. Warschilka
Omar Daher
Derek Brechin

Costume Designer:
Jenni Gullett

Production Designer:
Sean Hargreaves

Producer:
Richard Mirisch
Dan Cracchiolo
Terry Castle
Gilbert Adler

Executive Producer:
Robert Zemeckis
Joel Silver
Steve Richards

Distributor:
Columbia / Tristar

Your Opinions and Comments

7 / 10

I really had high expectations from this movie. I was hopping for a horror flic that will make me jump out of the seat countless times.
Well, I never jumped.
This movie lacks true horror, a decent plot and even some scares. It`s all about special effects and sound effects. Period.
The opening shot seems as if it was taken right out of one of the "Nightmare On Elm Street" movies.
The video transfer is good. there are no compression signs and the dark scenes (lots of those) are rendered nicely.
I was really impressed with the opening titles, which are presented in a unique way - they move along with the camera and cast a shadow on whatever`s beneath them. Pretty cool.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is superb. The surrounds are constantly used for sound effects, including movement of the house, ghosts` noises etc.. The sub is also quite active.
The menus are still with (creepy) sound.
The extras include a commentary by the crew, a behind the scenes featurette and some background material on each and every one of the ghosts.
Bottom line - what could`ve been a good haunted house horror flic is nothing more than a dumb sound effect extravaganza.

posted by Zvi Josef on 12/7/2002 02:22

4 / 10

Diabolical. It starts off pretty well but has a dreadful plot. The cast do alright but the main problem is the director. He totally fails to build any suspense, dread and horror. Quick cutting ruins the shots of the ghosts. Another horror film that should have been good but was mediocre at best. AVOID.

posted by morpheus177 on 18/12/2002 16:34