The Frighteners (1996)

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers (WGA):

Fran Walsh (written by) &
Peter Jackson (written by)

Release Date:

19 July 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

Something has put the fear of death in the living and sent the dead running for their lives.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Hell | Architect | FBI | Grim Reaper

Awards:

1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Frank Bannister
Trini Alvarado	...	Dr. Lucy Lynskey
Peter Dobson	...	Ray Lynskey
John Astin	...	The Judge
Jeffrey Combs	...	Milton Dammers
Dee Wallace	...	Patricia Ann Bradley (as Dee Wallace-Stone)
Jake Busey	...	Johnny Charles Bartlett
Chi McBride	...	Cyrus
Jim Fyfe	...	Stuart, Bannister's Ghostly Assistant
Troy Evans	...	Sheriff Walt Perry
Julianna McCarthy	...	Old Lady Bradley
R. Lee Ermey	...	Sgt. Hiles
Elizabeth Hawthorne	...	Magda Rees-Jones
Angela Bloomfield	...	Debra Bannister
Desmond Kelly	...	Harry Sinclair
Jonathan Blick	...	Steve Bayliss
Todd Rippon	...	Deputy
John Sumner	...	Deputy
Michael Robinson	...	Deputy
Jim McLarty	...	Deputy
Anthony Ray Parker	...	Deputy
Paul Yates	...	Deputy
Melanie Lynskey	...	Deputy
John Leigh	...	Bryce Campbell
Nicola Cliff	...	Young Patricia
Ken Blackburn	...	Dr. Kammins
Stuart Devenie	...	Museum Curator
Genevieve Westcott	...	TV Presenter
K.C. Kelly	...	Doctor
Leslie Wing	...	Mrs. Waterhouse
Leslie Klein	...	Sylvia
Frank Edwards	...	Resuscitating Man
Alan O'Leary	...	The Waiter
Danny Lineham	...	Barry
Charlie McClellan	...	Reporter
William Pomeroy	...	Jacob Platz
George Port	...	Orderly
Billy Jackson	...	Baby in Bouncer
Sophie Watkins	...	Nursery Baby
Taea Hartwell	...	Nursery Baby
Max Grover	...	Nursery Baby
George Grover	...	Nursery Baby
Tony Hopkins	...	Hospital Patient
Lewis Martin	...	Hospital Patient
Clay Nelson	...	Passerby
Matthew Chamberlain	...	Passerby
Vivienne Kaplan	...	Nun
Liz Mullane	...	Nun
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Grant Aldridge	...	Funeral photographer (uncredited)
Peter Jackson	...	Man with Piercings (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Jackson

Writing credits (WGA)
Fran Walsh		(written by) &
Peter Jackson		(written by)

Produced by
Peter Jackson	....	producer
Tim Sanders	....	co-producer
Jamie Selkirk	....	producer
Fran Walsh	....	associate producer
Robert Zemeckis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
John Blick
Alun Bollinger

