THE FRIGHTENERS

CAPSULE REVIEW –– After watching the visually haunting HEAVENLY CREATURES, I became an instant fan of director Peter Jackson. THE FRIGHTENERS, which is his second studio film, is also a visual delight, however, the convoluted story is not nearly as gripping as his major cinematic debut. It's clear that Jackson is a wonderfully original storyteller, this film just needs a little more focus. This overblown ghost thriller has some great action and darkly comic moments, all handled brilliantly by Michael J. Fox. He plays Frank Bannister, a fraudulent paranormal investigator, who really can see ghosts, but who uses his talent to make a quick buck. When Death steps up activity in Fairweather, Frank becomes the prime suspect since he seems to know who's going to die before they depart from the planet. It becomes a race against time to solve the mystery of who's behind these murders before the Grim Reaper comes calling for him. With outstanding special effects and a pace that won't quit, this film is more enjoyable than it should be. The wacky performances by Combs and Stone are uncomfortable to watch and completely out-of-place here. I really liked the main idea of the story, Jackson just over-reaches, trying to make a simple story seem more complicated than it is...or needs to be. An A+ for effort and originality, C for execution.