Hangman's Curse (2003)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Rafal Zielinski

Writers (WGA):

Frank Peretti (novel)
Kathy Mackel (screenplay) ...

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Watch your locker. Watch your back. Watch your soul.

Plot:

Bullying students are becoming deathly ill after screaming the name of a legendary ghost. What's to blame...

Plot Keywords:

High School | Bullying | Undercover | Mobile Home | Suicide

Cast

David Keith	...	Nate Springfield
Mel Harris	...	Sarah Springfield
Leighton Meester	...	Elisha Springfield
Douglas Smith	...	Elijah Springfield
Jake Richardson	...	Ian Snyder
Bobby Brewer	...	Leonard Baynes
Daniel Farber	...	Norman Bloom
Edwin Hodge	...	Blake Hornsby
Andrea Morris	...	Crystal Sparks
William R. Moses	...	Coach Marquardt
Margaret Travolta	...	Debi Wyrthen
Tom Wright	...	Dan Carillo
Frank Peretti	...	Dr. Algernon Wheeling
Liz Schilling	...	Shawna Miller
Teresa Suter	...	Julie

Also Known As:

The Veritas Project: Hangman's Curse (USA) (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for elements of violence/terror and for brief drug material.

Runtime:

USA:106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Hungary:16 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | USA:PG-13 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Riverside State Park - 9711 W. Charles Road, Nine Mile Falls, Washington, USA

Company:

Namesake Entertainment

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Crew and equipment reflected in football helmets during last huddle and play of the game.

Quotes:

[discussing Crystal Sparks]
Blake Hornsby: She's all that isn't she?
Ian Snyder: Yeah, and a bag of chips.
Blake Hornsby: Um, yeah, that's kinda an outdated phrase but you're getting it.

Movie Connections:

References Ghost Busters (1984)

Entertaining Enough

HANGMAN'S CURSE is a mildly entertaining film, combining horror elements with social commentary. Set in a high school, it rounds out its cast with the usual Goth misfits and the jocks, two natural enemies. A "curse" that sends jocks who are also known bullies into comas brings a family of paranormal investigators to a local school.

Despite the elaborate poster, the film is not scary. I hesitate to call it a horror film. At most, it's a mystery, with the two young teens as the actual leads. The parents really do little except run around peering into microscopes. For those who have seen these type of movies before, all the answers should be obvious by the 50-minute mark, leaving 50 extra minutes for the characters to catch up.

It's not a bad film. I would even recommend it. But it's definitely not going to scare anybody.

P.S. HANGMAN'S CURSE will be memorable to me for one thing: ITS TEENS ARE ACTUALLY PLAYED BY TEENS!!! Yes, they still do exist.

6 out of 10

(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this movie)