Film Editing by
Jamie Selkirk

Casting by
Victoria Burrows
Vivienne Kaplan

Production Design by
Grant Major

Art Direction by
Dan Hennah

Costume Design by
Barbara Darragh

Makeup Department
Brent Baker	....	special makeup effects
Rick Baker	....	special makeup artist: The Judge
Roger Borelli	....	special makeup effects
Mitch Devane	....	special makeup effects
Marjory Hamlin	....	makeup supervisor
Vance Hartwell	....	special makeup effects artist
Jurgen Heimann	....	special makeup effects
Todd Heindel	....	special makeup effects
Gabrielle Jones	....	makeup assistant
Denise Leibee	....	special makeup effects
James McLoughlin	....	special makeup effects (as Jim McLoughlin)
Cheryl Newton	....	wig maker: principals
Jane O'Kane	....	hair stylist
Jane O'Kane	....	makeup artist
Gary Pawlowski	....	special makeup effects
Brian Penikas	....	special makeup effects
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist: Mr. Fox
Mark Setrakian	....	special makeup effects
Joseph Yuss Simon	....	makeup effects
Bill Sturgeon	....	special makeup effects
Gail Wilson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Bridget Bourke	....	production manager
Andrew Hampton	....	unit manager
Rick Porras	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Blick	....	second unit director
Carey Carter	....	first assistant director: second unit
Michele Priest	....	second assistant director
Chris Short	....	first assistant director
Martin Walsh	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Karl Anton	....	carpenter
Jean-Paul Beckhoudt	....	art department assistant
Neil Blannin	....	carpenter
Brett Blenkin	....	carpenter
Simon Bright	....	art department assistant
Anton Buys	....	carpenter
Tanea Chapman	....	art department assistant
Kirsty Clayton	....	property buyer
Jill Cormack	....	set dresser
Richard Dolan	....	artist and sculptor
Richard Dolan	....	technician
Kerry Dunn	....	set finisher
Scott Harens	....	property maker
Mark Hawthorne	....	art department assistant
Mike Heffernan	....	carpenter
Chris Hennah	....	art department coordinator
Mark Hill	....	scenic artist
Brian Massey	....	greensman
Matthew Mellor	....	property maker
Brad Mill	....	stand-by props
Chris Morrison	....	carpenter
Johno Morton	....	carpenter
Ed Mulholand	....	construction manager
Roger Murray	....	mechanical prop builder
William Pomeroy	....	art department advisor: USA
Dave Richards	....	carpenter
Stephen Ruscoe	....	miniatures
Graeme Sang	....	carpenter
Troy Stephens	....	scenic artist
David Turner	....	property assistant
Ken Turner	....	greensman
Bryan Wakelin	....	carpenter
Norman Willerton	....	construction foreman

Sound Department
Phil Benson	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Boeddeker	....	sound effects editor
John Boswell	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Brent Burge	....	sound effects editor
Chris Burt	....	adr mixer
Ross A. Chambers	....	dialogue editor
Gethin Creagh	....	sound re-recording mixer
Corrin Ellingford	....	boom operator
Jeremy P. Geor	....	sound assistant
Scott Guitteau	....	assistant sound designer
Michael Hedges	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mike Hopkins	....	supervising sound editor
Richard Hymns	....	adr supervisor
Mike Jones	....	sound effects editor
Helen Luttrell	....	foley recordist
Peter Mills	....	sound assistant
Sam Negri	....	sound technical advisor
John Neill	....	sound manager
John Neill	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hammond Peek	....	sound recordist
Tim Prebble	....	sound effects editor
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer
Janet Roddick	....	sound coordinator
Susan Sanford	....	assistant sound designer
Kim Shaw-Williams	....	boom operator
Brian Shennan	....	sound mixer
Nigel Stone	....	adr mixer
Randy Thom	....	sound designer
Randy Thom	....	supervising sound re-recording mixer
Craig Tomlinson	....	sound effects editor
Beth Tredray	....	foley artist
Chris Ward	....	foley editor
Katy Wood	....	sound assistant

Special Effects by
David Backler	....	special effects
Mike Elizalde	....	mechanical designer
Blair Foord	....	special effects assistant
Clint Ingram	....	special effects assistant
Steve Ingram	....	special effects coordinator
Carol Koch	....	cosmetic finisher
Darryl Richards	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Matt Aitken	....	CG supervisor
Simon Allen	....	digital compositor
Karen Ansel	....	lead technical director: Weta Digital
Peter Bailey	....	digital effects artist
Nick Booth	....	runner
Lee Bramwell	....	digital compositor
Tim Capper	....	video compositor
Lynne Cartwright	....	character animator
Buckley Collum	....	technical director
Jeanmarc Furio	....	technical director: Weta FX
Matt Holmes	....	visual effects coordinator
Gray Horsfield	....	visual effects
Sandy Houston	....	digital paint artist
Laurent Hugueniot	....	technical director
Mel James	....	digital artist: Weta Digital
Janice Jones	....	digital compositor
Scott Kilburn	....	digital artist
Dale McBeath	....	character animator
Charlie McClellan	....	digital effects producer
Paul McGhee	....	scanning and recording supervisor
Stephen Regelous	....	digital artist
Wendy Rogers	....	digital artist
Brian Scadden	....	opticals
John Sheils	....	CG supervisor
Paul Story	....	rotoscope artist
Mark Tait	....	technical director
Wes Takahashi	....	visual effects supervisor
Richard Taylor	....	creature and miniature effects
Tim Trumble	....	film recording technician
Kara Vandeleur	....	rotoscope artist
Robert Weaver	....	digital artist
Frank Wegerhoff	....	digital effects artist
Joyce Young	....	rotoscope artist
Matthew Paulson	....	modeler (uncredited)

