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MOVIES / ON DVD / THE FRIGHTENERS
The Frighteners

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The Frighteners (1996)

71%
50%
79%
N/A
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N/A
71 %
Reviews Counted: 24 Fresh: 17  Rotten:7 Average Rating: 6.2/10

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins

Synopsis: Offbeat horror director Peter Jackson goes Hollywood with this follow-up to his acclaimed 1994 feature, HEAVENLY CREATURES. THE FRIGHTENERS, part horror-comedy, part supernatural thriller, stars Michael J. Fox as psychic investigator Frank Bannister. Bannister is able to see and... Offbeat horror director Peter Jackson goes Hollywood with this follow-up to his acclaimed 1994 feature, HEAVENLY CREATURES. THE FRIGHTENERS, part horror-comedy, part supernatural thriller, stars Michael J. Fox as psychic investigator Frank Bannister. Bannister is able to see and communicate with spirits as a result of the trauma of witnessing his wife die in a car accident. Now a series of mysterious deaths in Frank's hometown has left authorities at wit's end. The deaths appear to be caused by heart attacks, but eventually it is revealed that they are actually the work of a menacing, Grim Reaper-like phantom. Bannister becomes a suspect after several deaths occur in his presence, and in order to prove his innocence, he and a team of three friendly ghosts attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding the murderous specter. But what emerges is far more than they bargained for, and soon a psychotic killer's lust for revenge from beyond the grave threatens the lives of both Bannister and his new love interest (Trini Alvarado). THE FRIGHTENERS is a fun and fast-paced cinematic romp with plenty of stunning computer-generated special effects. [More]

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, John Astin, Dee Wallace Stone

Director: Peter Jackson

DVD Info

Release:

May 5, 2009

[DVD Details]

HD DVD Features:

  • Snap Case
  • Widescreen - 2.35

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 Surround - English
  • Subtitles - English (SDH), French - Optional

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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01/26/06
Time Out
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3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/17/01
Ben Falk
BBC
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N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
01/01/00
Empire Magazine
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3/10

Despite being awful in almost every respect, The Frighteners does offer one small pleasure: R. Lee Ermey parodying his Full Metal Jacket drill sergeant character.

comment Comment
01/23/06
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
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3/5

It actually works up till its last few minutes.

comment Comment
12/04/03
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
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5/10

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Full Review | comment Comment
11/07/03
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews
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4/5

An incredibly underrated scare-comedy from Peter Jackson that deserves a much wider audience.

comment Comment
07/14/03
Blake Davis
KFOR Channel 4 News
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4/5

No review available.

comment Comment
05/30/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
New York Times
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4/5

Quirky Peter Jackson film that's half comedy and half horror/gore-fest. Mostly enjoyable results, although Fox a bit miscast.

comment Comment
03/18/03
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
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4/5

Woulda been five stars, but the cop-out ending smacks of the test-screening process.

comment Comment
03/07/03
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times
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2/5

No review available.

comment Comment
02/21/03
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)
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3/5

The talented director of “Heavenly Creatures” has pulled together a film that wants to be everything to everyone simultaneously.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/26/02
Brandon Judell
Entertainment Asylum
N/R

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06/05/02
Lea Russo
Boxoffice Magazine
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3/4

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04/12/02
Globe and Mail
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2.5/4

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02/27/01
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk
N/R

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02/14/01
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
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N/R

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01/01/00
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
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N/R

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01/01/00
E! Online
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