Ghost Town (1988)

Director:

Richard Governor

Writers:

Duke Sandefur (writer)
David Schmoeller (story)

Release Date:

11 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Western

Plot:

A modern-day deputy tracks an abducted girl to a ghost town, and the spirits of the past who took her.

Plot Keywords:

Ghost Town | Ghost | Curse | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Franc Luz	...	Langley
Catherine Hickland	...	Kate
Jimmie F. Skaggs	...	Devlin
Penelope Windust	...	Grace
Bruce Glover	...	Dealer
Zitto Kazann	...	Blacksmith
Blake Conway	...	Harper
Laura Schaefer	...	Etta
Michael Alldredge	...	Bubba
Ken Kolb	...	Ned
Will Hannah	...	Billy
Henry Max Kendrick	...	Weasel
James Oscar Lee	...	Jake
Charles Robert Harden	...	Tomas
Edward Gabel	...	Cletus

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Norway:15 (video premiere) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Germany:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Empire Pictures

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Towards the beginning of the film, when Langley kneels down and picks up a handful of sand, you can clearly see the reflection of camera equipment in his sunglasses.

Quotes:

Dealer: Time is all we got in Cruz Del Diablo. Your future will wait 'til you get there. It's the past you can't do anything about.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cellar Dweller (1988)

Well made horror/western

I have a soft spot for direct-to-video horrors of the 80's and 90's(don't get me started on the terrible cinema of today) and this is one of my favorites. The horror and western collide perfectly in this original little film.

Lawman Franc Luz, who does a remarkable job, searches for a missing beauty, Catherine Hickland, in the middle of the desert. During his search, spooky things happen to him, as he sees a phantom rider that terrorizes him at every port of call. Stumbling through the desert, he happens upon an abandoned town, and as a storm approaches, he seeks shelter in one of the buildings.

Luz is quickly involved in an age-old town struggle against an evil criminal, creepily portrayed by Skaggs. Skaggs has abducted Hickland because she bears a striking resemblance to an old brothel house singer he was once smitten with.

If you enjoy solid horror films with substance rather than blood and guts, than this little gem is right up your alley. I highly recommend picking this up.