THIR13TEEN GHOSTS

US, 2001, 91 minutes, Colour.
F.Murray Abraham, Tony Shalhoub, Embeth Davidtz Shannon Elizabeth, Matthew Lillard, Alec Roberts.
Directed by Steve Back.

Thir13teen Ghosts is a remake of the 1950s film by William Castle. He was renowned for shock-horror with all kinds of gimmicks, in this case, glasses so that people could see the ghosts. The basic plot was about our haunted house, demonic uncle, and the plight of the family trapped in the house.

This film is very big on production design, especially the extraordinary machine-house, its glass walls, its central lock, opening and shutting doors… It is also big on special effects, principally for the ghosts, the visuals they represented, the attack of the ghosts.

F.Murray Abraham is the mad uncle. Tony Shalhoub is the nephew, Shannon Elizabeth his daughter, Alec Roberts his son. Matthew Lillard and Embeth Davidtz appear as experts.

A film for those who like weirdness in their horror.

1. A remake of the 1950s schlock-horror film?

2. The weirdness of the plot, the characters, the special effects, the ghosts in the confrontations?

3. Production values, the opening in the dead car lot? Cyrus’s glass house, a machine, the layout, the glass walls, the machinery and activities? The musical score?

4. The explanation of the ghosts, the number of ghosts, the importance of the 13th ghost? In league with Satan, the satanic activities of Cyrus, greed and power?

5. The opening, dark and sinister, Cyrus and his presence, Dennis and his power of touch and knowing the past and future, Kalina and her ghost-hunting? The death of Cyrus?

6. The comparative calm of Arthur and his family, his sitting and the panning shot, the death of his wife, the fire? His relationship with Kathy and Robert? Maggie present as the Nanny? The vitality of the family?

7. The role of the lawyer, the explanation of the will, the video of Cyrus and his explanations, the eagerness of the children, Arthur and his wariness? Signing the document?

8. Going to the house, their amazement, the impact of the visuals, their rooms? Arthur and the discussions with the lawyer, being persuaded to sign, his looking for the children, the disappearing?

9. The glasses, the visualising of the ghosts, the lawyer, his plans, his being killed, sliced?

10. Robert, his vitality, the scooter, going everywhere, being trapped? Kathy and her room, her delight, wandering the house? Maggie, a place with the family, eagerness, the house?

11. The attack of the ghosts, on each of the members of the family, seeing them with the glasses, not seeing them without? Arthur and his wanting to rescue the children? Their meeting, Kathy being dragged away? Maggie and going to the controls and pulling all the levers?

12. Cyrus, his appearance? His plans? Kalina and her explaining everything to the family, the details of the satanic plan? Discovering that she was subject to Cyrus, doing his work the?

13. The family confronting the ghosts, setting them free, Arthur’s wife and her plaintive presence?

14. The final conflagration, the collapse of the building, the machines, freedom of the family?