TOMB OF NOSTALGIA: GHOST STORY (1981)

GHOST STORY (1981)

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1981’s Ghost Story is a combination of supernatural chiller and mystery based on a book by Peter Straub. It tells of the Chowder Society, four elderly men who have known each other since college. Sears James, Edward Wanderley, Ricky Hawthorne and Dr. John Jaffrey (John Houseman, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Fred Astaire and Melvyn Douglas), all gather together once a week to tell horror stories. One of their spooky stories comes to life, when the ghost of a mysterious woman (Alice Krige) starts to haunt them and their kin. Soon members and family members are dying tragically and Edward’s son Don (Craig Wasson) comes home to investigate after the death of his twin brother. What he finds is a mystery fueled by a terrible secret, the one grim story the Chowder Society won’t tell.

Classy flick is directed by John Irvin from a script by Lawrence D. Cohen, based on Straub’s book of the same name. It’s atmospheric and very old fashioned and has a great cast of actors. Sadly it’s also a very dull and slow paced flick with the scares few and far between and a mystery which isn’t very hard to figure out. There is some nice SPFX make-up from the legendary Dick Smith and it is relatively bloodless, despite the era it was made in. The performances from the veteran cast are all good. Krige is very sexy and mysterious as the spectral femme fatale, though Wasson seems a bit miscast, especially in his scenes as twin brother David. Despite all the talent in front of and behind the camera, the film just plods along and takes almost two hours to reach a conclusion we all already know is coming. There is also the edition of two characters, escaped lunatic and son Gregory and Fenny Bate (Miguel Fernandes and Lance Holcomb) that add nothing to the story. It would have flowed smoother without them, even if they were in the book. A well intended film, but also a bit of a misguided one as well. It simply should have been consistently scarier and perhaps with a director more comfortable with the supernatural elements…elements Irvin almost seems to try to avoid.

In conclusion, it’s a noble effort with a lot of talent involved, but one that unfortunately fails to deliver the chills. It’s atmospheric and looks good, by way of Jack Cardiff’s cinematography. It has a few spooky moments and the score by Philippe Sarde is very effective. What really holds this flick back is simply a far too pedestrian pace, taking longer to tell the story than needed and a director just not taking full advantage of the trappings of such a tale. Definitely a movie that hasn’t aged well either, despite a very classy cast of legendary actors.

-MonsterZero NJ

Rated 2 and 1/2 (out of 4) spooks.

 

 

 

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TOMB OF NOSTALGIA: THE CHANGELING (1980)

THE CHANGELING (1980)

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Film opens with a tragic accident that takes the life of the wife and child of composer John Russell (George C. Scott). To get away from the painful memories, he moves out to the West Coast and rents a large, old, vacant house in Seattle. After staying there for just a short time, strange occurrences begin to happen and Russell starts to believe there is something inside the house with him. Upon investigation, Russell begins to realize that the house is haunted by a little boy…a boy who may have been murdered there.

Haunted house tale is directed by Peter Medak from a script by William Gray and Diana Maddox, that is supposedly based on real events. Though released in 1980, it still has a very 70s look and feel and is filled with more mature aged characters than the teens or college co-eds of other horror films of the time. It’s very atmospheric, especially it’s old, dark mansion setting and has some creepy cinematography by John Coquillon. Those elements are enhanced by an effective score by Rick Wilkins and Medak gives the film a moderate pace to let the story gradually unfold. It’s a somber film, though one that never really gets all that scary. One of the main reasons is, that Scott’s John Russell is never really afraid of the spooky goings on. He actually seems intrigued by it all and more than willing to investigate the history behind the house and it’s spectral guest. It makes it interesting, as John unearths a conspiracy that some would like to remain hidden, but scary it’s not. It’s just as much mystery as spook-fest. Even a seance sequence is presented very matter-of-factly and doesn’t provide the chills it should. The film does have a few spooky moments, but not nearly enough to make this ghost story consistently chilling. Not to mention that for a murder conspiracy that some want hidden, amateur detective Russell seems to find evidence very easily. The climax finally kicks things up a few notches and gives us a little of the over-the-top haunted house activity that we hoped for and does give a satisfying and more intense conclusion, after being fairly laid back for most of it’s 107 minute running time.

