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The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 32,156 users  
Reviews: 132 user | 61 critic

Set in 1898, this movie is based on the true story of two lions in Africa that killed 130 people over a nine month period, while a bridge engineer and an experienced old hunter tried to ... See full summary »

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Title: The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) on IMDb 6.7/10

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Henry Cele ...
Mahina
Kurt Egelhof ...
Indian Victim
Satchu Annamalai ...
Worker #1
Teddy Reddy ...
Worker #2
...
Worker #3 (as Rakeem Khan)
Jack Devnarain ...
Nervous Sikh Orderly
Glen Gabela ...
Orderly #1
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Storyline

Set in 1898, this movie is based on the true story of two lions in Africa that killed 130 people over a nine month period, while a bridge engineer and an experienced old hunter tried to kill them. Written by Adil Siddiqi <adil@virginia.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

lion | bridge | railway | africa | train | See more »

Taglines:

Prey For The Hunters See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence and gore involving animal attacks | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

11 October 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Der Geist und die Dunkelheit  »

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 3,820,999,000 (Italy) (27 December 1996)

Gross:

$38,553,833 (USA) (7 February 1997)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The real John Patterson is credited with killing both lions on his own, and Val Kilmer's character John Patterson does indeed kill two lions on his own in the movie. The first is indeed a mane-less lion (as a Tzavo male lion might be, though not considered part of the Ghost/Darkness pair in the film) killed by Patterson on his first night in the encampment. The second is the second lion of the "Ghost/Darkness" pair. Patterson also wounded the first lion of the pair with a handgun and then (the fictional) Remington finished the lion off. See more »

Goofs

The bridge pictured in the movie is a truss bridge. The actual Tsavo bridge was/is of the plate girder type. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Samuel: This is the most famous and true African adventure.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The beginning of the end credits is shown with a photograph of the real bridge as background. See more »

Connections

Version of Kaal (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

"Jungal Bahar (The Prey Song)"
Written and Produced by George Acogny
Performed by The Worldbeaters
with The Johannesburg Choir
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Something You Can Sink Your Teeth Into
17 February 2006 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

I always found this to be an outstanding based-on a true story adventure film which holds your interest throughout. It features some great suspense and the story is fascinating. It's always been ranked among my top 50 movies. A good surround system doesn't hurt here, either.

Stan Winston, one of the best special-effects men in the business, lent his talents to this film while Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas are more than adequate in the starring roles and the African with the freckles (sorry, I don't have his name) is really a likeble fellow.

Except for the first one, the lion attack scenes are not gruesome and the filmmakers did a nice job a having just the right amount of action and lulls. Neither is overdone. This film has never been given much due but I've never shown it to anyone who didn't thoroughly enjoy it.

This movie scared me so much I stopped hunting lions. It's just not fun anymore.


50 of 62 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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