THIRTEEN GHOSTS

WARNER BROS. has recently remade two William Castle films.  The remake of “House on Haunted Hill” actually had a few decent scares in it, but ultimately put too much emphasis on CGI effects and over-the-top gore rather than narrative.  Now, WARNER BROS. is offering a remake of “THIRTEEN GHOSTS”.   The original black and white film was a standard haunted house flick with a young boy as the protagonist.  The “Castle” gimmick revolved around special glasses the boy found which enabled him to see the ghosts that no one else could see.  Unfortunately, due to the era in which the film was made, the “scary” ghosts were simply not very scary.  How scared could one be of the ghostly apparitions of a lion tamer and his lion???   Well, the new version of “THIRTEEN GHOSTS” offers the same “gimmick” of glasses revealing ghostly apparitions which potential victims can’t see, but at least this time, the apparitions are scary.  One of them resembles a cross between Charles Manson and the Tasmanian Devil, another is a beautiful and well-endowed suicide victim wielding a knife, and of course there are many more.  There are some ingenious moments wherein the audience is able to see the reflections of ghosts in glasses that have fallen on the floor, whereas the awaiting victims are clueless.  It actually generates some thrilling moments.  More disappointing, however, is the fact that while the beautiful Shannon Elizabeth, made-famous for baring all in almost every film she’d one, chooses to “act” here!   This kind of film cries out for more titillation and gimmicks, and it’s really not the kind of vehicle for a “T&A” actress to try widening her dimensions as an actress.  F. Murray Abraham appears as a really dastardly villain, and while he does his best, it’s sad to see the star of “AMADEUS” resigned to chewing scenery as he’s intentionally made to do here.

WARNER BROS. has preserved the film’s 1.85:1 aspect ratio with 16:9 enhancement.  It’s a terrific transfer!  There’s great clarity and depth to every scene. Colors are solid and vibrant throughout, and the contrast is flawless!  Fleshtones appear natural throughout.

WARNER BROS. has presented the soundmix with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, and it’s extremely aggressive, as evidenced in the opening sequence, sure to shake the entertainment room it’s being heard in!  It’s a sequence in which a ghost is being caught in a junk yard, and the bass level is louder than almost any soundtrack we’ve ever heard.  It’s effective, but also demonstrative of the film’s limitations, regarding “too” noisy an environment at times.  Dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion. 

WARNER BROS. offers a running commentary with the film’s director, makeup effects artist and production designer.  While it’s insightful regarding how certain effects and settings were achieved, there’s little in the way of thematic discussion.  It never really drags, but this isn’t a soundtrack for aspiring directors.

Another segment, offers Abraham giving “background” information in regards to how the “Ghosts” met their ends during their mortal existence.

There’s also a featurette, which offers “behind-the-scenes” moments and interviews.