Cult Labs

Go Back   Cult Labs > Film Discussions > General Film Discussions

Like Tree179037Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #47291  
Old 20th July 2018, 02:48 PM
ArgentoFan1987's Avatar
Cultist on the Rampage
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Blog Entries: 2
Default

Thir13en Ghosts

This is a film I had been wanting to see as a teenager, having been quite fond of the Wiliam Castle film form the 60's.

It starts off with a ghost hunter, Cyrus (F. Murray Abraham) and his reluctant assistant, Dennis, played by Matthew Lillard (who, when touching people, can also view their past, while simultaneously going into seizure mode) who are trying to catch a 12th ghost called Juggernaught at a junk site.

When the ghost hunter dies, he offers his incredible house to his recently widowed, estranged nephew, Arthur (Tony Shalhoub) and his family, in what seems to be a too-good-to-be-true offer.

Once shown the incredible, elaborate house by the uncle's lawyer, they meet the aforementioned crazy, ghost hunting assistant, who is disguised as an electrician. After having a bit of fun exploring the vast, maze-like mansion, Dennis tries to warn Arthur about the hauntings going on in the house, against the lawyer's wishes. Then shit gets real!!!

First: The negatives.
The story of this film is both simple and complicated. It's straightforward, yet leaves giant gaps in the backstories of characters. It builds up a lot of stories, yet becomes really vague.

Now for the film's biggest flaw... The editing. The cutting is done so quickly and with so many strobe lighting effects, I strongly recommend anyone with epilepsy or any condition that is sensitive to frequent flashing, not to view this film. The insane speed of the editing almost made me nauseous.

They also start off by giving some backstory to the 12 ghosts but is left pretty vague.

Now on to the Positives... and it's a big one!

Matthew Lillard! He steals this film. He is so insane and theatrically chews up the scenery in every second of the film he appears. He is by far the best part of this film and the main reason I can see myself watching this film many more times in the future.

The production values are great. Both the look and feel of the house are incredible. The look of the 12 ghosts are also really good, unfortunately, the crappy editing doesn't give us much of a chance to see any of them.

Overall, it's not the best directed film, it's horrifically edited, but Lillard turns a 5/10 film into a 6.5/10.
__________________
My Video Nasty Podcast (Born Nasty) and "Let's Play..." YouTube Channel: http://tinyurl.com/hyphk7u

Last edited by ArgentoFan1987; 20th July 2018 at 03:36 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #47292  
Old 20th July 2018, 08:21 PM
trebor8273's Avatar
Cult Veteran
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Default



An enjoyable terminator style rip off, a cyborg made in the image and having the memory of her creator malfunctions and goes on a killing spree, a marine (Gregory Hines ) teams up with its creator too hunt it down, things get worse when we find the creator is a repressed sex maniac and a bit of a man hater and these desires are awakened in the cyborg,then things go even worse when we find out it's a walking nuclear bomb and it's been armed. Enjoyable and the morale here is bitches be crazy. 7/10



A very dull and uninspiring hammer, a poor cast and pretty boring story make up for a very mediocre movie. One i don't think I will revisit. 5/10
Reply With Quote
  #47293  
Old 20th July 2018, 09:41 PM
Cult Veteran
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: summerisle
Blog Entries: 21
Default

Monstrosity (1987, Andy Milligan)

To simply recount the plot would be a disservice to this unique entry into the Frankenstein subgenre . AM strikes again with the chat. But there are ..... actual FX. No fainting at the back there now then now then ... . Wigs are worn. So be warned . Ahem.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

[B]
"... the days ahead will be filled with struggle ... and coated in marzipan ... "[/B]
Reply With Quote
  #47294  
Old 20th July 2018, 09:51 PM
Cult Veteran
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: summerisle
Blog Entries: 21
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArgentoFan1987 View Post
Thir13en Ghosts

This is a film I had been wanting to see as a teenager, having been quite fond of the Wiliam Castle film form the 60's.

It starts off with a ghost hunter, Cyrus (F. Murray Abraham) and his reluctant assistant, Dennis, played by Matthew Lillard (who, when touching people, can also view their past, while simultaneously going into seizure mode) who are trying to catch a 12th ghost called Juggernaught at a junk site.

When the ghost hunter dies, he offers his incredible house to his recently widowed, estranged nephew, Arthur (Tony Shalhoub) and his family, in what seems to be a too-good-to-be-true offer.

Once shown the incredible, elaborate house by the uncle's lawyer, they meet the aforementioned crazy, ghost hunting assistant, who is disguised as an electrician. After having a bit of fun exploring the vast, maze-like mansion, Dennis tries to warn Arthur about the hauntings going on in the house, against the lawyer's wishes. Then shit gets real!!!

First: The negatives.
The story of this film is both simple and complicated. It's straightforward, yet leaves giant gaps in the backstories of characters. It builds up a lot of stories, yet becomes really vague.

