If The Frighteners has landed on your radar in the past couple of decades, it's likely because you're a fan of Peter Jackson, the Oscar-winning filmmaker who brought Middle Earth to vivid life on the big screen with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Prior to that, he'd made a name for himself on the cult cinema scene with gory camp classics like Bad Taste (1987) and Dead Alive (1992). He'd also caught the attention of Hollywood insiders with his mid-nineties dramatic masterpiece Heavenly Creatures.
Jackson's work on Heavenly Creatures earned him a shot at the big time, with Universal Pictures ponying up some serious dough for his followup, this effects-heavy supernatural chiller about a man (Michael J. Fox) gifted the ability to speak with spirits in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy. After befriending three friendly ghosts (Jim Fyfe, Chi McBride, and R. Lee Ermey) he puts his newfound talent to work hustling unsuspecting homeowners by planting, then removing his spectral pals from dwellings for a hefty fee. This con that proves fruitful enough, until a vile, murderous spirit turns up with a serious score to settle.
From that frightfully clever setup, Jackson spins a whip-smart, tragi-comic tale of unfathomable loss, unexpected redemption, and supernatural delights. Rest assured, The Frighteners is as vintage a Peter Jackson film as he's ever made, which means it'll make you laugh as quick as it makes you cry, and may just blow your mind via mind blowing special effects work.
And yes, the entire hilarious-slash-unholy endeavor is anchored by one of the finest (and most underrated) performances of Michael J. Fox's career. So add The Frighteners to your queue today, as it's currently streaming on HBO Max.
