Page 70 - Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained Vol. 3

50 Ghosts and Phantoms

reality within a surrealistic world of the super- Busters to save the world. The sequel, Ghost
natural. The 1999 version is far inferior. Busters II (1989), although retaining all the
principals of the original, lacked the energy
The Shining (1980)—Adapted from Stephen
King’s 1977 novel, director Stanley Kubrick and the excitement to sustain another box
crafted a film that many assess as a masterpiece office success.
of horror. Director Kubrick manages to create a Ghost (1990)—In addition to presenting
film that interacts with the viewer’s own imagi- an interesting depiction of the interaction of
nation on many levels, thereby making even a ghost (Patrick Swayze) and a spirit medium
more credible the appearance of ghosts and the (Whoopi Goldberg), this film also offers a
protagonist’s descent into violence and insanity. touching love story. Ghost is ranked as num-
ber 32 on the list of the top-grossing movies
Ghost Story (1981)—Four successful elder- of all time.
ly men (Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Dou-
glas Fairbanks, Jr., and John Houseman), The Sixth Sense (1999)—M. Night Shya-
members of the Chowder Society, have shared malan won the Academy Award for Best Orig-
a terrible secret for 50 years. Although the inal Screenplay and was nominated as Best
Peter Straub novel upon which this film is Director for this film, ranked as number 14 on
based held many more levels of ghostly and the list of the top-grossing movies of all time.
ghastly surprises, director John Irvin does a The plaint of young Cole Sear (Haley Joel
fine job of converting a multigenerational Osment) to child psychologist Malcolm
ghost story to the motion picture medium. Crowe (Bruce Willis) “I see dead people” was
among the most familiar quotes of 1999.
Poltergeist (1982)—Steven Spielberg stated Because the audience is able to see the ghosts,
that in Poltergeist he, as screenwriter, and Tobe the “dead people,” along with Cole, the spirits
Hooper, who assumed the directorial reins for are presented as solid, physical beings, rather
the film, sought to walk the thin line between than wispy, ethereal images. The film has a
the scientific and the spiritual. Starring Craig twist ending that brought many audiences
T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams as Steve and back for a second viewing.
Diane Freeling, who move into a new home
which unknown to them has been built over a The Others (2001)—While Grace Stewart
graveyard, the film became extremely popular (Nicole Kidman) awaits the return of her hus-
with motion picture audiences. The tension in band in the final days of World War II (1939–
the film centers on little Carol Anne (Heather 45), she lives with her two children (James
O’Rourke), who announces that “they’re Bentley, Alakina Mann) in an old mansion on
here,” shortly before the entities pull her into a the island of Jersey. The children suffer from a
spiritual vortex. The challenges faced by the disease that does not allow them to be
Freeling family as they struggle to reclaim touched by direct sunlight.
Carol Ann from the spirit world make for a The children begin to fear that the large
presentation of unrelenting suspense. Neither old house is haunted, and they insist to their
of the sequels was able to maintain the edge- mother that they have even seen ghosts in
of-the-seat tensions of the original film. certain rooms. Grace Stewart will have none
of such talk, and she reprimands Bertha Mills
Ghost Busters (1984)—Three parapsychol- (Fionnula Flanagan), her principal domestic,
ogy professors (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and that neither she nor any member of the house-
Harold Ramis) lose their funding at the uni- hold help should ever encourage such childish
versity, so they establish a ghost-removal busi- fantasies. But eventually, Stewart must also
ness. Big trouble arises when Dana Barrett face the reality that has overtaken all of them.
(Sigourney Weaver) discovers an ancient god
in her refrigerator and becomes possessed by M Delving Deeper
Zuul, the Gate Keeper. Ghosts and evil spirits Clarens, Carlos. An Illustrated History of the Horror
galore will plague the entire planet if the Gate Film. New York: Capricorn Books, 1968.
Keeper meets with Vinz Clortho (Rick Mora- Hardy, Phil. The Encyclopedia of Horror Movies. New
nis), the Key Master. It is up to the Ghost York: Harper & Row, 1986.

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