Now for the film's biggest flaw... The editing. The cutting is done so quickly and with so many strobe lighting effects, I strongly recommend anyone with epilepsy or any condition that is sensitive to frequent flashing, not to view this film. The insane speed of the editing almost made me nauseous.

They also start off by giving some backstory to the 12 ghosts but is left pretty vague.

Now on to the Positives... and it's a big one!

Matthew Lillard! He steals this film. He is so insane and theatrically chews up the scenery in every second of the film he appears. He is by far the best part of this film and the main reason I can see myself watching this film many more times in the future.

The production values are great. Both the look and feel of the house are incredible. The look of the 12 ghosts are also really good, unfortunately, the crappy editing doesn't give us much of a chance to see any of them.

Overall, it's not the best directed film, it's horrifically edited, but Lillard turns a 5/10 film into a 6.5/10.
. This and the House On Haunted Hill that they did ... both are excreta imho . Not quite as runny as that there '99 Haunting mind ... but that goes without saying ... too soon?
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

[B]
"... the days ahead will be filled with struggle ... and coated in marzipan ... "[/B]
Reply With Quote
  #47295  
Old 21st July 2018, 06:55 AM
keirarts's Avatar
Cult Addict
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Barrow-in-furness
Blog Entries: 14
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Demoncrat View Post
. This and the House On Haunted Hill that they did ... both are excreta imho . Not quite as runny as that there '99 Haunting mind ... but that goes without saying ... too soon?
If you went on scream factory's facebook and read some of the comments you'd be fooled into thinking they were neglected masterpieces. I felt massively old when I realised for some people these were films they saw as kids.
Reply With Quote
  #47296  
Old 21st July 2018, 10:37 AM
Cult Veteran
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: summerisle
Blog Entries: 21
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by keirarts View Post
If you went on scream factory's facebook and read some of the comments you'd be fooled into thinking they were neglected masterpieces. I felt massively old when I realised for some people these were films they saw as kids.
Lawdy. Headache inducing mainstream placebos both.
keirarts and troggi like this.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

[B]
"... the days ahead will be filled with struggle ... and coated in marzipan ... "[/B]
Reply With Quote
  #47297  
Old 21st July 2018, 11:30 AM
Cult Veteran
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: summerisle
Blog Entries: 21
Default

Stuck (2007, Stuart Gordon)

Stephen Rea is having a bad day. Things only worsen when he literally collides with a drunken care home worker. A different sort of survival horror film imo.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

[B]
"... the days ahead will be filled with struggle ... and coated in marzipan ... "[/B]
Reply With Quote
  #47298  
Old 21st July 2018, 11:42 AM
Nosferatu@Cult Labs's Avatar
Cult Don
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
Good Trader
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: The Land of the Prince Bishops
Blog Entries: 4
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Demoncrat View Post
Stuck (2007, Stuart Gordon)

Stephen Rea is having a bad day. Things only worsen when he literally collides with a drunken care home worker. A different sort of survival horror film imo.
I haven't seen that since I reviewed the US Blu-ray release about 10 years ago! I've just had a look on my computer for the review and it seems I really liked both the film and the Blu-ray package.
Demoncrat, keirarts and troggi like this.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #47299  
Old 21st July 2018, 11:51 AM
Demdike@Cult Labs's Avatar
Cult King
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Lancashire
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by keirarts View Post
If you went on scream factory's facebook and read some of the comments you'd be fooled into thinking they were neglected masterpieces. I felt massively old when I realised for some people these were films they saw as kids.
I saw them both at the cinema and enjoyed them. At that time there wasn't much horror about in cinemas aside from big budgeted studio things like Bram Stoker's Dracula and Wolf. So to be able to watch some gory schlock on the big screen was pretty cool. This may have rose tinted my view i don't know.

The House on Haunted Hill is a lot better than 13 Ghosts though. I even enjoyed Return to House on Haunted Hill.

Blu-ray and dvd spoil us nowadays as we can watch pretty much any horror film we want in the comfort of our own home on huge screens (If we have them - many seem to do). Back in the 90's this wasn't the case so those two films seemed like something of a rare treat along with the likes of Demon Knight and Halloween H2O.
Reply With Quote
  #47300  
Old 21st July 2018, 12:12 PM
Cult Veteran
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: summerisle
Blog Entries: 21
Default

That's nice to know. I didn't get the chance to see them either as the selection up here has always been very vanilla. Though there were exceptions. Lost Highway for one .... easily the scariest thing I saw at the cinema in the 90s ...
keirarts, troggi and nosferatu42 like this.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

[B]
"... the days ahead will be filled with struggle ... and coated in marzipan ... "[/B]
Reply With Quote
Reply  

Like this? Share it using the links below!

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Our goal is to keep Cult Labs friendly. If you feel discouraged from posting by certain members' behaviour then you can e-mail us in complete confidence.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
All forum posts are contributed by members of the site; Cult Labs cannot take responsibility for all content posted on the site. If you have an issue with content posted on the site please click the 'report post' button.
Copyright © 2014 Cult Laboratories Ltd. All rights reserved.