Tags
1980's, Alice Krige, Craig Wasson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Fred Astaire, Ghost Story, Horror, John Houseman, John Irvin, Melvyn Douglas
Film Title
Ghost Story
Director
John Irvin
Starring
- Fred Astaire as Rick Hawthorne
- John Houseman as Sears James
- Melvyn Douglas as John Jaffrey
- Douglas Fairbanks Jr as Edward Wanderley
- Craig Wasson as Don/David Wanderley
- Alice Krige as Eva Galli/ Alma Mobley
A creepy horror film that has a classy veneer and a stunning cast of mainly acting veterans, Ghost Story brings something else to the genre of creepy horror hauntings and does it very well.
In a sleepy, small New England town that is seen almost always covered in blankets of snow, four elderly men meet every so often for evenings of brandy and creepy tales. They are the Chowder Society, who have known each other since their days at college. The quartet compromises of business owner Ricky Hawthorne, lawyer Sears James, Dr. John Jaffrey and town mayor Edward Wanderley. Their club is an informal one but one they take very seriously and pride themselves on the ghost stories they recount to one another. Yet these creepy stories have nothing on what is about to happen to them in the real world. One of Edward’s sons dies mysteriously after seeing a decomposing apparition of a strange woman, causing him to fall to his death. Alarmed and mourning, Edward’s other son Don returns to his father’s sleepy town to reconnect with his father, but has his own questions and theories regarding the suspicious death of his twin brother. He believes that the events have something to do with Alma Mobley, a mysterious woman who he had an affair with before he left her due to her overbearing and cold tendencies. Alma in turns it seems moved onto his brother after being left by Don. Events take an even more sinister turn when Edward dies in a similar fashion to his son, leaving the others to contemplate what they should do. You see, events in the present day begin to mirror a key event from the men’s past involving a dark secret concerning the beautiful Eva Galli, who bore a strong resemblance to Alma. Realizing that they are now being haunted for a past misdeed that has intertwined with the next generation, the remaining members of the club begin to recount the most terrifying story of all to the searching Don; a true ghost story that involves them all and whose dark presence has returned to exact justice.
Tension grows within this film due to strong direction from John Irvin. He infuses Ghost Story with class, which offsets the often ghoulish and lurid subject matter at hand. He marvellously brings the hauntings to creepy life and delves into the script’s main themes of regret and sins of the past. I admired how Ghost Story didn’t feel the need to move at a very quick pace, instead allowing the chilling narrative to unfold with mystery. That isn’t to say that the film is slow, it just takes its time successfully building atmosphere and ambience. The cinematography and exquisite lighting create interesting juxtapositions in time; the present is shown as mournful, whereas the past is show with a painterly quality that belies the shocking horror that occurred. The score, while overblown in various moments, still crafts an eerie spell with sudden shifts in pitch and repeating dreamlike percussion. The same can be said of the make up effects for the ghost which may be dated but still pack a gruesome punch.
The main quartet of veteran actors are excellent in this film. Considering the fact that none of them were in particularly good health( the film would be the last film of Astaire, Douglas and Fairbanks), they are all on splendid acting form here. Fred Astaire is wonderful as the most amiable of the society, Melvyn Douglas is great as the most panic-stricken and John Houseman, with his gravelly voice and demeanor, exudes authority as the leader. Douglas Fairbanks Jr has the smallest role out of the bunch, but still makes a very big impact on the story. The four great actors add class and gravitas to the story and make it a cracking good yarn with their presence. Craig Wasson is well-suited to the part of the inquisitive Don, who is the first person to suspect something not of this world is at play. The main standout of the cast is Alice Krige who essays the dual roles of Alma and Eva that eventually merge as one. With her clear, deep voice, playful smile that at times really unnerves and pale glow that shimmers almost all the time around her , Krige is striking to watch as the vengeful spectre who won’t stop until justice is done. Her physical features as well as her otherworldly poise and unusual gestures leave a creepy and very haunting impact on the viewer. If you ever wanted to see a vengeful ghost that could also bewitch at the same time, you can’t go wrong with the chilling performance from Krige on display here.
