DVD Collectors Online

Ghost Story, a review by Danae Cassandra

Ghost Story
Year of Release: 1981
Directed By: John Irvin
Starring: Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, John Houseman, Craig Wasson
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Put together a gloomy New England house, a dark night and four of America's legendary leading men and you have all the ingredients for the classic Ghost Story, a spellbinding motion picture based on the bestseller by Peter Straub. Co-starring Patricia Neal, Ghost Story is about the Members of the Chowder Society: Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and John Houseman, who get together each week to share tales of horror. Soon, however, a secret terror invades the group, and one by one, they die mysteriously because of a real life ghost story that is part of their past.


My Thoughts:
This was a good, old-fashioned style ghost story. It has a cast of top-line stars - Fred Astaire, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Melvyn Douglas, John Houseman - many of them making their last film. It's quite the juxtaposition of Fred Astaire and horror film, but he turns in his usual solid performance. I'd honestly argue that Astaire's character, rather than Craig Wasson's, is the hero of the film, for all that I think we're supposed to identify with Wasson. I also thought Alice Krieg did a good job as her character, pulling off alluring and menacing simultaneously.

The biggest thing I didn't like was the subplot with the Bates brothers. Those characters are unneccessary. I understand that they were more prominant in the original book, but here in the film they make no sense and actually detract from the story.

That aside, I enjoyed the film and would recommend it. Especially if you're a fan of Astaire's, this is his last film, so you'll want to sit down for a view. There isn't a Disney princess horror film, so our optional challenge is filled out by the scene of Wasson, as the twin of the character he plays for most of the film, falling from the window in part of the opening scene.

Watched For: Hoop-tober 3.0, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016, Scavenger Hunt 19

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 34/52 (32 reviewed)

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 25th, 2016)

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel, a review by Tom

Title: Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel
Year: 2009
Director: Gareth Carrivick
Rating: 15
Length: 79 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Chris O'Dowd
Marc Wootton
Dean Lennox Kelly
Anna Faris
Meredith MacNeill

Plot:Awards:
Extras:
Scene Access

A nice little movie with some interesting time-travel. But in all it misses the little something. Though it is still worth to check it out.

Rating:

(From Tom's Time-Travel Movie Reviews on May 8th, 2010)

Smallville Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

9. Bound
After Lex is accused of killing a young woman, Clark sets out to prove his innocence and turns to an unlikely source for help - Lionel.

My Thoughts:
This one is pretty good. the thing I really liked about this one is it has a decent mystery story to it.

10. Scare
Lex's secret experiment at Luthorcorp goes awry and causes a dangerous toxin to be released into Smallville. Those infected by the toxin, including Clark , Lana, Lex, and Jason imagine their greatest fears come true and then fall into a coma.

My Thoughts:
This was a little strange but awesome episode! Of course dealing with nightmares you got to expect it to be a little on the strange side. Definitely enjoyed every second of it. You also learn what happen with Chloe's mom in this episode.

11. Unsafe
Claiming to be cured, Alicia is released from Belle Reve hospital and comes to Smallville to rekindle her relationship with Clark.

My Thoughts:
A decent episode... but not one of my favorites. again... I never cared for the character of Alicia... and this time she slips him some Red Kryptonite

12. Pariah
Lana and Jason are attacked and almost killed by an unseen assailant and Alicia seems to be the prime suspect.

My Thoughts:
This one I liked... but mainly for the fact that Chloe learns Clark's secret. One thing I liked about how Chloe found out is the fact that she went on letting him think she didn't know. It made for some fun situations and comments and such.

(From Smallville Marathon on August 9th, 2007)