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The Frighteners (1996)

 -  Comedy | Fantasy | Horror  -  19 July 1996 (USA)
7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 48,853 users  
Reviews: 205 user | 104 critic

After a tragic car accident that killed his wife, a man discovers he can communicate with the dead to con people but when a demonic spirit appears, he may be the only one who can stop it from killing the living and the dead.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Patricia Ann Bradley (as Dee Wallace-Stone)
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Jim Fyfe ...
Stuart, Bannister's Ghostly Assistant
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Angela Bloomfield ...
Desmond Kelly ...
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Storyline

After a car accident in which his wife, Debra, was killed and he was injured, Frank Bannister develops psychic abilities allowing him to see, hear, and communicate with ghosts. After losing his wife, he then gave up his job as an architect, letting his unfinished "dream house" sit incomplete for years, and put these skills to use by befriending a few ghosts and getting them to haunt houses in the area to drum up work for his ghostbusting business; Then Frank proceeds to "exorcise" the houses for a fee. But when he discovers that an entity resembling the Grim Reaper is killing people, marking numbers on their forehead beforehand, Frank tries to help the people whom the Reaper is after! Written by Anthony Pereyra <hypersonic91@yahoo.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

ghost | hell | architect | fbi | grim reaper | See more »

Taglines:

Frightening, isn't it? See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for terror/violence | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

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Language:

Release Date:

19 July 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Robert Zemeckis Presents: The Frighteners  »

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

DEM 26,052 (Germany) (2 January 1998)

Gross:

DEM 26,052 (Germany) (2 January 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

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Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

It was during filming this on location in New Zealand that Michael J. Fox made up his mind that he'd had enough of been away from his family making movies and decided to head back to the small screen and star in a new sitcom. This turned out to be his last leading role in a film. See more »

Goofs

When Lucy is freezing Frank down, the dial she turns is color-coded light blue to dark blue (cold to colder). Moments later, when Dammers turns up, the dial is on a previously non-existent red setting. See more »

Quotes

Frank Bannister: [after seeing the glowing number on her forehead] You're next.
Magda Rees-Jones: He's threatening to kill me!
See more »

Connections

Featured in Movie Magic: Ghost Effects: Ghost Stories (1996) See more »

Soundtracks

"Superstar"
Written by Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell
Performed by Sonic Youth
Courtesy of DCG Records
By Arrangement with MCA Special Markets and Products
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Surprisingly Dark
21 January 2005 | by (England) – See all my reviews

What sets out to be a comedy movie with ghosts, (and anyone could be forgiven for thinking this is what it would be given that Michael J Fox has the lead) rapidly becomes a very dark supernatural thriller.

The special effects still look good even by todays standards, and the story is solidly written, good characters and good direction, there is not much to criticise in this movie.

The film itself is one that you should not miss, and certainly not because you think its something that it isn't.

8/10 A surprising film, that has probably been overlooked by too many movie lovers.


92 of 107 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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This has cult classic written all over it. col547
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I think Jeffrey Combs is a great actor BUT sevenhillz
Peter Jackson's real-life ghost story sniglet_33
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Dir. Cut. Boomstickman
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