A delightfully old-fashioned horror film that doesn’t feel the need to rush its story, Ghost Story is a marvellous entry into the horror genre that is best enjoyed with the lights off on a cold wintry night.
beetleypete said:
I haven’t seen this since it came out, and I still remember the quality of the cast, lifting a ghostly tale above the norm.
Good call for a little-known film, V. Nice one.
Best wishes, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
The cast was wonderful and really brought authority and gravitas. I loved Alice Krige as the ghost, she has that alabaster skin and resonant voice that is very spellbinding.
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darincordell said:
Ooooo. I love horror films but don’t get to see them enough as my man is not a fan. This one sounds delightful though. Definitely going to cue it up for when I have a night on my own. Also, look at me commenting on non peachy plumly bummy posts.
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vinnieh said:
This is the film to watch tucked up in bed on a stormy night. Genuinely creepy and atmospheric stuff.
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darincordell said:
I’ll remember that 🙂
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vinnieh said:
That’s how the weather was like last night for me.
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darincordell said:
Did you watch this last night. It was just cold here. Where about do you live?
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vinnieh said:
I live in England man.
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darincordell said:
Gasp. I love England.
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vinnieh said:
I’m a classic example of a suave English gent, or so I like to think.
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darincordell said:
Well that is good to know! Those are among the best kind!
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vinnieh said:
Glad you approve of my Englishness.
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darincordell said:
I do, especially if you have the accent to go with it, which you must if you were also born there.
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vinnieh said:
Well I have an accent that is quite clear but not exactly posh.
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darincordell said:
I love all the variations, not just the posh one. Actually, I probably prefer not so proper. More the every man dialect.
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vinnieh said:
I don’t mind when people talk proper, but if it’s of a condescending nature it annoys me.
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vinnieh said:
And may I say thanks for commenting on one of my movie reviews. Even though I do like your comments on the bottom posts.
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darincordell said:
You are quite welcome. I enjoyed this review and the hobbit one. I want to read the other hobbit reviews as well as the LOTR ones as I have time. And now that I’m following you, I hope to see more. :&
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vinnieh said:
I await your opinions with anticipation as you seem really well versed in the subject of movies.
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darincordell said:
Awww thanks, I’m not so sure about that, especially not the way you are. I just know when I see a good movie. And I do enjoy them quite a bit.
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vinnieh said:
Movies are a universal thing that everyone can enjoy.
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darincordell said:
Agreed. 🙂
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vinnieh said:
I love writing about them. To be honest when I started my blog almost four years ago, I was worried that no one would like it. I was proved wrong almost immediately.
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darincordell said:
Wow. I had no idea you have been at it so long. Well, what I’ve seen has been quite good. I’m a fan.
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vinnieh said:
And I’m happy to have you as a follower.
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The Telltale Mind said:
Love Fred Astaire! Great review Vin.
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vinnieh said:
He was truly a cinematic icon.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m so glad you chose this to review Vinnie! I love this movie 🙂 Have you read the book?
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vinnieh said:
I haven’t read the book, but I’m interested Kim. This movie had a real old fashioned feeling to it that I really thought worked well. The main cast was superb. And as I mentioned, I was entranced by Alice Krige.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I really think you’d like the book Vinnie. Whoever was in charge of casting was an absolute genius!
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vinnieh said:
It was a very talented and impressive cast asse,bled to say the least.
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Emilio Pasquale said:
I love Alice Krige. I did see this a long, long time ago but have no clear recollection of the story or whether or not I liked it. Guess it’s time to see it again. I just put it on my Netflix queue. You are forcing me to watch too many movies! 🙂
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vinnieh said:
I really love movies like this one, anything ghostly usually captures my attention. Alice Krige was as inspired choice to play the role of the vengeful ghost.
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Emilio Pasquale said:
I remember she was very striking, even as a Borg!
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vinnieh said:
She has a really commanding presence that is hard to look away from.
