Thir13en Ghosts (2001)

When Cyrus Kriticos, a very rich collector of unique things, dies, he leaves house and fortune to his nephew and his family. While they're inside, they find they are not alone.

Director:

Steve Beck

Writers:

Robb White (story), Neal Marshall Stevens (screenplay)

Stars:

Tony Shalhoub, Shannon Elizabeth, Embeth Davidtz

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Shalhoub	...	Arthur Kriticos
Embeth Davidtz	...	Kalina Oretzia
Matthew Lillard	...	Dennis Rafkin
Shannon Elizabeth	...	Kathy Kriticos
Alec Roberts	...	Robert 'Bobby' Kriticos
JR Bourne	...	Benjamin Moss
Rah Digga	...	Maggie Bess
F. Murray Abraham	...	Cyrus Kriticos
Matthew Harrison	...	Damon
Jacob Rupp	...	Cyrus' Assistant
Mike Crestejo	...	Team Member
Aubrey Lee Culp	...	Team Member
Charles Andre	...	Team Member
Mikhael Speidel	...	Billy Michaels, The First Born Son
Daniel Wesley	...	Jimmy 'The Gambler' Gambino, The Torso

Storyline

Arthur and his two children, Kathy and Bobby, inherit his Uncle Cyrus's estate: a glass house that serves as a prison to 12 ghosts. When the family, accompanied by Bobby's Nanny and an attorney, enter the house they find themselves trapped inside an evil machine "designed by the devil and powered by the dead" to open the Eye of Hell. Aided by Dennis, a ghost hunter, and his rival Kalina, a ghost rights activist out to set the ghosts free, the group must do what they can to get out of the house alive.

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | glass house | body count | characters killed one by one | collector | 

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Taglines:

The Only Thing Worse Than Being Trapped in a House with a Ghost... Is Being Trapped in a House With 13 Ghosts

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for horror violence/gore, nudity and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Roger Ebert praised the production values saying, "The production is first-rate, the physical look of the picture is splendid." However, he criticized the story, lack of interesting characters, loud soundtrack, and poor editing. In 2005 he included it on his list of "Most Hated" films.

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Goofs

When the Jackal is attacking Arthur, his left hand disappears and reappears between shots.

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Quotes

Rafkin: [notices several of the ectoplasmic doors are open] What the hell? Give me those!
[takes Maggie's glasses]
Rafkin: Let me see. Why are these open? I was down here before. They weren't open.
[the Hammer spikes the ectoplasmic wall frame with his hammer]
Rafkin: Oh, God! I hate it when they do that!
Maggie: Do what?
Rafkin: They wait for your to stick your face right up against the glass! And then give you a big, fat "boo"!

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits cast shadows on the scenery behind them.

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Alternate Versions

The Region 1 DVD release includes extensive background information on each of the ghosts as a bonus feature, including footage not used in the final movie, and newly recorded narration by F. Murray Abraham.

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Connections

Referenced in Sophomore Spookshow - An Interview with Producer Gil Adler on Thirteen Ghosts (2020)

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Soundtracks

Excess
Written by Tricky
Performed by Tricky
Backing Vocals by Alanis Morissette (uncredited)
Courtesy of Hollywood Records/Anti Inc. A Division of Epitaph Records

User Reviews

William Castle Would Be Proud

I saw the original 13 Ghosts when I was 12 years old and it scared me half to death. They gave you a viewer so when the ghosts appeared on screen you looked thru one color and could see them, but if you looked thru the other color you couldn't see them. Now that I see that movie again I wonder what I was scared of. But I loved all of William Castle's movies. He was the master of gimmicks and chills in his day. Now comes a new version of the old story, packed with gore and shocks galore in living color. No glasses or special optical device handed out at the theater this time. The film hits you with a punch to the senses in the opening scenes before settling down to a poor man struggling to make ends meet after the tragic death of his wife. He later learns that his dear wife's "ghost" has been captured by his eccentric uncle and is kept in a special cage in the basement. While vastly different from the original, this film can stand on its own. It is a complete retelling of the story with great action, special fx, acting and a few laughs thrown in as well as some references to the original. If you are just looking for some mindless supernatural fun and maybe even a moral (love is stronger than evil) this film is for you.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [Germany] Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

13 Ghosts

Filming Locations:

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,165,355, 28 October 2001

Gross USA:

$41,867,960

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$68,467,960

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Columbia Pictures, Dark Castle Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1