Stunts
Bruce Brown	....	stunt coordinator
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt double: Michael J. Fox (as Charlie Croughwell)
Steve Doherty	....	stunts
Jenny Harris	....	stunts
Aaron Lupton	....	stunts
Mark Prowse	....	stunts
Joanne Strong	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Rick Allender	....	Steadicam operator
Ben Bell	....	assistant grip
Richard Bluck	....	Steadicam operator
Richard Bluck	....	camera operator
Alun Bollinger	....	camera operator
Adam Clark	....	clapper loader
Aaron Cowan	....	electrician
Roland Ebbing	....	electrician
Ants Farrell	....	electrician
Harry Harrison	....	key grip
Simon Higgins	....	best boy
Brett Jarman	....	gaffer
Terry Joosten	....	assistant grip
Rob Kerr	....	electrician
Ian McCarroll	....	assistant camera
Helen McNamara	....	assistant grip
Mark Newnham	....	electrician
Ian Nicholls	....	electrician
Andy Reid	....	dolly grip
Richard Scott	....	camera operator
Andrew Stroud	....	assistant camera
Andrew Stroud	....	clapper loader
Bryce Swainson	....	video split operator
Gerry Vasbenter	....	focus puller
Hansel Verkerk	....	electrician
Pierre Vinet	....	still photographer
Keith Watkins	....	assistant grip
Roydon Johnson	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)

Animation Department
Paul Hunt	....	animator
Dale McBeath	....	animator

Casting Department
Liz Mullane	....	casting: New Zealand

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rachael Broad	....	costume assistant
Emma Harre	....	stand-by wardrobe
Jane Holland	....	assistant costume designer
Sarah Hope	....	wardrobe assistant
Marion Olsen	....	costume cutter
Peter Rigby	....	costume cutter

Editorial Department
Cindy Bowles	....	re-sync editor
Eric De Beus	....	assistant editor
John Gilbert	....	associate editor
Emma Haughton	....	first assistant editor
Mark Herman	....	re-sync editor
Josie McClutchie	....	assistant editor (as Josie McClutcher)
Jo Priest	....	assistant editor
Lynne Seaman	....	color timer
Hamiora Williams	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Steve Bartek	....	orchestrator
Zachary Cahn	....	assistant music editor
Artie Kane	....	conductor
Frank Macchia	....	music preparation
Mark McKenzie	....	additional orchestrator
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
Edgardo Simone	....	additional orchestrator
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Patti Zimmitti	....	music contractor

Transportation Department
Robin Allen	....	vehicle wrangler
Paul Fleming	....	assistant vehicle wrangler

