Chad

Gobear

Although the CGI FX look primitive twenty-five years on, The Frighteners is still a top-notch horror comedy. To create the visual effects, Peter Jackson built up his baby FX studio WETA that went on to create the effects for Lord of the Rings. They certainly did a great job of making Wellington, NZ look like America. Jeffrey Combs is terrific as the deeply disturbed FBI agent. Michael J Fox had been diagnosed with Parkinson's 5 years before he filmed The Frighteners.

Trevor

I enjoy this one more each time I watch it. Will have to get the Arrow BD someday, although my old DVD looks great.

Undeadcow

The Frighteners does an excellent job of balancing zany cartoonish visual style with actors who are generally more deadpan and straight creating a film that's both comedic and serious enough to be a thrill (seems like a lot of comedies error too far into comedy). The Dammers character is fun and Combs is a phenom but I've always felt he hurts the tone of the film some because his role is so unashamedly nonsensical that is feels like a reverse deus ex machina coming out of nowhere to hamstring and sabotage. The scenes are often filled with a lot of amusing moving pieces awash in ghosts, multiple villains of different types, and great set design to the point that some of the more tame moments even feel a bit out of place.

It's strange to me that Peter Jackson went on to become most well known for the Lord of the Ring films that carry little of the trademark zany staging and oddball humor that defined so many of his other films.

Watched the theatrical cut this year, it's funny how much shorter it seems despite the 110 minute run time.

exharrison

This was one of the first horror movies I really fell in love with back before I was really a horror fan. And it is still so much fun. I know so much of it that I know what is coming and it still doesn't get old.

jholmes

I loved this. I thought I'd seen it years ago, but it wasn't familiar at all.
So much in this to adore. The FBI agent and his whole backstory--so brilliant! May be one of my favorite characters ever.
I loved the three ghostly partners -- all of them were great but especially The Judge.
The yuppy husband who is even more obnoxious as a ghost.
The killer reveal/finale did not disappoint. Jake Busey--I had no idea he even existed.
And Michael J Fox was wonderful.
5/5 for me.

Toddarino

It’s been years since I watched this. I used to enjoy it so much. It appears I still do. I’d love to see a 4k release

wishbone

It has been years for me too and the CGI definitely stood out this time. Listening to the commentary I understood what Peter Jackson tried to accomplish pushing the effects so completely understandable for the time. It was interesting hearing him talk about his then shelved King Kong project along with wanting buildings and sets for a forthcoming project to look lived in, i.e. letting grass grow for six months. I suspect he was referring to The Shire in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

WillieMLF

First time view here. I see all the Wingnut peeps represented, but the CGI really looks bad here. The story and acting are top notch, with Dee Wallace tearing it up with a shotgun. Very delightful movie in every way even though the effects are pretty bad to today’s standards.

Trevor

Stealing rbrown’s subset ranking idea:

The Phantom Carriage, 8/10
The Spiral Staircase, 8/10
A Bay of Blood, 7/10
The Frighteners, 7/10
Road Games, 7/10
Slither, 7/10
Silent Madness, 5/10
The Severed Arm, 4/10