Frighteners, The

Frighteners video

Frighteners, The - 1996

Wingnut Films/Universal Pictures - 106, 110 or 123 min.
DVD UPC # 025192028625; #025192674624; #5050582398380; 096898283038; 096892028628

Cast: Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, John Astin, Dee Wallacestone, Jeffrey Combs, Jake Busey, Chi McBride.
Writers: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh; Production Design: Grant Major; Directors of Photography: Alun Bollinger, John Blick; Editor: Jamie Selkirk; Music: Danny Elfman; Executive Producer: Robert Zemekis; Director: Peter Jackson.

In the quiet town of Fairwater, Frank Bannister makes a living by ridding haunted houses of their unwelcome "guest". But, as it happens, he is in collusion with the very ghosts he promises to evict. It works well until he happens upon a case which involves a diabolical spirit on a murderous rampage - and the town believes Frank is behind it. Filmed in Lyttelton, standing in as Fairwater, with a few Wellington shots, this film was not highly received at the U.S. boxoffice, although it is very well directed with excellent special effects. The mix of humour with horror might have been the reason. A very entertaining film that is definately recommended.

Censor Rating: M - Review rating: B

AVAILABILITY OF VHS OR DVD COPIES

There is both a regular TV version, as well as a widescreen version. A DVD is available in NZ for about $20nz, from the UK for about 6# and from Australian sources for $20au. Used VHS can be found for under $5us(NTSC) and 3#(PAL).
In December 2005, Universal released an R1 NTSC double-sided, single disc "Director's Cut" which sells for $20-25us; a 4-disc R 2, PAL German release selling about 20eur; a 3-disc R 4 PAL Australian/NZ release for$35au/$40nz and a 3-disc R2 PAL UK release selling for about 17#. It is 13min. longer than what was previously available on DVD and audio is dolby surround 5.1, dolby surround 2.0 and, except for the R1 release, DTS 5.1. It is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The confusion over what exactly is contained has come from the info going around about the package being one-disc, two-disc, three-disc or four. The R1 North American release is a single disc that has the feature, with a 2 minute intro by Jackson, on one side, along with an optional audio commentary by Jackson. The other side contains a 270+ minute "Making of" documentary that includes: interviews with Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Dee Wallace Stone, Jake Busey, Chi McBride, John Astin and Jim Fyfe; a section (Ghost Stories) where Jackson and Fyfe share their personal close encounters with ghosts; bloopers and "lost footage" is included, as is a piece with Peter describing script development; a cast rehearsal; an introduction to WETA; a close-up look at miniature use; motion control and bluescreen effects; details on how they constructed wallpaperman, portraitman, slimeface, blobman, worm, the reaper; there is a 24 minute section on the music, with Danny Elfman and more. The R1 version also offers subtitles in English, Spanish or French. With the AU/NZ and German versions, the 270+ minute documentary is split between discs 2 and 3. The German version is the same as the other R2s, except that there is a fourth disc in the package that contains the original 105 min. theatrical version feature in anamorphic 2.35:1 with original English plus French or German 5.1 surround dubbed options. The subtitle options on the R2,4,5 Director's Cut offerings are: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Hebrew, Islandic, Norwegian, Swedish, Romanian, Slovenian, Turkish, Portuguese & Greek. The R2,4,5 optional director's cut commentary has subtitle options of: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portugeuese, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian & Swedish. Special note for North American R1 only users; although the 4-disc German version says it is R0, in fact it is R2 and not written for R1, therefore you will run into the usual problem when trying to play it on an R1only player.
As of April 2008, an HD - NTSC version is selling for $10 - $20us. A PAL version is available in New Zealand for $40nz. For details check the HD reviews listed below.

NOTE: Check the "VHS Sale" page for used copies.

SOUNDTRACK ON AUDIO CD

Click for The Frighteners Soundtrack CD Details

REVIEWS

New Zealand Film Archive Info and Reviews

Siskel and Ebert Video Review

Hi-Def Digest Review

DVD Town Hi-Def Review

DVDFile HD Review

Upcoming Discs HD Review

Jeremy Clarke Laserdisc Review

DVDFile Director's Cut Review

DVDFile Standard Edition Review

Moria Review

Laser Disc Review of standard release

Laser Disc Review of DTS release

Laser Disc Review of Director's Cut release

DVD Compare's Review

Universal Pictures - Germany - Director's Cut Edition Info

Upcoming Disc's Director's Cut Review

Michaeldvd Director's Cut Info

Michaeldvd Region 4 Reviews

North & South Review

Movie Review Query - 100 articles

Jerry Saravia rec.arts.movies.reviews

James Berardinelli rec.arts.movies.reviews

OFFLINE REVIEW SOURCES

Entertainment weekly, no.337(July 26 1996)
Illusions, no.28(autumn 1999)
Listener, v.156no.2955(Dec.14 1996)
Nexus, Jan.1997
Sight and sound, v.7, issue 2(Feb.1997)
Sunday star times, Dec.22, 1996

OTHER TITLE RELATED LINKS - INCLUDING TRAILERS

Official Trailer

Sound samplers at Peter Jackson site.

Laserdisc info at IMDB

Kaihoro's Peter Jackson Fansite

FRIGHTENERS FAN SITE

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

AWARDS

1996 - Catalonian International Film Festival - Best Special Effects.

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