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Kummituskopla

Original title: The Frighteners
  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
92K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,686
714
Michael J. Fox in Kummituskopla (1996)
Trailer
Play trailer1:59
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyFantasyHorror

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

  • Director
    • Peter Jackson
  • Writers
    • Fran Walsh
    • Peter Jackson
  • Stars
    • Michael J. Fox
    • Trini Alvarado
    • Peter Dobson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    92K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,686
    714
    • Director
      • Peter Jackson
    • Writers
      • Fran Walsh
      • Peter Jackson
    • Stars
      • Michael J. Fox
      • Trini Alvarado
      • Peter Dobson
    • 273User reviews
    • 139Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 17 nominations

    Videos2

    The Frighteners
    Trailer 1:59
    Watch The Frighteners
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson
    Clip 1:33
    Watch A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson

    Photos203

    Michael J. Fox in Kummituskopla (1996)
    Michael J. Fox and Trini Alvarado in Kummituskopla (1996)
    Jake Busey in Kummituskopla (1996)
    Jeffrey Combs in Kummituskopla (1996)
    Peter Jackson in Kummituskopla (1996)
    Kummituskopla (1996)
    Michael J. Fox and Trini Alvarado in Kummituskopla (1996)
    Kummituskopla (1996)
    Kummituskopla (1996)
    Kummituskopla (1996)
    Kummituskopla (1996)
    Kummituskopla (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael J. Fox
    Michael J. Fox
    • Frank Bannister
    Trini Alvarado
    Trini Alvarado
    • Lucy Lynskey
    Peter Dobson
    Peter Dobson
    • Ray Lynskey
    John Astin
    John Astin
    • The Judge
    Jeffrey Combs
    Jeffrey Combs
    • Milton Dammers
    Dee Wallace
    Dee Wallace
    • Patricia Bradley
    • (as Dee Wallace Stone)
    Jake Busey
    Jake Busey
    • Johnny Bartlett
    Chi McBride
    Chi McBride
    • Cyrus
    Jim Fyfe
    Jim Fyfe
    • Stuart
    Troy Evans
    Troy Evans
    • Sheriff Perry
    Julianna McCarthy
    • Old Lady Bradley
    R. Lee Ermey
    R. Lee Ermey
    • Hiles
    Elizabeth Hawthorne
    Elizabeth Hawthorne
    • Magda Rees-Jones
    Angela Bloomfield
    Angela Bloomfield
    • Debra Bannister
    Desmond Kelly
    • Harry Sinclair
    Jonathan Blick
    • Steve Bayliss
    Todd Rippon
    • Deputy
    John Sumner
    John Sumner
    • Deputy
    • Director
      • Peter Jackson
    • Writers
      • Fran Walsh
      • Peter Jackson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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 being away from his family making movies, and decided to head back to the small screen and star in a new sitcom (Spin City (1996)). This turned out to be his last leading role in a film.
    • Goofs
      When Frank goes to the Lynskey house he said it was 'spontaneous recurrent psychokinesis', but when he goes to another case he calls it 'recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis'. The fact that he can't keep his con man story straight makes the scene even funnier.
    • Quotes

      Judge: [after having sex with a mummy] I like it when they lie still like that.

    • Alternate versions
      When Peter Jackson learned during post-production that the MPAA was going to give the movie an R-rating (despite many efforts to go for a PG-13 rating), he made Milton Dammers' death scene more gruesome by blowing up his head, instead of just having him shot in the chest and blown through the chapel doors. This caused problems with the BBFC, who cut the one continuous shot into two shots, minus the bullet blowing up the head. This censored Region 2 DVD was released throughout Europe. The U.S. television version uses the take where Dammers is blown through the chapel doors.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Multiplicity/The Frighteners/Kazaam/Fled/Celestial Clockwork (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Fear The Reaper
      Written by Donald Roeser

      Performed by The Mutton Birds (as The Mutton Birds)

      Courtesy of Virgin Records Australasia

    User reviews273

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Surprisingly Dark
    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.
    helpful•140
    24
    • mjw2305
    • Jan 21, 2005

    Top picks

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    FAQ9

    • What is The Frighteners about?
    • How many different versions do exist of this movie?
    • What actually happened when Frank and his wife Debra crashed in the car in the flashback?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 19, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • New Zealand
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Frighteners
    • Filming locations
      • Wellington, New Zealand
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • WingNut Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,759,216
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,565,495
      • Jul 21, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $29,359,216
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • DTS-Stereo
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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    Michael J. Fox in Kummituskopla (1996)
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