I, for one, am a huge fan of Haunted House/Ghost movies. Unfortunately they are hard to come by these days, as the vast majority of the recent attempts fail on most counts. Therefore, for any other like minded individuals out there, I have decided to compile a list of my top 5 faves! This is not meant to be a list of "The Best," simply a list of the one I happen to enjoy. As always, I welcome your feedback.
The Changeling (1980)
This film stars George C. Scott as widower who recently lost both his wife and child. Upon taking up residence in a new home, he begins to notice strange noises and odd goings on . While this film is not scary in the typical sense, it does one hell of a job of building tension and suspense. In addition, there is actually a deep story and some tender moments as well. Scott is terrific in his role and it's a shame that more people haven't seen this flick. Also, this film makes simple objects unnerving and you won't look at them the same way again. Case in point, the wheelchair scene and the lone ball bouncing down the stairs. Should I ever find myself alone in a house and find a rubber ball rolling my way, I'm getting the hell out of Dodge. (See what I did there? Dodge, ball? No? Moving On....)
Thirteen Ghosts
Tony Shaloub of Monk fame stars here as a single father of two, still mourning the death of his beloved wife. Upon the death of his uncle Cyrus, Shaloub inherits his sprawling manor and decides to move the clan in. Upon arriving they are met by a phony electrician/pro ghost hunter portrayed by Matthew Lillard. What the family doesn't know is that Cyrus hunted ghosts to trap them and ultimately harness their power. While many people dismissed this film, I quite enjoyed it. The performances are good across the board, including an extended cameo from F. Murray Abrams (hey, he was good enough to be in Amadeus, he's good enough for this.) Also, the effects are truly well done here. Not a single ghost is similar and each are horrifying in their own right. A few standouts are The Juggernaut, The Princess, The Jackyl and The Torso. I recommend checking this out. While it doesn't really create anything new, there is a solid story, good performances and, in my opinion, some of the best ghost effects I've seen.
Book Of Blood
This was always one of my favorite stories, so naturally when I heard it was being adapted to film I was both excited and skeptical. Upon seeing this, however, my doubts were put to bed. Is it a perfect adaptation? No, it isn't. It is easily one of the best Clive Barker adaptations though. And, being an offspring of the twisted mind of Mr. Barker, it is pretty intriguing. Local man Simon claims to be a medium who can communicate with the dead. This is exactly what Mary Florescu is looking for, so naturally, she hires Simon. Her and her crew begin to experience some phenomenon of the ghostly variety. The twist is, these ghosts are only interested in communicating by carving their stories into Simon's skin! Well worth checking out for an interesting take on the genre. Also, Sophie Ward is great in her role as Mary and there's a nice bit of nudity as well.
1408
This film is far from perfect, however it does manage to recapture some of the same dread from Stephen King's other hotel film "The Shining." Now, I'm NOT saying this film compares, as that's simply apples and oranges. This film does have in interesting premise though, as John Cusack plays an author who investigates haunted places. Upon checking into the Dolphin hotel's notorious room 1408, he learns that what he suspected to be mere myth may be more real than he could have ever imagined. The ghostly effects are all well done and there are actually a few scares. One also feels the dread that Cusack is experiencing as it builds with each scene. To quote Cusack's character "Hotel rooms are inherently creepy places," and this film really builds off of that tension. Overall, not a perfect film but quite enjoyable. Plus, it's always nice to see a talented actor take on the genre. For me, the only downside is the inclusion of Sam Jackson, who really does nothing more than shout the entire time.
Candyman
Allright, I know what you're all thinking. Many of you were expecting to see The Shining or Ammityville on here, but you're wrong. Not that those aren't both good movies, they're simply over played. Everyone and their brother has seen these two and I didn't personally find either of them that scary or original. Again, both quality films, but not the purpose of this list. And yes, while the Candyman may be a slasher, he's also a ghost. The film tells the tale of Helen, a woman writing her thesis. She decides to investigate the local legend of the titular character, a former Slave who was put to death for his love of the master's daughter. By reciting his name 3 times into the mirror, his spirit comes to like and wreaks havoc on you and your loved ones with his trusty meat hook. Let me tell you, if Bloody Mary didn't scare the shit out of you as a kid, give this one a try. Tony Todd is brilliant as the Candyman, and he truly creates a character that's terrifying, iconic and also relatable. This is a must see as it transcends one single genre. There is plenty of gore as well as elements of a slasher, ghost story, and even gothic love story!
Well, thats the list. Again, this isn't meant to be a "Best Of" or anything of the like. These are simply underrated ghost films that I enjoy. Some other honorable mentions that were enjoyable but didn't make the list: House On Haunted Hill, The Ammityville Horror, The Shining, The Orphanage, Dark House, Blood Night: The Legend Of Mary Hatchet, Ghost Busters, Sixth Sense, Stir of Echoes, and House(1986), And who could forget the Blair With Project and Paranormal Activity? Oh, yeah, ME!!
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