Other crew
Mark Ashworth	....	set manager
David Backler	....	stand-in
Stephen Bayliss	....	assistant accountant
Michael Beaudin	....	assistant accountant (as Mike Beaudin)
David Bertram	....	stand-in
Jan Blenkin	....	production assistant
Brigitte Boys	....	machinist
Astrid Breach	....	stand-in
Shane Broadbent	....	stand-in
Tom Burstall	....	risk manager
Dean Buttar	....	security: Mr. Fox
Brian Campbell	....	assistant set finisher
Bryce Campbell	....	location manager
Grant Campbell	....	laboratory liaison
Alice Capper-Starr	....	stand-in
Karyn Childs	....	production coordinator
Chris Clapp	....	stand-in
David Cleary	....	assistant set finisher
Robb Conner	....	stand-in: Michael J Fox
Augie Davis	....	safety officer
Erina Fox	....	unit assistant
Aaron Gibson	....	unit assistant
Eleanor Gibson	....	cast runner
Reg Gibson	....	unit assistant
Tim Haigh	....	production runner
Lee Harris	....	extras coordinator
Phil Harris	....	stand-in
Vance Hartwell	....	puppeteer
Grant Hickman	....	stand-in
Chrissy Hill	....	stand-in
Trish Jacobson	....	stand-in
Vivienne Kaplan	....	assistant: Mr. Jackson
Steve Keig	....	stand-in
Linda Klein-Nixon	....	production accountant
Ross Lane	....	stand-in
Josie Leckie	....	cast runner
Valentine Maher	....	assistant set finisher
Matthew Martin	....	production runner
Deannah Mayhew	....	stand-in
Liz McGregor	....	machinist
Danny Milne	....	set runner
Liz Mullane	....	assistant: Mr. Fox
Ben Northrop	....	stand-in
Denise O'Connell	....	stand-in
Jamie Oliver	....	stand-in
Shelley Parker	....	production assistant
Jon Paske	....	stand-in
Tim Pearson	....	stand-in
Jeremy Peet	....	assistant unit publicist
Leslie Pomeroy	....	dialogue coach
Chris Ramsay	....	assistant set finisher
Christian Rivers	....	conceptual illustrator
Sue Rogers	....	unit publicist
Merrin Ruck	....	script supervisor
Damon Selkirk	....	unit assistant
Clayton Sheridan	....	assistant set finisher
Matthew Spicer	....	stand-in
Jolyon Stewart	....	stand-in
Jeanne Stuart	....	production assistant
Alex Sutherland	....	unit assistant
Graham Thompson	....	location manager
Colin Tyler	....	laboratory liaison
John Van Der Ryden	....	rushes transfer
Andy Wickens	....	laboratory technician
Jacqui Wood	....	production coordinator
Daniel Wheatcroft	....	studio executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• WingNut Films

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1996) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS) (for MCA Home Video)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1997) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cinema International (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1997) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1997) (Greece) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Argentina) (all media)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (1999) (USA) (TV)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD) (special edition)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (15th anniversary edition) (theatrical and director's cut)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Weta Digital (creature and digital effects)

Other Companies

• Digital Post Ltd.  video facility
• Film Facilities Ltd.  camera equipment provided by
• Franklin Music Services  music preparation
• Go-Post  video facility
• Lightin Up  lighting equipment
• MCA Soundtracks  soundtrack
• Nina Saxon Film Design  title design
• Pacific Sound Services  sound post-production
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Sony Pictures Studios  score recording
• The Film Unit  re-recording facility
• Upper Deck Film Services  negative cutting

Also Known As:

"Robert Zemeckis Presents: The Frighteners" - USA (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated R for terror/violence

Runtime:

110 min | USA:123 min (director's cut)

Country:

New Zealand | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | DTS-Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13 (original rating) | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Italy:VM14 | Norway:11 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (cut) | Finland:K-16 (1997) (video) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (2000) (DVD) (cut) | Netherlands:12 | Germany:16 (director's cut) | Germany:18 (nf) | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-15 (2005) (uncut) (DVD) (director's cut) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2005) (uncut) | UK:15 (uncut director's edition) | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | USA:R (certificate #34656) | New Zealand:M | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | Argentina:Atp (DVD rating) (special edition) | France:-12 | Brazil:16 | Germany:18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Camperdown Studios, Camperdown Road, Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Peter Jackson and Robert Zemeckis unsuccessfully campaigned to have the film released in October 1996 for Halloween week. The studio however wanted it for a summer release. The move ultimately backfired as it didn't do well in gross earnings.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene in the museum the two guards fire at least 45 shots from their automatic pistols without reloading.

Quotes:

Ray Lynskey:[Frank has smashed one of his lawn gnomes] No! Not Budzo! My Budzo! My Budzo! I've got your license plate number, you bastard!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Versus (2000/II)

Soundtrack:

Don't Fear The Reaper

Very entertaining with just the right blend of comedy and horror!

THE FRIGHTENERS has just the right blend of comedy and horror, and will please most audiences. Director Peter Jackson did a great job directing this film, and Michael J. Fox gives one of his most unusual performances as a "ghost buster" who has a rare gift that allows him to see the dead.

All in all, a unique film that is very different from its competition in the horror drama and really only falls apart towards the end, when it resorts to the typical slasher ending with plot twists. Apart from the end, it's sure to keep you entertained throughout!

4/5 stars

JOHN ULMER