GHOST HOUSE

GHOST OF A CHANCE

Film review by Fiore

In this day and age, when generations were raised with the “Danger Stranger” campaign, it is near impossible to believe anyone, let alone a couple traveling in a strange land, would trust a pair of overly obvious outsiders to lead them on an escapade into the country.  Yet, that is the entire premise of GHOST HOUSE; and if you can’t accept the premise, the rest of the story falls short.

There is nice make-up work on the demon ghost, and she does provide at least a half dozen jumping scares in the course of the movie.  Unfortunately, the film contains a lot of items that are now commonplace in Schlock-B horror films, and as a result GHOST HOUSE has a been there, done that feel to it.

The plot points and twists are telegraphed reels in advance, so the film offers nothing new in the genre.  In fact, the only element GHOST HOUSE offers is locale.  Events take place in Thailand, known more for elephants and Tony Jaa than demon spirits.

Essentially, GHOST HOUSE is a run of the mill horror film, with an exotic setting.

Make-up designer Vincent Van Dyke is in top form, as is Cinematographer Pierluigi Malavasi.  They give the movie gravitas and make it watchable.  Many of the film’s scenes lack a music soundtrack.  Whether this was due to budget constraints, or an attempt to heightened suspense is unclear, but there are scenes, like the ones in the underground cave, that could have benefited from accompanying music.

The acting is lukewarm.  James Landry Hebert (one of the dreaded three name people) , plays Jim and never looks convincing, even when he is in the house of Living Dolls.  Scout Taylor Compton (yet another) plays Julie, a bubble-headed bleach blonde so dippy it is a  wonder why anyone would want to be with her, let alone marry her.  The demon is cool, and helped enormously by Editor Jay Gartland, who has the spirit moving without concern of the time space continuum. 

The best actors in the film are the Thai stars, especially Michael S. New, who plays Gogo, the taxi driver.   They all seem to be having more fun than the others.

ACTING = D

CINEMATOGRAPHY = B

SOUND/MUSIC = D

LIGHTING = B

EDITING = B

SCRIPT = D

SFX = B

ACTION = C

 

Jim and Julie are vacationing in Thailand, with the intention of visiting various temples.  They befriend Gogo, a taxicab driver, who promises to take them to all the best places.  On their second night, Jim proposes to Julie, and they go on the town to celebrate.  While out, they meet two English lads who are too anxious to help the couple celebrate.  As the evening nears conclusion, Jim and Julie are taken to the countryside and Julie is cursed by a ghost house spirit.  A ghost house is similar to a bird house, but it houses the spirits of the land, so they will not invade the residence.  Jim is left in the middle of nowhere with a new fiancé who is possessed by a demon ghost.  With the help of Gogo and Reno, a local shaman, played by Mark Boone Junior, they must break the curse and save Julie’s soul.

GHOST HOUSE is a sci-fi Saturday night flick, best viewed with a group of friends and plenty of adult beverages.  Kevin O’Sullivan and Jason Chase Tyrrell have penned a script that is too commonplace to watch in any other venue.