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lauren said:
This film sounds quite good, I’ll have to see if I can find it anywhere.
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vinnieh said:
I believe it recently got released on Blu Ray.
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lauren said:
Thanks! I will keep a look out for it!
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Parlor of Horror said:
I remember liking this film quite a bit and want to watch it again to see how it has held up. I recently watched The Changling (1980) and it is a very good ghost story that still holds up well today. Judging by your review i could do no wrong by watching this one too.
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vinnieh said:
I saw The Changeling for the first time last year and really liked the spooky and atmospheric vibe to it. Definitely consider seeing this movie again.
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emmakwall said:
The Changeling is awesome 🙂
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vinnieh said:
It was a great movie Emma, the seance sequence creeped me out a lot.
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emmakwall said:
That’s one of the creepiest scenes for me too (even more so than the ‘wet ball’!!) for me when you hear Joseph’s voice, that’s the worst bit. He sounds sooooo scary. And I can close my eyes…but not my ears! Ahh!
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vinnieh said:
When he plays back the recordings of the event, and you hear the child’s voice, I get chills.
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emmakwall said:
That is the WORST bit, so bloody scary!
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vinnieh said:
It’s pure terror at its finest.
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emmakwall said:
Brilliant review Vinster. I’ve meant to say to you before, have you ever considered writing non-fiction? Just your use of description words and stuff is always so good, do you have any stories tucked away in your imagination?
This sounds great, at first I wasn’t sure if I’d seen it or not but I’m sure I haven’t. Interesting about it being the last movie those actors would be in too.
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vinnieh said:
I have indeed considered writing fiction or non-fiction, but have never really got around to it. Considering this movie was the last of three of the main stars and considering their health wasn’t too good, they are on splendid form throughout. And then there is a young Alice Krige as the ghost, she is perfect at embodying the ethereal but menacing turns of the character.
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emmakwall said:
I must watch this!
You should consider it, but I know it’s more time consuming and difficult when you’re used to writing non-fiction.
Did I say “non-fiction” in my last comment? I meant to say “fiction” lol. Duh.
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vinnieh said:
I am definitely considering it Emma, thanks for the tips. I have a feeling you’d love this movie, it has a really classy feel to it, even though their is gruesomeness and sexiness present.
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rlterry1 said:
I’ve never even heard of this movie, but after reading your review, this is definitely one that I will watch very soon! I cannot believe that I have never even heard of it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention and for such an in-depth exploration of it.
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vinnieh said:
If you’re looking for an old-fashioned style haunting movie, this is the film to see.
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rlterry1 said:
I may watch it on Monday. Some friends and I have been getting together for over a year now for Macabre Movie Monday. We screen a horror film each week. It started as a result of a horror film graduate class I took in Fall 2014.
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vinnieh said:
This movie would be perfect for Macabre Movie Monday.
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Tom said:
This sounds like a curious little number. Nice one Vin. Also, love what you’ve done with the place. The new darker theme looks great 😀
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vinnieh said:
It is a really atmospheric movie, realised very well with the gloomy visual style and splendid performances. Glad you like the theme Tom.
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ShaunyNews said:
Some friends and I used to go “Ghost Hunting” in Edinburgh 😀 Was just for fun……..
………To start with. After one night at Greyfriars churchyard in Edinburgh near the Prisoners convenor area, things changed. People got ill, a friend had a seizure. It was CRAZY…And I can only share images from what we felt. We were being chased and more that night. We left when we entered the tomb of ‘The Mackenzie Poltergeist’we all heard “GET OUT” and one of us was pushed. I blogged it.
http://shaunynews.com/2014/10/20/edinburgh-evil-history-i-seen-and-photographed-myself-my-story-be-scared/
I will leave some images. We were VERY CLOSE to being on TV/Radio but people said “Images could be altered”…
This was against a wall. We heard whispering and walking and I snapped this
This image here we could feel ground almost shake below us, then a cry. Might have been a cat, I snapped my camera…or someone did and we got this
This one here, one of my mates said “Shaun, who is in-front of you” out of the 7 of us, 2 could see blackness, like a shadow in-front of me. This is the image I got, my friend is looking around it. No smoking, no fog, no rain, no nothing.
