Spectres (2004)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Phil Leirness

Writer:

Bud Robertson (writer)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Believing is Seeing ...

Plot:

KELLY is a beautiful young 16-year old who, like many teenagers, feels her life has become unbearably dark and depressed...

Plot Keywords:

Ghost

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Marina Sirtis	...	Laura Lee
Dean Haglund	...	Dr. Halsey
Tucker Smallwood	...	Will Franklin
Lauren Birkell	...	Kelly Webber
Alexis Cruz	...	Sean
Chris Hardwick	...	Sam Phillips
Loanne Bishop	...	Suzanne
Linda Park	...	Renee Hansen
David Hedison	...	William
Alexander Agate	...	C.J. Hansen
Lillian Lehman	...	Fran Mullins
Joe Smith	...	Mark
Neil Dickson	...	Walter

Also Known As:

Soul Survivor (USA) (cable TV title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving teen suicide, and some scary images.

Runtime:

USA:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Shadowland

A very emotional story of the supernatural.

I was fortunate enough to get to see this film a couple weeks back at one of my favorite theaters (the Rialto in Pasadena) and the ambiance of the venue really added to my experience (the Rialto is a grand and spooky place - you can feel the ghosts that surely live there). My only wish is that more people turned out for I can only imagine how much fun it would be to see "Spectres" with a big audience.

Having read about the movie in advance, I knew it was not going to be a horror film. Still, there were several moments in the movie made me jump and based on the reaction of the rest of the audience I was not alone. Also I was surprised at how funny the movie is. It's a good thing too because if this film had taken itself - or its philosophical/spiritual ideas - too seriously, it could have been a disaster. Instead, it wears its heart on its sleeve without shoving anything down your throat. And because the filmmakers don't violate the rules they've created in this world, you walk away at the end, maybe not believing, but thinking it'd be really cool if the ideas expressed were true.

If people come to this film for any reason other than the supernatural elements, of course, they'll be coming for the cast of recognizable sci-fi veterans (so amazing to see David Hedison again - he looks FANTASTIC). It certainly is fun to see so many good actors playing against type. Still, it is the young actress who plays "Kelly" that steals the show. She IS the movie and that's no knock on the other performers, who all do really good work.

Technically, the film is somewhat of a mixed bag in that there's some choppy camera work and the music is often that of a TV Movie. Some of the effects are cool, some are barely serviceable. According to the filmmakers, the movie was shot in high definition, and it has a really unique look to it that seems to fit the mood. Also, the sound effects and design do a lot to add to the spooky and emotionally haunting atmosphere.

Still, technical flaws aside, this is clearly a modest-budgeted picture with huge ideas and an even bigger heart and as such I really hope it finds wide acclaim and success.