Customer Reviews

Cinematic Hauntings

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The editors claim "ghost films have been too often overlooked by film historians critics." They intend to fill that gap in "the subtle side of horror" with this book. And it does, more so than not.

Cinematic Hauntings contains 16 essays by different writers, each devoted to one of the following films: Blithe Spirit, Carnival of Souls, The Changeling, Curse of the Demon, The Haunting, High Plains Drifter, The Innocents, Lady in White, Legend of Hell House, Nomads, Outward Bound, Portrait of Jenny, Scrooge (the 1951 version, later retitled A Christmas Carol), The Shining, Supernatural, and The Uninvited. Because I accept the editors' premise--the relative scarcity of text analyzing ghostly horror films--I question some selections.

If ghosts are spirits of deceased humans (or animals?) not all these films belong here. Some are a stretch. Is Carnival of Souls about a soul trapped between life and death, or a retelling of "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge?" That can be good, demonstrating the resilient diversity of horror. But stretch a definition too far and the word loses meaning. Any way you slice it, Blithe Spirit is a comedy, and Curse of the Demon contains no ghosts.

Randy Palmer, who wrote the essay on the latter, anticipates this objection, writing: "Initially it may not seem that Curse of the Demon has a place in a book devoted to a study of cinematic hauntings, but in fact the film journeys beyond the metaphysical borders separating the physical and spiritual worlds, and many of its elements fit neatly into the category." He characterizes the film's shape-shifting cat, orb of fire, and demon as "ghostly manifestations of evil."

Well, no. These supernatural manifestations are not ghosts, even if they do look "ghostly." That said, Palmer's essay provides an excellent production history of both film and source material (Montague R. James's story, Casting the Runes), a detailed plot synopsis, and insightful commentary.

This format is followed by the other essays -- production and distribution history, synopsis, commentary -- with varying degrees of emphasis. I'm glad The Changeling is represented. Although little known, after The Haunting it's arguably the most effectively atmospheric English-language ghost film ever made. But instead of the 1951 Scrooge, I wish Tom Johnson had covered the 1970 version (which he dismisses). In its original release, I recall Scrooge ending up (temporarily) in Hell. That scene was later dropped (perhaps because it wasn't in Dickens's version) but I'd like to have learned its history.

Some entries need and deserve attention. Curse of the Demon deserves but does not need. I can understand not including Ghost (a romantic fantasy), but I wish Curse of the Demon and Blithe Spirit had been dropped in favor of Ghost Story and The Fog, both fitting candidates.

Caveats aside, Cinematic Hauntings is an attractive and informative trade paperback, generously illustrated with 115 stills, posters, lobby cards, and backstage photos. All entries include crew and cast lists. Two include endnotes. If the subject matter interests you, you'll want this book.

Cinematic Hauntings is a thoughtful, excellent book that will both introduce you to great, subtle horror films and enhance your enjoyment of the ones you already know. Different authors give each essay a different flavor, but this is a great read--a must for any fan of ghost movies.

The book has 16 chapters each by a different author analysing
a particular movie dealing with the supernatural. Movies range
from 1930's "Outward Bound" to 1988's "Lady in White" and because
of the different authors quality varies. The chapter on "The Changling"
had me putting that film on my must see list but even though I had
always been intriguied by "Curse of the Demon" and will seek it out,
the chapter, I felt, was far too long and actually drained the life
out of the movie. "Carnival of Souls" was an excellent retelling of
how the film came to be made. Just imagine how you would feel if you
made a movie on a limited budget hoping to pave the way for bigger and
better things only to get the acclaim you so richly deserve 27 years
later.
"The Legend of Hell House" is one of my favourite "ghost" films. I was
interested to read that Richard Matheson, the writer, would have chosen
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton as the two psychics - all I can say
is I'm glad he didn't have cast approval as I thought Roddy MacDowall
and Pamela Franklin were excellent.
The standout chapters to me were "Supernatural" and "Outward Bound" -
they seemed to be written
in a more professional and scholarly way. I do think the chapters that
worked for me were the ones written in that way - you got a nice outline
of the story but the background and history of the movie were really
detailled. And there were not that many like that - let's just say I will
not be looking for "Nomads" anytime soon.
All in all I would have preferred to see a few more classics like "Peter
Ibbotson" (1935), "The Canterville Ghost" (1944) and "The Ghost and
Mrs. Muir" (1947).

If, like me, you crave real analysis of the films you love, this book won't disappoint. The editor eschews the often-stifling "encyclopedic" approach in favor of intelligent discussions of several important films in the genre. Bottom line, the book gave me somthing to think about. And isn't that the point?

Cinematic Hauntings is a thoughtful, excellent book that will both introduce you to great, subtle horror films and enhance your enjoyment of the ones you already know. Different authors give each essay a different flavor, but this is a great read--a must for any fan of ghost movies.

I love ghost movies. I've always thought they're much more scary than anything else, because they play on a different level than the mad slasher flicks. In the good old eerie Val Lewton tradition; what you don't see, scares you more than what you do see. (Even though I happen believe in ghosts today, I can still get a chill). Like it says in the foreword, this book doesn't deal with every movie ever made in the genre, but a few selected ones. However, I was amazed to find the western "High Plains Drifter" included since I've always seen it as a western only. But I was more surprised not to find movies like "Curse Of The Cat People" and "Black Sabbath". Oh well, maybe there'll be a follow-up book some fine day. It's certainly a film genre sadly (and strangely) neglected by Hollywood, undoubtedly because of the subject matter's "limitations". -In that case, Tinseltown have missed the point completely (again). "The Frighteners", or the remake of "The Haunting" proves this without the shadow of a doubt.

nicely made book about some ghost-films, but far away from being a reference-work-book. To many important ghostfilms are missing and not even mentioned,like "Ghost", "Amityville", Rene Clair's "The Gost goes West" or the "Topper"films with Cary Grant.