These 2 images I think were spirits using my friends energy to FORM…You will see white that looks like bone almost. Again, we took a photo and got lucky.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
The blog above has more…
From that day to this, I know now not to trust what I don’t know.
We all said “Never again” This was my mate feeling faint, and he had a seizure next day…
UK Most Haunted is staged, we all know this…
Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International set out to DEBUNK always. They are sceptics, they don’t believe in what they do. But like us, they find it VERY hard to think otherwise. A door I recommend NOBODY opens. Please!
BUT!
Shaun
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vinnieh said:
Wow, this is really something Shaun. Thanks for the illuminating comment.
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ShaunyNews said:
Was a fun time when we went across Edinburgh and surrounding areas doing this. I have thousands of images and EVP’s. I know this was a film, I just felt right to share. There is SOMETHING in this Ghost story. I don’t know what, where, how or when 😀 All we know is, it’s not a placebo, these things actually happened. When a mate had a seizure, we were all ill..We stopped.. But I don’t think it totally left 1 of my mates. He has troubles with sleep and fear. As I said, careful with Ghosts and opening doors to a World we are clueless about. But all aside, I set out to debunk as I can’t believe any of it, even though I seen, felt and heard…
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vinnieh said:
Something about ghosts and all that fascinates me, but I’d never go messing with it. I’d be way too scared.
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ShaunyNews said:
For me at least, it’s not so much fear, it’s more control of mind. As said, the Placebo effect can kill people as their minds convince them of things. So when I say I have no hate or fear, I mean it and it helps me live without my mind wandering to bad places…
Hope that made sense.. lol
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vinnieh said:
That made perfect sense Shaun. By the way, do you like the sound of this movie?
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ShaunyNews said:
Not seen this movie buddy… But trying to downloaded for later #Maybe 😀
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vinnieh said:
If you see it, I hope you enjoy it Shaun.
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ShaunyNews said:
This is all I can find, this it? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082449/
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vinnieh said:
That’s the one.
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ShaunyNews said:
Good man!
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vinnieh said:
If you see it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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ShaunyNews said:
Watching it in bed tonight…If you never hear from me again…I died 😦 LOL
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vinnieh said:
I hope you survive. If you live through it, please let me know what you made of it
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ShaunyNews said:
HA HA….100% I will buddy… Bed soon…Movie Dloaded…
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vinnieh said:
Prepare for chills.
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ShaunyNews said:
😦 Dinny man 😦 Alone in bed about to watch it..My partner has friends in…Will I shyt masel? lol
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vinnieh said:
So how did you find the movie Shaun?
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ShaunyNews said:
😦 I fell asleep
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vinnieh said:
You mean you fell asleep because you were tired? Or you fell asleep because you couldn’t get into the movie?
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ShaunyNews said:
I fell asleep with my network open on my laptop 😀 I turned my bed laptop on, opened my network.
……..Zzzzzzzzzz
😀
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vinnieh said:
I understand Shaun.
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ShaunyNews said:
Might watch it tonight…lol. Any other good movies?
Legend was SUPERB.
Southpaw I loved.
Antman really good.
The Big Short was just SUPERB. Concussion was also very decent.
No Escape, was very decent.
The Martian, brilliant.
…I watched a ton more but these are ones ‘off the bat’ I remember..I watch more movies than I do anything else these days. I should do more movie reviews…But others have that covered..
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vinnieh said:
Wow, you really have seen some movies lately.
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ShaunyNews said:
Aye, what I do when I am not here.. .lol. Watch a lot of kids movies with my girls too.. Some are just “OMG”…But they are 5 and 6 years old..I have to pretend 😀
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R.L. Terry said:
Finally watched it, and it was fantastic!
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vinnieh said:
I’m thrilled to hear that.
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