The cast is good. George C. Scott is a legendary actor and he plays Russell as a strong, but emotionally wounded man. While surrounded by a solid supporting cast, it’s very much his show. The film has some other very familiar names and faces from this era. Trish Van Devere, plays a historical society member who likes John, rents him the house and assists him with his paranormal investigation. Van Devere was not only Scott’s real-life wife, but is a Jersey girl as well! Rounding out the cast is Melvyn Douglas as a senator with ties to the house’s history, John Colicos as a detective, Barry Morse as a doctor and Galaxy of Terror’s Bernard Behrens as a friend of John’s. A classy cast in support of the veteran actor.

In conclusion, The Changeling is a film that has a following and is on many a favorite haunted house flick list. It is spooky at times and very atmospheric, though fails to get really intense or very scary until the last few minutes. It does work as a mystery, as well as, a supernatural thriller, albeit a more sedate one. It has a strong cast and some creepy Canadian locations, substituting for Seattle, but may be a little too by-the-numbers to truly chill. It has a reputation as a classic and while that status is respected and understood, it may not quite live up to that reputation depending on what scares you, or your personal tastes in haunted house flicks. Still entertaining and certainly worth a look.

-MonsterZero NJ

Rated 3 (out of 4) bathtubs.

 

 

 

 

 

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TOMB OF NOSTALGIA: THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932)

THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932)

This great, spooky, old-fashioned, ‘haunted’ house thriller from the legendary James Whale has a simple plot and a great cast that works together like a charm. Three people (Raymond Massey, Melvyn Douglas and Gloria Stewart) driving through the Welsh countryside, become trapped in a fierce storm and are forced to take refuge in an old stone mansion populated by the very strange and eccentric Femm family. The Femms, Horace (Ernest Thesiger) and sister Rebecca (Eva Moore) reluctantly take them in for the night along with another couple (Charles Laughton and Lillian Bond). But even more frightening then the raging storm outside, is their brutish, mute butler Morgan (Boris Karloff) and Horace’s fear over what might happen should deranged brother Saul (Brember Willis) escape his room during the deluge and resulting power outage. Now the weary travelers have become trapped between the horrific downpour outside and the lurking dangers within the old dark house.

Directed by James Whale (Frankenstein, Bride Of Frankenstein) from a script by R.C. Sherriff, Benn W. Levy and J.B. Priestly…from Priestly’s book…this flick is loaded with atmosphere and the kind of stark mood-building visuals that Whale is famous for and brought to life by Arthur Edeson’s cinematography. There are a lot of chills and thrills, yet not without a sly sense of humor and it all comes in a tight and entertaining 71 minute running time with a wonderfully moody score by Bernhard Kaun. The sets both in and around the castle-like house also add much to the atmosphere as does some expert model work to portray the storm and flooding and the damage it causes.

The film has a stellar cast who all have a good time with their roles including genre greats Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton and Raymond Massey. The cast really help to add atmosphere to the proceedings especially  Thesiger, Moore and Karloff as the main occupants of the house though Willis makes a really creepy Saul, once we meet him and the interesting casting of actress Elspeth Dudgeon as the family’s 102 year old patriarch, Roderick. The rest all give us some very likable characters to fear for once the lights go out and the quaint evening out of the rain becomes a nightmare.

House is a charming and spooky fun time the likes of which they don’t make anymore. A great old black and white movie loaded with atmosphere. The Old Dark House was originally part of the famous Universal horror films series, but Uni sold the rights for an awful remake in the 60s. The film languished in limbo till rescued by fans…including filmmaker Curtis Harrington, a friend of Whales…and released on DVD. One of my all time favorites and there is simply no better film to watch on a stormy night, especially in the Fall when Halloween grows near.

MONSTERZERO NJ EXTRA TRIVIA:  The actress who plays the wife of Massey’s Philip, Gloria Stuart, is the same Gloria Stuart who played Kate Winslet’s character as an old woman in the hit film Titanic!

4 classic Karloffs.

I couldn’t find a trailer so this clip will have to do…